On Cop28 Sidelines: Egypt’s Ministry of Planning organizes an event on “Women’s Engagement in Climate Action”

The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, represented by the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects, organized an event on “Women’s Engagement in Climate Action” in the presence of H.E. Dr. Hala El-Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, and with the participation of Ambassador Hisham Badr who is acting as Assistant of Planning Minister for Strategic Partnerships, Excellence, and Initiatives. 

The event was organized during Cop28, which is currently taking place from November 30 to December 12, 2023, in Dubai.

During a speech delivered by Dr. Hala El-Said, she affirmed Egypt’s commitment to defending the issues of climate finance and women’s empowerment, through its multifaceted initiatives, as Egypt leads the transformation process towards a more sustainable and equitable future for all Egyptians including women.

El-Said referred to the launch of the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects as one example of this commitment, which is one of the pioneering programs that has received international recognition for its pioneering contributions to sustainable development.

El-Said explained that the initiative has witnessed remarkable success over the past two years, as it was able to attract entrepreneurs and the private sector in particular, with a special focus on female entrepreneurs, with about 2,000 women participating in their innovative projects.

She added that recognizing that women are disproportionately affected by climate change, the initiative has strategically integrated gender considerations into its design and implementation, ensuring that women are not just beneficiaries of sustainable development, but also active participants and leaders in the transition to a greener future.

El-Said stressed that the success of the initiative is not just an isolated achievement, but rather a reflection of Egypt’s broader commitment to gender equality and climate action.

She further noted that the National Strategy for Sustainable Development: Egypt Vision 2030 recognizes the importance of women’s participation in sustainable development and climate action, as well as the government’s launch of many initiatives to empower women economically and socially.

El-Said highlighted that the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects served as a cornerstone for localizing UN SDGs in Egypt by creating an interactive map at the governorate level for green and smart projects.

El-Said said that Egypt pledged to “Green the Investment Plan” and increase the percentage of green public investments from 40% in 2023 to 50% of total public investments by 2025, to enhance Egypt’s commitment to sustainability and reflect its dedication to integrating sustainable development.

El-Said explained that the large response to the initiative is considered a confirmation of its transformative impact.

 With more than 12,000 projects in the first and second phases, the initiative attracted a range of innovative solutions covering different development areas, including energy, waste management, recycling, emissions reduction, and adaptation to climate change, according to El-Said.

El-Said said that the renewed commitment to gender equality is evident in several key initiatives taken by Egypt, including the establishment of the National Council for Women, which plays a critical role in formulating and implementing policies and programs that promote women’s empowerment and gender equality.

El-Said added that Egypt has taken many strong measures to preserve the important achievements made about empowering women and promoting productive employment and decent work for women, as these efforts resulted in a significant decrease in unemployment rates among women, from 21% in 2018 to 16% in 2023.

With more than 16 million women now financially included, the Egyptian government has made significant progress in encouraging women's financial inclusion.

El-Said added that the period from 2016 to 2022 witnessed an increase in the financial inclusion of women in Egypt at an amazing rate of 200%.

She highlighted that the launch of the “Gender-Responsive Sustainable Development Plan Guide” was a historic step towards gender equality and comprehensive development by the Egyptian government

After her speech, El-Said stressed that women’s empowerment is not just a matter of social justice, but rather a major driver of economic growth and sustainable development.