Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation Reviews a Report on the Executive Status of the First Phase of the National Rural Development Project "Haya Karima"

3 billion EGP is the value of investments in the first phase of the initiative by the end of December 2024 with an implementation rate of 86.5%.

28% of the implemented projects are aimed at improving human capital, particularly in the sectors of education, health, and youth.

4 villages have received the "Tarshid" certification to meet the latest environmental standards set by the World Green Building Council, and the rehabilitation of 16 villages is ongoing.

371.6 thousand subscribers to internet services, and the fiber optic network has been extended to 409 villages.

366% increase in the number of subscribers to natural gas services in the governorates of the first phase so far.

596,000 citizens in the first-phase villages have been taught to read and write, 63% of them in Upper Egypt.

66.7 billion EGP in funding for MSMEs projects in the initiative's villages.

 

H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, reviewed a report on the executive status of the first phase of the national project for developing Egyptian rural areas, the "Haya Karima" presidential initiative, by the end of December 2024. This comes as part of the ministry’s efforts to comprehensively follow up on the implementation of the initiative within the context of the economic and social development plan and Egypt's Vision 2030.

 

The allocated budget for the first phase of the initiative is 350 billion EGP to implement approximately 23,000 projects in 1,477 villages across 52 centers in 20 governorates, benefiting 18 million citizens. The target is for Upper Egypt to receive 68% of the first phase's allocation, benefiting 11 million citizens, or 61% of the total beneficiaries.

Executive Status of the First Phase

According to the report, the amount spent from the first-phase allocation by the end of December reached 298.3 billion EGP, with an implementation rate of 86.5%. A total of 16,590 developmental projects have been completed, with 58% of them located in Upper Egypt, amounting to 9,658 completed projects. The governorate of Beheira leads in terms of the number of completed projects with 2,062 projects, followed by Sohag with 1,710 projects, then Minya with 1,660 projects, Assiut with 1,624 projects, and Aswan with 1,218 projects.

 

Improving Human Capital

 

The report highlights that 28% of the completed projects in the first phase of the "Haya Karima" initiative are directed to improve human capital in the sectors of education, health, and youth. Following these, projects related to "drinking water and sanitation" represent 27%. Additionally, all developmental projects have been completed in 135 villages, contributing to a 75% improvement in "the availability of basic services" compared to the pre-"Haya Karima" situation, benefiting 1.6 million people.

Regarding pre-university education services, the "Haya Karima" project has supported the government's efforts to address class overcrowding, provide education services to underserved areas, and ensure safe schools for students by building and replacing over 15,000 classrooms and rehabilitating 1,300 schools, 55% of which are in Upper Egypt.

In terms of health services, 685 health units and central hospitals have been developed in accordance with the comprehensive health insurance system’s standards, along with 365 ambulance units, with 59% of these in Upper Egypt, reflecting the state’s efforts to improve the availability and quality of healthcare services.

The report also mentions that 596,000 citizens in the first-phase villages have received literacy training (during the period from 2022/2021 to 2025/2024), of whom 377,000 are in Upper Egypt, representing 63%. Sohag leads the governorates with 134,000 citizens benefiting, followed by Menoufia with 82,000, Beheira with 68,000, Minya with 64,800, and Beni Suef with 53,500.

Drinking Water and Sanitation Services

Concerning drinking water services, the report shows that the number of subscribers has increased by 14.6%, with 296,000 new subscribers compared to the pre-"Haya Karima" situation, 67% of whom are in Upper Egypt. The goal is to increase access to clean drinking water from 97% to 100%. The new subscribers are mainly in Minya (88,900), Beheira (46,400), Assiut (37,000), Fayoum (20,800), and Beni Suef (16,800).

Regarding sanitation services, the report indicates that the number of subscribers has increased by 58%, with 176,000 new subscribers compared to the pre-"Haya Karima" situation, 40% of whom are in Upper Egypt. By the completion of the first phase, sanitation coverage in rural Egypt will reach 60%, compared to 12% in 2014/2013. New subscribers are mainly in Beni Suef (39,600), Gharbia (31,300), and Beheira (24,900).

Regarding natural gas services, the report states that the number of subscribers has increased by 366%, reaching 550,000subscribers, with gas services extended to 560 villages, benefiting from a 433,000 increase in subscribers. Of these new subscribers, 24% are in Upper Egypt. This has resulted in savings of 2 billion EGP annually in subsidizing butane gas, 87 million USD annually in foreign currency, and a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions amounting to 4 million USD annually, alongside a savings of 1 billion EGP annually for beneficiary families.

The report also mentions the increase in the number of subscribers to high-speed internet services in the first-phase villages by 45%, with 371,600 subscribers, and the extension of the fiber-optic network to 409 villages, resulting in a 116,000 increase in subscribers compared to the pre-"Haya Karima" situation, with 16% of them located in Upper Egypt.

 

Green Villages Initiative

 

The report highlights the "Green Village" initiative within the "Haya Karima" project, aiming to align villages with the latest global environmental standards set by the World Green Building Council and receive the "Tarshid" certification for green communities.

 

The first phase targets rehabilitating one village in each rural governorate (20 villages). In terms of the executive status of the "Green Village" initiative, the village of Fares in Aswan won the certification in 2022, followed by Nahttai village in Gharbia in 2023, Shama village in Menoufia in 2024, and also the village of “Major General Sobih” in New Valley in 2024. Additionally, the rehabilitation of 16 villages in the first phase is ongoing, with 11 field visits completed to assess the progress.

 

Funding for Micro, Small, and Medium Projects

 

As part of the economic interventions within the "Haya Karima" initiative, 66.7 billion EGP in funding has been provided for MSMEs. Additionally, 137 bank branches have been established, including 104 branches in villages in Upper Egypt, accounting for 76%. Furthermore, 1,254 ATMs have been installed in the first-phase villages, with 948 ATMs of them in Upper Egypt, accounting for 76%. This has resulted in 100% coverage of local units with ATMs, contributing to the expansion of financial inclusion. The financial inclusion index has improved by 16.2 percentage points in the "Haya Karima" villages.

 

Partnerships with Civil Society Organizations

 

As part of the focus on strengthening partnerships, the report highlighted the increased collaboration with civil society organizations and academic institutions to benefit from their expertise in providing integrated services in rural Egypt. A cooperation protocol was signed with Ain Shams University and the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development to develop the most needy villages under the umbrella of the "Haya Karima" national project. This resulted in the launch of the "Dar wa Salama" project in the local unit of the village of Awlad Yahya, Dar el-Salaam Center, Sohag Governorate, with a total project cost of 53 million EGP.

 

Ongoing projects include the "Sakan Kareem" initiative to rehabilitate and improve 200 homes, the implementation of 500 water connections for the neediest families, and 16 general, comprehensive, and specialized medical convoys. To date, 64 drinking water connections have been completed, and a large medical convoy has been organized, benefiting 2,957 citizens and performing 15 surgical operations.

 

Additionally, a cooperation protocol has been signed with Galala University to develop the most needy villages under the "Haya Karima" national project. The initiative aims to provide medical convoys, social awareness campaigns, and raise public awareness. It also involves providing technical staff and consultants for monitoring and guidance in implementing infrastructure projects, as well as offering technical advice on drilling wells, water purification, agriculture, research, and feasibility studies related to economic empowerment. A medical convoy was implemented in the village of Al-Aqwaz, in Al-Saf Center, Giza Governorate, in March 2024, with the participation of 40 doctors, students, and nursing staff across 8 medical specialties, benefiting 1,200 citizens. Expansion of medical convoys across all centers of the "Haya Karima" project is planned.