Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat visited Assiut on Sunday to follow up on the regional implementation of the sustainable development goals (SDGs). To map out SDG progress and achieve communication for development (C4D) goals, the ministry's SDG mapping activities include carrying out field visits to Egypt's different cities and regions, as incorporating the SDGs into local contexts is essential for the effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Through a country-led engagement framework, the ministry's C4D goals aim to ensure local ownership of services and projects, ensuring that development financing is based on the principle of country ownership. As realities vary from one region to the next, there is also a need to contextualise and accelerate each region's implementation of the SDGs to guarantee the localisation of development and bring about the necessary changes for building an inclusive economy. During the visit, Al-Mashat, along with the Netherlands' Ambassador to Cairo, Han-Maurits Schaapveld, witnessed the graduation ceremony of the second round of the Upper Egyptian Orange Corners Programme to support innovative and creatively driven entrepreneurs in Upper Egypt, which is implemented in cooperation with the Netherlands and in partnership with ALEXBANK. On the occasion of women's month, the minister and Essam Saad — the Governor of Assiut — also oversaw the STEM Schools Project in Assiut, which is funded by USAID and aims to increase advanced training and careers in STEM fields for girls, and to increase scientific literacy among young girls and the Assiut population. To promote climate-smart infrastructure in Assiut through international partnerships, Al-Mashat also oversaw the New Assiut Barrage Project, which was completed last year in cooperation with Germany, covering an area of 650,000 feddans. As hydropower contributes significantly to the avoidance of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and mitigating climate change, the minister oversaw the new Assiut hydroelectric power station as well, which was also implemented in cooperation with Germany to push Egypt towards a green transformation by reducing carbon emissions by 147,000 tonnes annually. Furthermore, the Minister visited the Assiut Potable Water and Sanitation Company funded by USAID, which aims to upgrade water and wastewater facilities in underserved cities and rural areas using low-maintenance technologies and local contractors, serving 180,000 beneficiaries.
