During UNGA79: Al-Mashat Participates in Generation Unlimited Board of Directors Meeting H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat Highlights Success of Egypt’s “Shabab Balad” Initiative at UN “Generation Unlimited” Board Meeting

During UNGA79: Al-Mashat Participates in Generation Unlimited Board of Directors Meeting

H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat Highlights Success of Egypt’s “Shabab Balad” Initiative at UN “Generation Unlimited” Board Meeting

 

H.E. Dr. Rania A.  Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, and a member of the Global Board of “Generation Unlimited,” participated in the board’s meeting, held alongside the UN General Assembly’s High-Level Week and the Summit of the Future in New York.

 

The “Generation Unlimited” initiative is a global United Nations (UN) initiative launched by UNICEF in over 54 countries. Its aim is to support and empower youth in areas such as education, skills development, employment, entrepreneurship, community engagement, and digital transformation. This is achieved by fostering multilateral partnerships to implement development projects and programs that provide sustainable and decent opportunities for youth worldwide, thereby enhancing local economies’ ability to achieve inclusive and sustainable development.

 

The Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation launched the national version of the initiative, under the name “Shabab Balad,” during the World Youth Forum in Sharm El-Sheikh in January 2022, under the auspices of H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. The launch was attended and supported by ministers, UN officials, private sector leaders, and youth representatives.

 

During the meeting, Al-Mashat commended the efforts of the initiative and its Global Board, which comprises many global economic leaders and decision-makers, for supporting youth empowerment efforts and mobilizing resources to expand the initiative’s implementation.

 

Al-Mashat presented the results of Egypt’s “Shabab Balad” initiative, the national version of “Generation Unlimited,” launched in partnership with the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Egypt and UNICEF. The initiative implements development projects in collaboration with youth, the private sector, international development partners, and civil society organizations. Its focus is to empower youth, prepare them for the workforce, and promote entrepreneurship. The initiative also prioritizes five strategic areas: education, including technical and vocational training; employment and entrepreneurship; skills development; enhancing access to digital and technological services; and fostering positive social participation through volunteerism.

 

The Minister  emphasized that the “Shabab Balad” initiative is governed by an advisory board and an alliance comprising five subcommittees, each dedicated to one of the five priority areas. Young people are represented on the board and in all subcommittees, ensuring their voices and needs are considered in decision-making. The ministry and UN organizations have worked to ensure that all relevant stakeholders, whether from the public and private sectors or international organizations, are represented in the initiative’s governing bodies.

 

Regarding the various programs under “Shabab Balad,” Al-Mashat explained that each subcommittee works to submit actionable projects to the board for approval, ensuring a continuous flow of youth-focused projects aligned with the five priorities. She highlighted that the initiative’s governance mechanism and the diverse range of participants facilitate the ongoing delivery of viable projects.

 

She further stressed that the initiative aligns with the state’s efforts to promote human development and increase investment in human capital, aiming to build capable individuals who can contribute to economic development.

 

Christian Klein, CEO of SAP and current Chairman of the Initiative’s Board, and Dr. Kevin Frey, CEO of “Generation Unlimited,” welcomed H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat as the newest member of the board. They noted that her involvement in the board’s decision-making is a significant step, given Egypt’s substantial human and economic potential. Egypt has been selected as an “accelerator country” for “Generation Unlimited” due to its large youth population, which accounts for over 27% of the total population.

 

It is worth noting that the Global Board of “Generation Unlimited” is the initiative’s highest decision-making body, responsible for strategic decision-making and guiding all the initiative’s activities and programs. The board also defines the initiative’s strategic vision and ensures its effective implementation. The meeting was hosted at SAP’s headquarters in New York and attended by board members, including: Christian Klein, CEO of SAP; Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF; Dr. Kevin Frey, CEO of “Generation Unlimited”; Kate Behncken, Vice President and Global Head of Microsoft Philanthropies; Jessica Anderen, CEO of IKEA Foundation; Taha Bawa, CEO of Goodwall; Abdulaziz Al Ghurair, Chairman of the Al Ghurair Foundation; Vicki Areda, Director of YEO 2030; Leo Framell, CEO of Accenture; and Hein Schumacher, CEO of Unilever.