Minister of Planning Discusses Advancements in the Third Cycle of the Smart Green Initiative

H.E. Dr. Hala El-Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, stated that the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects aims to stimulate creative ideas and practical implementation of innovative environmental solutions across all Egyptian governorates to address climate change challenges. She emphasized that the initiative’s goals align with Egypt’s efforts for green transformation and achieving comprehensive and sustainable development, encouraging project owners from all governorates to nominate their projects that provide local solutions to climate change.

This statement came during a meeting between Dr. Hala El-Said and Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, the United Nations Special Envoy for Financing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Chairman of the National Jury for the Smart Green Initiative, which operates under the patronage of the President.

El-Said appreciated the efforts of all success partners from various ministries and entities, including the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Local Development, Environment, Communications, International Cooperation, Social Solidarity, Higher Education and Scientific Research, Youth and Sports, and the National Council for Women, as well as the efforts of participating experts, specialists, and civil society representatives. She explained that the initiative enhances the interaction of governorates and localities under the leadership of the Ministry of Local Development with environmental dimensions of development through creating an interactive map at the governorate level for green and smart projects. This map links them with funding entities and attracts necessary investments from both domestic and international sources, aligning with the state’s direction for localizing sustainable development goals at the governorate level.

During the meeting, El-Said emphasized the need to develop the initiative’s performance, evaluation criteria, and project categories to keep pace with advancements in various sectors, and to provide opportunities for all environmentally impactful projects to participate and maximize the benefits of the initiative’s services.

Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin highlighted that the initiative received numerous commendations from development partners at both regional and international levels during the previous two cycles, which resulted in a significant number of outstanding projects that were appreciated on local, regional, and international levels. He explained that the initiative succeeded in balancing centralization through direct patronage by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and coordination by the Prime Minister’s office and relevant ministries, and decentralization through significant contributions from governorates and local authorities in various cities and villages nationwide.

Ambassador Hisham Badr, Assistant Minister of Planning for Strategic Partnerships, Excellence, and Initiatives, and Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the initiative, confirmed the initiative’s success in attracting distinguished projects that contribute to finding local solutions to environmental problems from within Egyptian governorates. He noted that the first cycle of the initiative saw the participation of around 6,300 projects, while the second cycle had about 5,700 projects across the initiative’s six categories. He mentioned that the winning projects from both cycles participated in several international events, the latest being the participation in the COP28 Climate Change Conference in the UAE. He urged innovators and entrepreneurs to participate in the third cycle of the initiative with their various projects that offer creative solutions to tackle climate change challenges and promote the transition to a green economy, reflecting the state’s commitment to attracting and encouraging environmental and climate investment opportunities and eco-friendly solutions, and mitigating the impacts of climate change across all governorates.

The National Initiative for Smart Green Projects includes six categories: large projects, medium-sized projects, small local projects, startups, the category of women and climate change and sustainability, and the category of non-profit community initiatives and participation.

For more details and to register projects for the third cycle, visit the link www.sgg.eg.