Re-envisioning the relation between the state, citizens and the private sector in Egypt is key to development, writes Samaa Kassaby* "In order to meet the development challenges it faces, Egypt cannot continue doing business as usual." This, in a nutshell, is how the Egypt Human Development Report of 2005 (EHDR) analyzed the situation with regard to all developmental issues, be they education, health, poverty reduction, environment, housing, etc. Why is a new social contract assumed to be the answer to the development challenges that Egypt is facing? Moreover, what is the "unusual" way of doing business it suggests? The EHDR 2005, which was entitled "Choosing Our Future: Towards a New Social Contract," and more recently the EHDR 2008 entitled "Egypt's Social Contract: the Role of Civil Society," adopt a view towards rearticulating the state-citizen relationship. In this "new" approach, each member of society -- institutions as well as individuals -- carries certain responsibilities and is assumed to have a specifically assigned role in the development process. Full partnership amongst the three "institutionalised" development partners -- the government, the private sector and civil society organisations -- is regarded as the most realistic tool that would manage to execute programmes and projects that could provide the basic package of rights guaranteeing decent livelihood to all Egyptian citizens. Individually, and at all levels, citizens themselves are assumed to be equally strong partners in development. Simply by making sure that their children are registered and by sending them to school or giving them their immunisation shots, the poorest of the poor citizens are actually assuming their role and taking part in the development process. Is it as simple as that? Well, yes and no. Yes, because the vision is clear, the agenda is already set and the process can be easily identified. The vision of the "New Social Contract" is based upon the necessity of providing a basic package of rights and services to each Egyptian citizen through the achievement of a high and sustainable economic growth rate, accompanied by the execution of a wide range of programmes reflecting a bold social agenda. The "Social Contract Agenda" set forth by EHDR 2005 identified a package of 55 programmes covering eight areas of development (poverty reduction, basic education, health, small and medium enterprise [SMEs], social security, agriculture, housing and area development, sanitation and water). Once executed, these programmes would pave the road towards Egypt achieving its Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and work as the basic milestone in providing the ultimate objective of a dignified and decent livelihood to each Egyptian citizen. The package of rights and services encompassed within the framework of these social contract development projects includes but is not limited to: citizens' security within the law; dignified treatment of the citizen by all state institutions; freedom of expression; decent and productive job opportunities; a safe and clean environment; high quality basic education services; overall health insurance services; availability of infrastructure; access to proper and affordable housing for the poor; provision of direct financial assistance to those in extreme poverty. No, it is not so simple because the requirements to perform the needed tasks and to achieve the three-way partnership means addressing prevailing patterns of dependency and apathy and rebuilding long-lost trust amongst all partners of development. These are formidable challenges, though not deterrents, that must be overcome to accomplish the main goals and objectives. Bearing these challenges in mind, the Social Contract Centre was established -- being a joint effort between the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Information and Decision Support Centre (IDSC) of the Egyptian cabinet -- to promote and monitor the execution of the 55 programmes as well as to provide policy advice to decision makers regarding the better accomplishment of the Social Contract Agenda. Enhancing the "Yes" elements and overcoming the "No" factors mentioned above, the Social Contract Centre was established with a set of strategic objectives that govern its operations. The first strategic objective is to create a national consensus on the new vision of the New Social Contract through creating dialogue opportunities amongst all partners. The second objective is to rebuild long-lost trust between the government and citizens. This is to be accomplished through providing technical support and advice to government institutions with the purpose of increasing citizens' satisfaction with services provided, increasing their trust in the system's ability to meet people's expectations and needs. The third objective is to provide technical support and advice to ministries to deal with poverty reduction efforts through a rights-based approach. The fourth strategic objective is the provision of technical support to civil society organisations in designing appropriate roles, in capacity building, in strengthening and building partnerships with government and private sector entities, and in achieving better communication with citizens at local levels. During its first year of establishment, the Social Contract Centre intensified its communication and outreach activities directed at its various partners. A major part of these activities was directed towards civil society organisations. Eight workshops were conducted to discuss the main concepts and notions of the New Social Contract with members of active NGOs at the national level. The workshops offered a great opportunity to discuss how NGOs view the Social Contract Agenda's programmes of development and how these programmes fit local needs and requirements. NGO members discussed possible roles that they can perform and possible opportunities and requirements to establish partnerships with both government organisations and private sector entities. Also, as part of its role in monitoring and policy advice, the Social Contract Centre has been closely monitoring global food price issues and how food price rises would affect Egyptian development issues, in particular where they deal with such sensitive issues as agricultural policies and issues of subsidies and poverty reduction. Building consensus and awareness of the New Social Contract as the new approach to "doing the business of development" is a major tool that could help in paving the way towards achieving development that is more just, efficient and effective. * The writer is a communication specialist with the Social Contract Centre.
