The Minister of Planning and Economic Development participates in the launching ceremony of the "Noura Initiative"

Dr. Hala El-Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, participated on Sunday in the launching ceremony of the "Noura" initiative.

The aforementioned initiative is being implemented by the ministry in cooperation with the National Council for Women (NCW), the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood, and the United Nations Population Fund, in partnership with the Embassy of the Netherlands and the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development.
During her speech at the ceremony, Dr. Hala El-Said said that Egypt has prioritized gender equality in its 2030 vision for sustainable development.
Concerning education, El-Said added that today Egypt has clear reform plans and stronger educational initiatives that would completely eradicate illiteracy and empower girls and women socially, economically, and politically.

 “We recognize the importance of access to quality education in remote areas and at all levels including secondary schools and universities," El-Said said.
Regarding economic development, El-Said explained that it is estimated that gender gaps cost the economy more than a 30% reduction in GDP, which means that women’s empowerment and inclusion in the economy are crucial to economic growth.
 “There are now many government programs designed to improve the skills and participation rate of women in the workforce that encourage and support women entrepreneurs in various economic sectors,” El-Said explained.
El-Said added that the new Egyptian Family Development Project is currently being implemented to fully manage the chronic population problem in Egypt.
The project seeks primarily to improve the characteristics of the population through a comprehensive transformation of human capital to enhance well-being while enhancing population stability and family planning.
El-Said concluded her speech by emphasizing support for women’s empowerment and development programs such as Noura’s Program, which are programs that help build the girl’s self-confidence, develop her skills, in addition to enabling her to identify her needs and determine her priorities.
El-Said added that harnessing the skills and talents of the next generation of young leaders will advance inclusive economic development efforts.
The launch of "Noura" came in a celebration held on the sidelines of the El Gouna Film Festival, on October 17, under the title "Investing in Girls for a Bright Future for Egypt," within the framework of the "Egyptian Girl" initiative under the leadership of the National Council for Women and the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood.

The ceremony also witnessed the launch of the Girls' Capacity Development Framework, which was specifically designed to respond to the special circumstances of adolescent girls, empower them, and build their social, health, and economic skills.

This event marks the first public appearance of Noura, who is a symbol of all teenage girls in Egypt and of the Girls' Capacity Development Framework that we seek to soon become a symbol of investing in girls in Egypt through partners, filmmakers, and supporters.
The ceremony was attended by Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation; Ambassador Nabila Makram, Minister of Immigration and Egyptians Abroad Affairs; Dr. Maya Morsi, President of the National Council for Women; Dr. Sahar Al-Sunbati, Secretary-General of the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood; Ms. Frederica Meyer, Representative of the United Nations Population Fund in Egypt; Mr. Han Moritz Chapfield, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Egypt; Ms. Elena Panova, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Egypt; Mr. Ibrahim Al-Afia, Minister Counselor of the Delegation of the European Union to the Arab Republic of Egypt, and Engineer Nora Selim, Executive Director of the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development; and Mrs. Mervat Sultan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Export Development Bank of Egypt.
The panel discussions during the ceremony were led by Honorary Ambassadors of the United Nations Population Fund, Amina Khalil and Catarina Furtado.