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Cabinet officials

Accelerated Reforms and Inclusive Growth: Egypt's Road to Building Back Better

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Egypt's Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat highlighted the novel coronavirus pandemic's accelerated reforms, including the closure of the gender gap, as a silver lining. The minister noted that the pandemic served as an initiator for "The Great Reset" and prompted Egypt to launch a women-specific response, ranking first in the Middle East and West Asia regions with 21 policy measures according to the UNDP COVID-19 Global Gender Response Tracker. The ministry has secured $82m in funding for 13 projects targeting SDG 5: Gender Equality, with an additional $7m dedicated to the goal through bilateral cooperation with Spain and Canada.

Key Takeaways:

  • Egypt's Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat emphasized the accelerated reforms, including the closure of the gender gap, as a positive outcome of the pandemic.
  • The country's women-specific response, launched by the National Council for Women (NCW), ranked first in the Middle East and West Asia regions with 21 policy measures according to the UNDP COVID-19 Global Gender Response Tracker.
  • The Ministry of International Cooperation has a portfolio of 36 development projects dedicated to SDG 4: Quality Education, with funding amounting to $2,361m.
  • The ministry's current portfolio of development financing includes 13 projects targeting SDG 5: Gender Equality, receiving funding of $82m.
  • An additional $7m in financing dedicated to SDG 5 will be secured through bilateral cooperation with Spain and Canada.
  • The "Closing the Gender Gap Accelerator" was launched in July 2020, aiming to close economic gender gaps and increase women's participation in the labour force.
  • Education in Egypt has been reformed to emphasize digital learning, technology, and inclusion, with 12 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) High Schools being established for boys and girls.
  • According to a 2018 UNDP report, if women entered the workforce at the same rate as men, the economic output would increase to $962bn.

Statistics:

  • Egypt's Ministry of International Cooperation has a portfolio of 36 development projects dedicated to SDG 4: Quality Education, with funding amounting to $2,361m.
  • The Ministry of International Cooperation's current portfolio of development financing includes 13 projects targeting SDG 5: Gender Equality, receiving funding of $82m.
  • An additional $7m in financing dedicated to SDG 5 will be secured through bilateral cooperation with Spain and Canada.
  • Egypt ranked first in the Middle East and West Asia regions with 21 policy measures according to the UNDP COVID-19 Global Gender Response Tracker.
  • The economic output would increase to $962bn if women entered the workforce at the same rate as men, according to a 2018 UNDP report on Africa.

Sources:

  • Daily News Egypt, "Egypt's minister of international cooperation: Accelerated reforms a silver lining of the pandemic", November 2020.
  • UNDP COVID-19 Global Gender Response Tracker, 2020.
  • UNDP report on Africa, 2018.
  • Africa CEO Forum, "Women Working For Change (WFC): The Summit", 24 November 2020.

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