Egypt President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi called for adopting a holistic approach towards comprehensive development of the countryside.
Speaking during a Sunday meeting, the president directed all government bodies to collectively introduce a sound development model, which takes into consideration all aspects of rural development, including community-based awareness.
The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Planning and Economic Development Hala El-Said, Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait, Minister of Local Development Mahmoud Shaarawy, and Minister of Social Solidarity Nevine El-Kabbaj.
The meeting followed up on the progress of the development project of the Egyptian countryside, which targets 1,000 villages nationwide, within the framework of the “Decent Life” initiative.
Decent Life is a state-sponsored strategy launched by President Al-Sisi to eradicate poverty in Egypt’s neediest villages. It aims to improve living standards, reduce poverty, develop infrastructure, achieve sustainable job creation, and strengthen basic services and utilities provided.
The participating ministers also briefed Al-Sisi on the progress of social safety net and poverty reduction programmes that are being undertaken in cooperation with the country’s civil society organisations.
Moreover, the meeting tackled the national programme to support and regularise fishing, under which, fishermen will be provided with social protection.
Al-Sisi directed the provision of protective and safety equipment to fishermen under the programme. These equipment will be financed by Tahya Misr Fund.
Egypt has been boosting social protection measures since it commenced the economic reform programme in 2016. The North African nation expanded the Takaful and Karama programme to reach 3.5 million households and 10 million beneficiaries, in addition to expanding the social pension budget to reach another 1.7 million households, and the general pension as well.
Finally, the meeting agreed on smaller programmes targeting specific vulnerable groups, such as providing free school meals and new gas connections in poor districts.
