Egypt’s NIGSD launches its training program on governance and digital transformation in Portugal

The National Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development (NIGSD) - the training arm of the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development - launched its training program on governance and digital transformation in Portugal for 26 Egyptian government leaders, in cooperation with the United Nations University through the “United Nations University Operating Unit on Policy-Driven E-Governance” in Portugal.
The training program was inaugurated by a delegation from the National Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development headed by Dr. Sherifa Sharif, Executive Director of the Institute, Mr. Nabil Fouad, Director of the General Department for Business Development and Human Resources, Mr. Mustafa Ahmed Kamal, Legal Adviser to the Institute, and Ms. Delfina Soares, Head of the Digital Governance Unit United Nations University. The delegation also held a series of meetings with representatives of the United Nations UniversityDr. Sherifa El-Sherif said that aspects of cooperation include training on digital transformation, smart cities, and applications of good governance, and the cooperation also includes the part of joint research between the two sides. The Portuguese side will participate in research on governance and smart cities that will be published in the journal that will be launched by NIGSD next October under the title "Governance for Sustainable Development". The two parties are also cooperating in the field of technical support regarding the preparation of the national indicator of governance, and the applications of good governance, indicating that joint training programs "online" will be organized to be launched on the institute's educational platform.Dr. Sherifa El-Sherif also stressed the importance of training in light of Egypt's interest in governance and digital transformation, pointing to the need for continuous training for Egyptian government leaders in light of the presidential interest in digital transformation and the establishment of smart cities in Egypt, especially the administrative capital.El-Sherif referred to the importance of cooperation and exchange of experiences with international organizations, explaining that the institute has established many partnerships with institutes and international centers for digital transformation and governance to provide many programs that benefit many government employees.For his part, Mr. Nabil Fouad said that the partnership with the United Nations University is the result of a continuous effort during the previous period to reach the implementation of this training, stressing the importance of implementing the future partnership with the university despite the repercussions of the Corona pandemic and that there is great interest in precautionary measures to preserve the participants since their movement from Cairo and their safe return to the homeland. Fouad added that the training program is based on studying the best experiences in digital transformation in the world and linking them to the actual reality in Egypt in light of the state's tendency to make all transactions digital and spreading the concept of digital transformation in all states agencies.Counselor Mustafa Ahmed Kamal indicated that the training deals with the use of information technology to develop public administration and that one of the objectives of the program are to qualify state cadres for digital transformation to enhance and improve the quality of public administration.The meetings dealt with discussing the present cooperation in the field of advisory and research services, training, and capacity building.Attendees of the meeting agreed on many aspects of cooperation and the implementation plan.