Minister of International Cooperation Sahar Nasr held the first consultative meeting for national authorities on Sunday to discuss the new United Nations (UN) framework. The meeting was held with the participation of the UN resident coordinator Richard Dicts and representatives from 22 bodies, including the ministries of foreign affairs, justice, planning, local development and housing, utilities, urban development, education, and agriculture, as well as the National Council for Motherhood and Childhood and the Social Fund for Development (SFD). The meeting discussed preparations for the new strategic framework for the United Nations' work in Egypt from 2018 to 2022, which is in line with Egypt's own development agenda to meet the needs of its citizens. Nasr also held a meeting with Randa Aboul-Hosn, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) country director. The minister stressed the need for the UN framework to focus on the poorest and most needy areas in Egypt, and to support small- and medium-sized enterprises, which provide employment opportunities for youth and women. She also noted the importance of integration between international institutions to cooperate in the implementation of a number of special projects that contribute to the increase of services, such as health, clean water, electricity, and drainage projects, in coordination with members of the House of Representatives. The minister pointed out that the programme provides an initial step to eradicate poverty and promote sustainable economic growth through the provision of decent employment opportunities, the development of a sustainable infrastructure, and the expansion of the use of renewable energy resources.
