The “Decent Life” initiative will be a major aspect of the 2023-2027 United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), as the Ministry of International Cooperation is working to incorporate the initiative into upcoming strategies with all development partners, according to Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat.
This is also reflected by the ministry’s keenness to enhance joint partnerships with the UN and relevant entities to develop a clear and accurate vision of the UN’s contribution to the initiative.
Her remarks came during her meeting with Antonio Vigilante — the International Consultant and former resident coordinator in Egypt for the UN and the UNDP — alongside Elena Panova — the current UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt — where a number of coordination and consultation meetings with ministries and relevant entities took place.
The visit included discussions establishing an integrated approach for the UN’s interventions with the government of Egypt within the framework of the rural development programme.
The meeting also looked into the results of meetings held by Vigilante and UN officials — including 25 consultations with government entities and stakeholders alongside two field visits to two governorates that receive support from the initiative — as a way to showcase the efforts undertaken by the Egyptian government in the presidential initiative alongside discussing opportunities for effective cooperation with the UN within the initiative’s framework.
Al-Mashat said that cooperation between Egypt and the UN comes within the framework of fruitful and constructive partnerships through the UN Partnership Development Framework (UNPDF) for 2018/22 and the new 2023/27 UNSDCF alongside a commitment by the Egyptian government to enhance cooperation with its multilateral and bilateral development partners.
Furthermore, the minister stressed the strategic importance of the discussions that take place within the framework of the Decent Life Initiative, which is the largest national project in the country’s history that aims to achieve integrated development for over half the population via infrastructure projects and investment in human capital.
She also applauded the strategic partnership between Egypt and the UN, which has extended for decades and has achieved positive results across various sectors, especially during the coronavirus pandemic.
Additionally, she emphasised her confidence that the current discussions within the framework of the new partnership will be reflected positively through future results, enhancing the country’s commitment to improving the lives of citizens and to increased development cooperation between both sides.
On her part, Panova proposed the tracks of contribution from the UN to the initiative. This includes the first track, which is to “Continue, Expand, and Extend”: Following up on existing activities and expanding implementation in cooperation with government entities, which currently includes 400 ongoing activities that are directed to over 1.4m beneficiaries.
Secondly is “Coordinated, Synchronised, and Refined Contribution”: Investing in human capital in several areas such as, health, education, empowering youths, strengthening governance, supporting climate action, and empowering women and girls. This is alongside benefiting from previous national and international experiences and by placing the Decent Life Initiative as a priority within the 2023/27 UNSDCF.
The third track, “Enabling a UN Joint Programme”: incorporates aligning the presidential initiative’s goals with that of the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs) with strengthened monitoring and evaluation systems.
Lastly, the fourth track is “Capturing and Disseminating Decent Life as an Anti-poverty and SDG Best Practice.”
