Social Solidarity: Round table reviews schemes for ‘vulnerable’ groups

By Yasser Abdullah

Senior banking officials of local banks attended a round table on Tuesday to follow up programmes and initiatives from the Ministry of Social Solidarity.

The ministry organised the event in co-operation with the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE).

Minister of Social Solidarity Nevine el-Qabbag said work is on-going to broaden partnerships with the private and banking sectors and to co-operated further with civil society and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

The private sector is the backbone of development in Egypt and it is vital for the achievement of higher economic growth, the minister said.

The government has taken far greater strides than many other countries in the direction of economic growth, the minister added.

El-Qabbag said her ministry had launched programmes to eradicate poverty, to ensure food security, and to provide the most vulnerable segments of society with health services, top-quality education and decent housing.

All this is in line with Sustainable Development Goals and Egypt Vision 2030, el-Qabbag added, pointing out that her ministry is keen to achieve financial inclusion for the poor and the most caring families.

The ministry has issued nearly 11 million ‘meeza’ cards to beneficiaries of the Solidarity and Dignity programme and to pensioners.

She referred to the integrated services cards for people with disabilities, in addition to the enhancement of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises through facilitating soft loans for those who want to start up small projects.

During the meeting, Qabbag reviewed the ministry’s programmes for girls and women, in addition to giving special importance to rural women and protecting all women from all forms of violence and abuse.

El-Qabbag said that her ministry is working to implement the National Strategy to Combat Climate Change.

The Ministry of Social Solidarity wants to see the presence of civil society and volunteers at the upcoming UN Conference of Parties on Climate (COP27) in Sharm el-Sheikh next month.

Lamis Negm, CBE Governor Advisor for Social Responsibility and Chairman of the Sustainable Development Committee in the Federation of Egyptian Banks and head of the Financial Inclusion Unit at the CBE Khaled Bassiouni attended the event.