In a significant move towards achieving sustainable development, the Ministry of Planning of Egypt, under the auspices of Prime Minister Dr. Mustafa Madbouly, has launched the second issuance of reports on the localization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across the governorates. This initiative aligns with Egypt's commitment to integrating these goals into local planning, thereby enhancing development effectiveness and public policy.
During the announcement at the national conference for the winners of the third cycle of the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, the Minister of Planning and Economic Development, emphasized the reports as crucial planning tools. "The reports on the localization of sustainable development goals significantly enhance the financing equation for the governorates and accelerate the pace of achieving developmental goals in Egypt," said Dr. Al-Mashat.
The second issuance not only builds on its predecessor but also incorporates various developments to reflect the government's ongoing efforts in monitoring and evaluating sustainable development projects at both national and local levels. "These reports provide structured information to policymakers and the public, ensuring they are informed about the latest developments in a coherent manner," Dr. Al-Mashat added.
In an effort to provide comprehensive insights, the Ministry is also working on developing a robust digital platform for monitoring SDG indicators at the provincial level. This interactive platform will display and analyze key metrics, offering a detailed overview of sustainable development status across all Egyptian governorates.
Dr. Al-Mashat pointed out that this new platform will empower governors and policymakers with updated data regularly, fostering evidence-based policy-making and supporting the localization of SDGs in Egypt. The aim is to enhance the capabilities of local governments to achieve these goals while making SDG data accessible at the provincial level.
The second issuance of the reports includes an expansion of indicators covered, increasing from 32 in the first issuance to 50 in the latest reports. This enhancement, supported by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics, reflects a substantial commitment to adequately monitor and address the achievement of the SDGs in various regions.
Dr. Mona Essam, Assistant Minister for Sustainable Development, elaborated on the importance of the reports, which translate sustainable development goals into executable actions suitable for local contexts. She emphasized the imperative of raising awareness regarding development goals and closely monitoring progress. "The localization of SDGs took shape through four key institutional frameworks adopted by Egypt at the 2023 summit, aiming to expedite the fulfillment of national development priorities," she explained.
The inaugural reports were launched in 2021 in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), with 27 reports covering all governorates. The current iteration aims not only to update previous findings but to deepen the engagement with all relevant stakeholders involved in local governance and development.
According to Dr. Essam, these reports also serve to provide a systematic overview and assessment of the current implementation status of the SDGs at the provincial level. By utilizing strategically available data, the reports highlight both achievements and developmental gaps requiring additional attention, enabling policymakers to craft programs addressing local needs.
The increasing scope of the second issuance signifies a commitment to fostering comprehensive and equitable development across Egypt’s governorates. Dr. Essam noted that the methodology utilized for ranking governorates remains consistent with that of the first issuance, which enables a proper assessment of progress within the national framework. This uniform approach allows local administrations to analyze their status in relation to others while addressing their specific development challenges.
Through the localization of SDGs, the Egyptian government is striving to enhance the impact of developmental initiatives, ensuring that local communities benefit from tailored solutions informed by thorough monitoring and evaluation.
As the country advances towards its ambitious SDG targets, the focus remains on creating a more integrative environmental framework that nurtures sustainable development and bridges existing gaps across different regions. The initiative is pivotal in realizing Egypt’s vision for sustainable growth and partnership, aligning local efforts with global goals, thus solidifying the foundations for a more sustainable future.
