Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat participated in a UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development in a session titled ‘Accelerating Progress Towards the SDGs Through Effective Development Cooperation in a Context of Fragility and COVID-19: Progress and Challenges.’
During the session, the minister delivered a keynote speech in a discussion on accelerating action for the sustainable development goals (SDGs).
The HLPF is the UN’s main platform on sustainable development, and it plays a central role in the follow-up, review, and implementation of the Global 2030 Agenda.
The forum was established in 2012 after a document was drafted in the UN Conference on Sustainable Development, and it is held annually under the auspices of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
In her speech, Al-Mashat presented the Egyptian government’s efforts in international cooperation and development financing, advancing efforts towards the green economy, achieving a comprehensive and sustainable recovery, overcoming the repercussions of the pandemic, enhancing the country’s economic resilience, and pushing for innovative financing mechanisms to promote climate action.
The minister also explained Egypt’s experience with the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation (GPEDC) to shape the economic cooperation framework through the principles of economic diplomacy.
This is to increase effectiveness and to accelerate progress towards the SDGs, taking into account the 2005 Paris Declaration on Effective Development Cooperation and the 2019 Kampala Principles on strengthening the role of the private sector through international cooperation.
Al-Mashat added that the GPEDC focuses on four main principles — country ownership, focus on results, inclusive partnerships, and transparency and mutual accountability.
Moreover, the minister reviewed the principles of economic diplomacy, which include hosting multi-stakeholder platforms (MSPs), mapping the ODA to the SDGs, and the global partnerships narrative.
She added that through the first pillar, the Egyptian government was able to maximise the results and impacts of development cooperation, as in 2020 and 2021, various MSPs were held on telecommunications, petroleum, supply, SMEs, the private sector, and digitisation.
Lastly, the Al-Mashat spoke about Egypt’s preparations to host the UN Conference of Parties on Climate Change (COP27) and the measures that have been taken in the launch of the 2050 National Climate Change Strategy in order to enhance the implementation of Egypt’s 2030 Vision, push climate action, and enhance Egypt’s resilience to future shocks.
She also noted the recent launch of the NWFE Programme that aims to promote a list of national projects in energy, food, and water that would benefit from green investments and private sector engagement.
Furthermore, Al-Mashat invited government representatives and international organisations to participate in the second edition of the Egypt – International Cooperation Forum (Egypt – ICF), which will represent an important preliminary gathering — especially for the African Continent, international institutions, and the private sector — prior to the COP27.
This will support in unifying visions and discussing views and messages in terms of the role of the international community in advancing the green transformation, confronting climate change, and achieving the SDGs.
