On 15 November 2016, the Minister of International Cooperation Dr. Sahar Nasr signed an agreement with Dr. El-Mostafa Benlamih, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Ambassador Saeed Hendam, Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs for International Cooperation Affairs, to extend the Egypt Network for Integrated Development (ENID) Project until 2021, in presence of ENID Director Dr. Heba Handoussa, a number of development partners and Advisor to the Minister of International Cooperation for UN Affairs Ms. Yara El-Abd. As stated by Dr. Nasr, the project will enhance the sustainable development and provide thousands of job opportunities in Upper Egypt, given that the project's new phase will focus on identifying achievements made in Qena governorate and enhancing an integrated approach and lessons learned and transferring them neighboring governorates, including Sohag and Luxor. This is in addition to directly and indirectly helping more than 15000 citizens through providing new economic opportunities and enhancing capacities in the basic services, SMEs and agricultural fields, besides focusing on the project's sustainability to reach other governorates in Upper Egypt.
The Minister commended ENID project due to its significant role in providing job opportunities and supporting the most vulnerable groups, especially women and young people.
According to the Minister, the project contributed to training 4431 individuals on a number of cottage industries, crafts, clothes manufacturing and agriculture as well as supporting the most vulnerable groups in 42 poor villages in Upper Egypt and providing 1477 direct job opportunities, along with giving priority to supporting women and youth, which, in turn, benefited 90% of unemployed citizens. For his part, Dr. Benlamih highlighted the importance of innovation which serves as the center of the project that promoted a new approach for comprehensive and sustainable human development in Upper Egypt.
Further, on the sidelines of the signing, the Minister chaired a meeting with Dr. Benlamih and a number of development partners, including representatives of the WB, where officials discussed the project's contribution to achieving Egypt's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), eliminating poverty and hunger, empowering women, achieving social justice and supporting rural development and SMEs.
