World Bank has secured a $9.13 million grant from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to expand the scope of the Greater Cairo Air Pollution Management and Climate Change Project, according to its statement on Wednesday. The grant would enhance the environmental benefits of the original project, both at the local and global levels, by improving the management of electronic and healthcare waste. "We are committed to supporting Egypt's broader environmental preservation efforts," World Bank Country Director for Egypt, Yemen, and Djibouti Marina Wes stated. The project's development will support Egypt's climate strategy 2050 by creating a regulatory environment with data-driven decisions and awareness on the management of waste and recycling," said Egypt's Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat. The project expansion aims to support the country's national action plan on the unintentional persistent organic pollutants (UPOPs), with a focus on strengthening the regulatory framework, the statement added. Egypt's Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad highlighted that advancing both the healthcare and digital sectors are key priorities for Egypt, adding these vital efforts must not compromise the health of citizens. In another context, economist Nemat Shafik, a member of the British House of Lords, with Egyptian origins on the list of candidates for the WB Group, replaced David Malpass, the current president, who will voluntarily leave office in the middle of this year 2023.
