Egypt’s Ministry of State for Information announced, on Monday, the launch of the first phase of the national development initiative, called Tanmaya (“Development”), to mark the International Day of Peace.
The initiative comes in partnership with the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, the Ministry of Environment, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports. It aims to highlight Egypt’s Vision 2030 and the national agenda for sustainable development, in line with the sustainable development goals (SDGs) implemented by the United Nations (UN).
The initiative’s first phase includes a competition for individuals, companies, civil society organisations, and media professionals, aimed at creating community dialogue on the SDGs. It also targets creating awareness about the national agenda of the Egypt Vision 2030, in addition to highlighting the importance of large-scale cooperation in achieving them.
Osama Heikal, Minister of State for Information, said that sustainable development is a cornerstone in accomplishing the Egypt Vision 2030, which is rooted in the ministry’s policy of achieving this vision.
He added that the initiative is based on collaboration and large-scale cooperation, in addition to raising awareness. It also looks to involve the community in achieving the national agenda for sustainable development and its goals, through a platform for dialogue between the state, youth and all institutions.
Minister of Planning and Economic Development Hala El-Said emphasised the importance of sustainable development in improving the quality of life for Egyptian citizens. She added that sustainability means achieving development goals without sacrificing the rights of future generations in natural resources.
Yasmine Fouad, Egypt’s Minister of Environment, praised the Ministry of State for Information’s role in raising awareness on environmental issues and sustainable development.
She said that it is important to achieve a balance between development and the environment, and pointed to the political leadership’s support for the environmental agenda in all national projects.
Ashraf Sobhy, Minister of Youth and Sports, said that cooperation in the Tanmaya initiative is part of the government’s tendency towards collective work.
The competition is open to the best individuals or groups that have created an initiative that applies the SDGs and their dimensions.
Media professionals can also participate in the competition, by proposing the best article or a programme idea that explains sustainable development and its applications in our daily lives, and its relationship to the individual.
The best company in the private sector and civil society that applies the concepts and standards of sustainable development will also be chosen for the competition.
The window for applications has now opened, and will come to a close on 31 October 2020. Applications can be sent via the attached links on the Ministry of State for Information’s official Facebook page.
A committee made up of media academics and professionals, alongside sustainable development experts, will complete the selection process. The selection criteria will be based on the submission’s ability to provide creative and innovative solutions to stimulate the implementation of the SDGs, and its positive influence on society.
