Egypt’s Minister of Social Solidarity Nevine el-Qabbag on Thursday called on civil associations to take part in the second round of the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects before the project submission period ends 1 September.
This came during her meeting yesterday with Ambassador Hisham Badr, National Coordinator and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects, to discuss ways of activating the role of civil institutions in the initiative launched in August 2022 under the patronage of President Abdel Fatah El Sisi and by decree from Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli.
It is being implemented under the supervision of the Minister of Planning and Economic Development in coordination with the ministries concerned.
This initiative received accolades from many international institutions during the UN climate change conference (COP27) in November last year in the Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh, as it involves public and private institutions, civil society, individuals, particularly women and youth, in climate action, the minister said.
The initiative is a real opportunity for civil society to showcase its efforts in sustainable development by engaging in projects aimed directly at confronting climate change risks, the minister added.
For his part, Badr said that the initiative represents an innovative model for climate action localisation as it opens the door to all segments of society to participate effectively in climate action.
It is part of the state’s efforts to achieve nationwide sustainable development and raise awareness of climate change challenges, Badr added.
The objectives of the initiative include focusing on implementation and application, addressing climate change, and fulfilling sustainable development goals (SDGs) and digital transformation, he said.
This is in addition to creating a governorate-level map for green smart projects, helping to connect projects with national and international funding agencies and investors, he added.
Badr pointed out that Round One was a success, receiving applications for 6,200 projects, and after evaluation, 162 projects (six from each governorate) were selected. After further evaluation and assessments, the best 18 projects were announced, and they were presented at COP 27.
The initiative supports the winning projects by granting them financial prizes and connecting them with relevant partners to ensure their implementation on the ground.