Substantial efforts are needed to attain Egypt's local human development and realise its Millennium Development Goals. Al-Ahram Weekly reports on recent UNDP findings, Mona El-Fiqi reports The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in cooperation with the Egyptian Ministry of Planning and Local Development last week issued its Governorate Human Development Reports (GHDRs) which gauge the quality of local development in 12 Egyptian governorates. The reports cover the Delta governorates of Giza, Al-Gharbiya, Al-Beheira, Al-Daqahliya, Ismailia, North Sinai and Marsa Matrouh. It also surveys the Upper Egyptian governorates of Sohag, Al-Minya, Beni Sweif, Qena and Aswan. This is the second series of GHDR reports issued by the UNDP. The first anthology was issued in 2003 and comprised seven reports scanning the governorates of Assiut, Fayoum, Al-Qalioubiya, Al-Sharqiya, Kafr Al-Sheikh as well as Al-Menoufiya and Alexandria. Professor of Rural Development at Ain Shams University Ibrahim Muharram who authored the reports says that they identify the development achievements which have actually improved the quality of life in the governorates. The reports also define the disparities between various population units in the governorates and purport to offer an alternative course for local development. The ultimate objective, Muharram said, is to attain "better equality, and sustainable local human development". UNDP representative in Cairo Elissar Sarrouh said at a press conference last week that each report presents a comprehensive development map for its respective governorate. The reports are designed to assist decision- makers devise the appropriate plans for reaching a balanced human development in Egyptian cities and villages. A GHDR includes a description of the general characteristics of each governorate. This includes its position on the UN's human development index, the indicators for human development, and the status of women, civil society and the private sector. The reports for the greater part contend that local human development in most governorates is poor and needs greater efforts in order to attain the UNDP's prescribed Millennium Development Goals by the year 2017. A case in point is the Governorate of Marsa Matrouh on the north Mediterranean coast. Illiteracy among girls above the age of 15 in Marsa Matrouh stands at 45 per cent. Only 19 per cent of the total population, both girls and boys, have graduated from high schools and universities. The Upper Egyptian Governorate of Qena for its part occupies 17th place on the human development index. Some 795,000 citizens representing 28 per cent of Qena's total population subsist under the poverty line. The report underscored the clear demographic imbalance that is present in the governorate, where some 55,000 citizens inhabit the village of Hawa for instance as opposed to a mere 100 people living in Allaketa. Egypt's second largest governorate, Giza, has fallen from its position on the general human development index from 0.69 in 2001 to 0.683 in 2003. But it has still exhibited some positive improvements, with life expectancy rising from 65.6 years of age in 2001 to 67.1 years in 2003. Enrolment in all education levels has risen from 74.1 per cent in 2001 to 74.5 per cent in 2003. Per capita GDP in 2001 increased from LE6,380 to LE7,048 in 2003. Adult literacy in Giza however has deteriorated from 71.1 per cent in 2001 to 70.1 per cent in 2003. Females' education enrolment levels were reduced from 91.6 per cent in 2001 to 72.8 per cent in 2003. The report recommends that Giza relocate its existing health and educational personnel and mobilise soft loans in order to encourage self-employment amongst youth. It also urges the provision of funds for upgrading water and sewage networks. A unified plan for development is recommended which would integrate all local development projects along with their objectives, based on the Human Development Index. A general recommendation in all the GHDR reports was the improvement of women's conditions, especially in the rural areas. Recommended as well was the establishment of a unified mechanism for grassroots participation in local development and enhancing the role of agricultural cooperatives. Muharram said that encouraging the private sector and civil society to engage in environmental projects and expand consumer cooperative services is also called for.
