Int'l Cooperation Min. Reviews NWFE Programs

International Cooperation Minister Rania el Mashat reviewed the Country Platform for the Nexus of Water, Food and Energy (NWFE), which includes nine projects with total investments worth dlrs 14.7 billion, as the energy pillar includes a mega project to replace thermal power plants with renewable energy at a value of dlrs 10 billion.

The food security pillar also includes 5 projects, with total investments worth dlrs 3.35 billion.

The 5 projects are Adaptation of Crop Production in the Nile Valley and Delta, Adaptation of Northern Delta Affected by Sea Level Rise, Resilience for Most Vulnerable and Marginal Regions, On-farm Irrigation of Old Lands, and Establishing an Early Warning System.

Also, the water pillar includes 3 projects with investments of dlrs 1.35 billion.

Additionally, the NWFE+ program includes several projects to enhance sustainable and environmentally friendly transportation efforts, with an investment of dlrs 3.5 billion, that reflects the integration of the country's efforts to achieve green and comprehensive transformation in various sectors.

This came during a joint coordination platform held between the minister and the Development Partners Group in Egypt (DPG) and the United Nations and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The multi-stakeholder platform was held with the participation of over 30 multilateral and bilateral development partners and the technical teams of the Ministry of International Cooperation.

During the meeting, Mashat reviewed, with the development partners, the path of progress in mobilizing the various financing mechanisms for the NWFE program projects and its various sectors.

The minister, meanwhile, referred to the implementation plan that the Egyptian government is working to implement, through a precise and tight governance structure, with an accelerated pace in line with political leadership directives that enhance Egypt’s transition from pledges to implementation.

The minister thanked the multilateral and bilateral development partners for their fruitful cooperation with the Egyptian government to meet development requirements and priorities in various fields.

She also referred to the joint political declaration issued by Egypt, Germany and the US during COP27 which reflects the magnitude of international support and applause to the NWFE program, as a model for national platforms aimed at stimulating climate action that highlights what has been achieved so far through joint cooperation, and the implementation of projects in the various fields.

The minister further pointed out to the developments of the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) initiative on nature and climate investments, saying that the Egyptian file for the NWFE program came first at the level of countries in North Africa and Europe within the initiative, scheduled to provide grants worth dlrs 500 million to countries.