EGYPT'S VOLUNTARY NATIONAL REVIEW 2018

employees who are looking for comfortable offers cultural gains; a social taboo around but cheap means of transportation as an women riding bicycles in public streets is now alternative to taxis. being widely challenged. Egypt is also witnessing a burgeoning cycling Preservation of National and World culture, with several initiatives springing up to Heritage promote the use of bicycles. In cooperation with the Embassy of Denmark, UN Habitat The Government has embarked on a new and Heliopolis Cultural Heritage Preservation project to renovate Cairo’s downtown district, NGO, Cairo Governorate has launched a new with the aim of restoring the area’s original initiative that aims to install bicycle parking Khedival architectural style by reconstructing slots around the streets of Heliopolis, as an buildings and facades, to turn the area into an active step to encourage residents of the open museum. The project also includes the district to cycle more. The expansion in the development of 12,000 m2 of the surrounding use of bicycles in Cairo not only promotes a pedestrian streets. About 200 buildings have sustainable means of transportation, but also been renovated so far. 48 Progress Towards Goals and Targets

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production Table 13: SDG 12 Indicators Indicators SDG Type Value 2030 Change target 0 Target Global Food 2 Security Index 12.3 57 2016 N/A (score out of 100) 12.c.1 35 2017 0 Amount spent on oil subsidies (EGP bn) The SDS promotes sustainable consumption as an independent service authority, under and production practices in key economic the minister of environment. The agency’s sectors, including energy, agriculture, objectives are to regulate and oversee all water and waste. This is to be achieved waste management processes, nationally and through efficient allocation and use of at the local level. water and energy resources, enhancing the development of sustainable agriculture, and Egypt’s energy subsidy reform program (see waste management, including prevention, SDG 7 above) is a major step towards the reduction, recycling, reuse, and recovery. The rationalization of energy consumption (both national strategy’s strategic objectives include fuel and electricity). The program not only a substantial reduction in a wide variety of reduces a burden on the state’s budget and pollution indicators by 2030, for example, allows for increased spending on health and reducing reduce pollution caused by airborne education; it also forces both consumers and dust by 50 percent from the current level of producers to reduce or rationalize their energy 157 microgram/m3. It also aims at improving usage. waste collection efficiency to 90 percent in 2030 from a current level of 20 percent. Sustainable production patterns are being commercialized by private companies such According to estimates from 2011, the total as Schaduf. Founded in 2011, Schaduf21 aims amount of municipal solid waste generated at empowering and sustaining Cairo’s low- annually is around 20 million tons, or 250 income communities through transforming kg per person annually.20 The Government rooftops in the capital into urban farms, where of Egypt has accordingly launched the people of different backgrounds can grow National Solid Waste Management Program clean, pesticide-free, hydroponically grown (NSWMP), with the support of EU/German produce for their families, as well as potentially development partners, to ensure the generate revenue. Through a collaboration sustainable development of the solid waste with the NGO Kafelet El-Kheir, Schaduf management sector in Egypt. Additionally, a provides 500 families with their own rooftop prime ministerial decree established the Waste farm for a period of three years. The farms Management Regulatory Agency (WMRA) are designed to recirculate the water supply 20 Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC), 21 The name comes from an Arabic word for an ancient Egypt’s Waste Problem, 2012. irrigation tool used to lift Nile water up into irrigation canals. Egypt's Voluntary National Review 2018 49

and reduce water usage by up to 70 percent Efforts geared towards raising awareness of compared to traditional farming techniques, the importance of sustainable consumption making it one of the most efficient methods of and production are crucial to the achievement farming available. of SDG 12, and NGOs play a very important role in that area. The Sustainable Development A unique and notable initiative is one run Action in Egypt initiative, which capitalizes on in Cairo’s Garbage City, led by the NGO the energy and innovation of young people, the Association for the Protection of the has been established; it adopts an integrated Environment (APE). Many of the quarter’s approach towards sustainable awareness 70,000 residents work on garbage collection and education, with the aim of transforming and recycling, and around 90 percent of the Egypt’s young population into sustainability garbage taken to the district is recycled into ambassadors who are able to transfer their useful products. The NGO offers support in knowledge to others. Similarly, the Reduction various forms to the local garbage collectors, of Plastic Bags Consumption National Initiative including running income-generating projects aims to encourage the use of biodegradable based on creating innovative products from bags by raising awareness of the adverse recycled waste. It has trained hundreds of impact of non-biodegradable plastic bags on district residents, many of them women, to human heath, and, when they reach water make its products, and currently employs 245 sources, on fish and coral. people. 50 Progress Towards Goals and Targets

SDG 13: Climate Action Table 14: SDG 13 Indicators Indicators SDG Type Value 2030 Change target Target Number of deaths, 13.1 2 1.41 2017 N/A missing persons and persons affected by disaster per 100,000 people Egypt is particularly vulnerable to the impacts the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency of climate change. In fact, according to the (EEAA) in 1982, and later with the Ministry Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change of State for Environmental Affairs in 1997. A (IPCC), Egypt’s Nile Delta is one of the world’s National Council on Climate Change was also top three locations with “extreme” climate formed in 2015 by prime ministerial decree, change vulnerability. Future projections as a means to centralize policymaking efforts suggest that Egypt will experience a rise in related to climate change. sea levels, water scarcity, and an increase in both the frequency and intensity of extreme Egypt has also developed a Climate Change weather events like heat waves, flash foods, Policy Framework underpinned by the 2011 heavy rains, and sand and dust storms. This, National Strategy for Adaptation to Climate in turn, could potentially damage the Nile Change and Risk Reduction. This framework Delta’s infrastructure, coastal lines and fertile aims to improve the country’s capacity to land, due to the region’s high susceptibility to manage risks and disasters caused by climate erosion, salt water intrusion, and inundation. change and is regularly updated to integrate Consequently, food security, human health, new scientific information and ongoing and the overall environment are at grave risk; research findings. in fact, sectors projected to be particularly affected by climate change in Egypt include Efforts for International Cooperation water resources, agriculture and fisheries, on Climate Change health, housing and settlements, biodiversity, telecommunications, energy, tourism, and Egypt was one of the first countries to join coastal zones and coral reefs. For this reason, the cooperative global efforts aimed at Egypt has sought to introduce a number of confronting climate change threats. Not only initiatives and regulations in recent decades did Egypt ratify the United Nations Framework in the hopes of minimizing the detrimental Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) impacts of climate change and protecting in 1994, the Kyoto Protocol in 2005 and the future generations. Paris Agreement in 2017, it is also on its way to endorsing the Doha Amendment. Strengthening the National Policy Framework for Climate Change In adhering to these international agreements, Egypt submitted its first, second and third Egypt first institutionalized its efforts to fight national communication reports to the climate change with the establishment of UNFCCC in 1999, 2010 and 2016 respectively. Egypt's Voluntary National Review 2018 51

The National Environmental, Economic and reports suggest a number of adaptation Development Study (NEEDS) for Climate and mitigation measures that could help the Change was also developed in 2010, and Egypt country achieve the UNFCCC’s targets. is currently preparing its first Biennial Update Report (BUR) to be submitted to the UNFCCC In fact, Egypt has adopted a range of policy by the end of this year. The aforementioned actions to respond to climate change challenges, as visualized below: 1994 1999 2003-2006 2007 2011 2016 Ratification Submission Development capacity National National strategy Submission of UNFCCC of 1st national committee for adaptation to of 3rd national communication project in CDM on CC CC and disaster 2015 communication on CC risk reduction INDC on CC 1995 2002 2005 2010 2015 Signed Strategy of Clean Ratification Submission Paris Kyoto Protocol of Kyoto Protocol of 2nd national climate Development & establishment communication agreement Mechanism of DNA for CDM on CC (CDM) Gearing Towards Energy Efficiency  Reducing government expenditure on and the Use of Renewable Energy energy subsidies, effectively leading to the rationalization of energy consumption According to the third national communication and, consequently, to the reduction of report published in 2016, Egypt’s greenhouse emissions. gas emissions reached 247.9 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) in 2005,  Improving energy efficiency in the amounting to around 0.6 percent of global transportation sector by extending the emissions. Despite Egypt’s evidently low electrified underground metro to new contribution to global emissions, it continues areas in Greater Cairo, intensifying the use to exert efforts to further reduce this number. of environmentally sound river transport, significantly increasing the use of natural Since ratifying the Kyoto Protocol in 2005, gas in commercial vehicles, and promoting Egypt has actively engaged in promoting the use of vehicles utilizing fuel cells. renewable energy, energy efficiency, and Moreover, Egypt recently issued a decree waste management projects. Some initiatives allowing the import of electric cars. include, but are not limited to:  Adopting the National Energy Efficiency  Putting forth a comprehensive strategy Action Plan (NEEAP) for the electricity to secure a 20 percent contribution from sector 2018-2020, in the context of the renewable energy to the country’s total Sustainable Energy Strategy 2035. This energy mix by 2020. action plan reinforces energy efficiency standards, expands energy efficiency  Applying the feed-in-tariff program to labeling for household appliances, applies promote extensive use and dissemination energy efficiency codes for buildings and of photovoltaic and wind power generation disseminates efficient lighting. as well as waste management projects. 52 Progress Towards Goals and Targets

SDG 14: Life Below Water Table 15: SDG 14 Indicators Indicators SDG Type Value 2030 Change target Target Proportion of fish 14.4 3 1519 2015 N/A stocks within biologically sustainable levels (thousand tons) With approximately 3,200 km of coastline in Alexandria funded by the World Bank, a across both the Mediterranean and the Red shoreline management project for the coastal Seas, Egypt is home to a rich diversity of marine area between Hurghada and Ras Ghareb life and coastal geography that plays a pivotal funded by the Regional Organization for the role in attracting tourism. These coastlines Conservation of the Environment of the Red feature a variety of subsystems and habitats, Sea & Gulf of Aden (PERSGA), and a national including coastal lakes, salt marshes, mudflats, marine litter-monitoring and assessment sand dunes and beaches. Egypt’s waters host project funded by the European Union’s more than 5,000 species, including 800 Horizon 2020 program. different species of seaweeds and seagrasses, 209 species of coral, more than 800 species In order to continue its efforts at conserving of mollusks, 600 species of crustacean, and coastal areas, Egypt has also taken serious 350 species of Echinodermata. Unfortunately, steps towards developing sustainable fisheries, years of offshore oil rigs, overfishing, habitat with production growing steadily at 1.8 million destruction, and lax policy-enforcement have tons in 2017, up from around an average of contributed to a steady deterioration in the approximately 200,000 tons in the 1990s, conditions of Egypt’s marine ecosystem. according to the General Authority for Fish Resources Development. More specifically, However, in an effort to conserve these the Government of Egypt launched the Baraket valuable natural resources, the Integrated Ghliyon fish farm in 2017; initially spanning Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) was 3,500 acres, it will eventually cover a total of established to protect and effectively manage 108,000 acres, making it the largest fish farm Egypt’s marine and coastal areas. Since its in the Middle East. establishment, the ICZM has pioneered a number of policy initiatives to accomplish Egypt is committed to pursuing sustainable this goal, including the founding of a national practices to conserve its natural marine committee for coastal conservation, the resources, and to put forth the necessary drafting of the Environmental Guidelines for regulatory frameworks to accomplish this Coastal Areas, and the development of the goal. As of now, only 4.3 percent of Egypt’s National Environmental Action Plan. total coastal areas are natural protectorates, while the target in the SDS stands at 10 The ICZM has also overseen a number of percent. The national strategy also contains a different projects targeting coastal area number of other goals targeted at enhancing development and conservation; these the protection of the country’s coastal and include a coastal zone management project marine areas. Egypt's Voluntary National Review 2018 53

SDG 15: Life on Land Table 16: SDG 15 Indicators Indicators SDG Type Value 2030 Change target Target Red List Index 15.5 3 163 2017 N/A Egypt is recognized for its unique ecological means to develop and manage the country’s diversity, including a wide range of both natural protectorates. The EPASP aims to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and is weaken the persisting threats to Egypt’s committed to the protection of this natural biodiversity, and to develop a sustainable abundance. Egypt not only supports a plan to protect the country’s terrestrial and number of environmentally friendly national marine habitats. The EPASP has successfully strategies, but also endorses regional and implemented capacity-building programs, international conventions, including the 1992 management-effectiveness tracking tools, Convention on Biological Diversity. Egypt’s and regulatory overhauls to ensure that the main environmental objective is to focus on protectorates are operated correctly. developing and maintaining natural reserves in an attempt to protect its biological diversity. Community-Based Management of To date, there are 30 natural protectorates in Natural Resources Egypt, covering approximately 140,000 km2 (nearly 13.9 percent of the total area). The National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, adopted in January 2016, supports the Egypt remains committed to environmental sustainable use of natural resources, and conservation, including the protection of Red recognizes the importance of local communities’ Sea coastal areas, particularly the endangered active involvement in the resource-management coral reefs and mangroves. More broadly, the process. Local communities are also considered increasing threats facing marine, freshwater, a key element in the natural protectorate coastal and terrestrial ecosystems, including management system. harmful phenomena like overgrazing and overfishing, desertification, climate change, The Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency has pollution and invasive species, have helped accordingly adopted a number of strategies to build consensus around this commitment, effectively involve local communities, including and Egypt has actively deployed efforts to the establishment of Community-Based ensure the sustainability of its terrestrial Natural Resources Management (CBNRM), a ecosystems, and to protect its biodiversity. conservation approach allowing the stakeholders Agro-biodiversity is also an active concern. closest to the resource to supervise and benefit from its management and use. Improving the Conditions of Natural Protectorates This approach was used in Saint Katherine Protectorate; local medicinal-plant collectors, The Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency processors and traders were asked to (EEAA) first implemented Egypt’s Protected sustainably manage and use the medicinal- Areas Self-Financing Project (EPASP) as a plant resource base in the area. There is 54 Progress Towards Goals and Targets

currently another program underway in effectively protected. Environmental impact Qaroun, Wadi Al-Rayan and Wadi Al-Gemal, assessment guidelines and monitoring entrusting the local communities in those protocols for wind energy development protected areas to manage all the tourism- projects along the Rift Valley/Red Sea related activities there. In this way, CBNRM Flyway were developed in order to protect supports community empowerment, income migratory soaring birds. generation, sustainable management and, of course, the conservation of natural resources. In December 2015, the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, the New and Mainstreaming Biodiversity into the Renewable Energy Authority, the Egyptian Renewable Energy Sector Electricity Transmission Company and the Regional Center for Renewable Energy and In recent years, wind power has gained Energy Efficiency signed a protocol calling increasing popularity in Egypt, proving to be for the coordinated monitoring of wind renewable, clean, and cost-effective. However, energy projects in the Gulf of Suez. The despite wind farms’ value in providing green protocol provides a strategic framework energy, they are a leading cause of bird for environmental impact assessment, mortality. Birds are of high value to Egypt’s and collective bird monitoring programs ecology, acting as pollinators, insect eaters and designed to audit the wind energy farms rodent predators. Furthermore, the Rift Valley/ in the area. The protocol also supports Red Sea Flyway is the second most important the development of an Active Turbine flyway in the world for migratory soaring birds, Management Program (ATMP) to operate with more than 1.5 million birds of 37 species, the wind turbines in such a way that both including five globally threatened species, allows optimized energy production and using this corridor between their breeding respects the conservation of biodiversity, grounds in Europe and West Asia and the particularly the migratory soaring birds. wintering areas in Africa. A strategic environmental and social Due to its key geographical location as the impact assessment was also developed and land-bridge between the continents, Egypt is submitted to the Egyptian Environmental an important host along the flyway. Many of Affairs Agency for approval, including a these areas are under development, causing a completed baseline study of bird migration number of hazards to migratory soaring birds. starting in spring 2016. Following the In fact, the expansion of the energy sector is completion of this study, a standard considered to be the highest risk to Egypt’s monitoring program was initiated, including biodiversity, closely followed by the tourism a basic annual monitoring of bird migration, sector, waste management, hunting and the and a program to ensure that mitigation agricultural sector. measures are in place and functioning. In order to address this issue, the Government The bird mortality mitigation system is based of Egypt has deployed the following efforts: on radar-assisted shutdown-on-demand of wind turbines. The Environmental Impact Egypt took part in the regional project Assessment guidelines and monitoring entitled Mainstreaming Conservation of protocols for wind energy projects adopted Migratory Soaring Birds (MSB) into Key by the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Productive Sectors along the Rift Valley/ Agency in October 2013 clearly identify Red Sea Flyway. The project aims to address the criteria needed to selectively shut down the impact of wind power developments the turbines. In fact, this monitoring and on birds and to ensure that the significant mitigation system is successfully operating populations of soaring birds migrating in the wind farms located in the Gebel Al-Zeit along the Rift Valley/Red Sea Flyway are area, under the supervision of the agency. Egypt's Voluntary National Review 2018 55

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions Table 17: SDG 16 Indicators Indicators SDG Type Value 2030 Change target Target Corruption 16.5 0 32 2017 N/A Perception Index (out of 100) The 2011 uprising in Egypt created formidable the National Coordinating Committee for security challenges that had adverse effects on Combating Corruption (NCCCC). The process national peace and security and undermined of developing the strategy involved more than the country’s institutions. However, starting 80 government authorities, ministries and in 2014, the Government of Egypt has Governorates, and since its implementation, introduced a sequence of comprehensive, the Administrative Control Authority, Egypt’s well-coordinated and effective measures anti-corruption watchdog, and other law to stabilize the security situation. This has enforcement agencies, have been successful entailed implementing policies directed at in uncovering an unprecedented number of combating terrorism and extremism, as well as major corruption cases. other forms of transnational organized crimes, e.g. human trafficking, smuggling of firearms In 2016, Egypt created a ten-year National and money laundering. Strategy for Combatting Illegal Migration, spearheaded by the National Coordinating Egypt recognizes that to enhance justice Committee on Combating and Preventing and strengthen institutions, there should be Illegal Migration (NCCPIM). The committee more emphasis on good governance and bridges the cooperation of government and safeguarding human rights. Accordingly, a non-government stakeholders, with the aim number of national instruments and action of achieving comprehensive development to plans have been adopted on ensuring curb illegal migration through awareness- justice for all, promoting the rule of law and raising campaigns, by including the issue of accountability, fighting corruption, enhancing illegal migration in educational curriculums, social cohesion and transparency, and building implementing capacity-building programs just, transparent and accountable institutions, for national committee members on how to in addition to empowering women and young administer and evaluate relevant projects, and people, especially in regard to key decision- establishing a stronger legislative framework making processes. to combat illegal migration. Promoting Good Governance and Security In 2014, Egypt adopted the four-year National In addition to deploying efforts to improve Anti-Corruption Strategy developed by domestic security conditions, Egypt plays 56 Progress Towards Goals and Targets

an active role in supporting its neighboring Indicators Suggest Progress countries. More specifically, Egypt is a longstanding and committed contributor to These measures have had tangible results for UN peacekeeping operations. It has been Egyptian citizens, polling shows. According actively involved in the review of the UN’s to the Egyptian Center for Public Opinion peacekeeping mechanisms, with special Research (Baseera), public perception of the interest in the regional dimensions of peace country’s security conditions improved from building. Currently, more than 2,000 military 76 percent in 2017 to 81 percent in 2018, and personnel are serving in nine different UN perception of the treatment of citizens by peacekeeping missions around the world. security officials improved from 67 percent in 2017 to 72 percent this year. In addition, Egypt has also begun to decentralize its other results show that the average general election and planning systems, with the performance satisfaction index was 65 points aim of empowering municipalities and local in March 2018 out of a maximum of 100 points, communities. A law on local administration compared to 55 points in September 2017. and a unified planning law are currently under development; the first law is expected International indicators also point to progress. to decentralize local councils and organize As shown in the table above, Egypt’s place in district elections, while the second will grant the Corruption Perceptions Index has shown more power to Governorates, cities and improvement. In addition, as mentioned in villages, allowing the Governorates to draft section 4, a recent Gallup poll reported by the their own strategic plans depending on their BBC suggested that Egypt is viewed as one of developmental needs. the safest countries in the world, ahead of the US and the UK. Egypt's Voluntary National Review 2018 57

SDG 17: Strengthen Implementation and Partnerships Achieving the 2030 Agenda is a formidable task which requires well-coordinated efforts on the part of all principal stakeholders: the Government, the private sector, civil society and international development partners. As a middle-income country, Egypt also requires assistance from the international community, both financial and technical. In order to maximize resources, the Government of Egypt also supports a responsibility-sharing approach between all stakeholders, including the private sector and development local government capacity. Examples of these partners. enhancements include the quality of services and the infrastructure delivered in Upper In terms of financial aid, Official Development Egyptian Governorates, including sanitation, Assistance (ODA) inflows dropped by more drinking water, sewage and roads, and than half in 2017 to $3.4 billion, compared with strengthening the business environment for $7 billion in 2016; this reflects a tremendous private sector engagement. shift in the Government’s strategy, which now focuses on boosting investments and optimizing The Government of Egypt recognizes that the interventions of ODA resources. These Egypt can learn a lot from the experience of new figures also reflect a paradigm shift in the other countries in working towards sustainable international concept of development, from development. Similarly, other countries, the absolute responsibility of the Government, especially in the MENA region, can benefit from to integrated and cooperative partnerships the Egyptian experience. Egypt can also benefit among the Government, international directly from technical assistance and capacity partners, civil society organizations and the building from other countries. Egypt has been public and private sectors. In terms of usage, active in partnering with UN organizations, ODA inflows were invested in enhancing programs and regional commissions to gain infrastructure and the economy, and in the their valuable support. Indeed, the voluntary social and environmental sectors.22 national review is a good example of this partnership, as this stock-taking activity will A good example of this targeted ODA is the objectively assess Egypt’s progress toward Upper Egypt Local Development project, the SDGs, identify the obstacles, and generate part of the Local Development Program-for- innovative ways to solve them under the Results Projects for Egypt aimed at enhancing umbrella of the UN. 22 Investment in Development Annual Report 2017. 58 Progress Towards Goals and Targets

6. Challenges One of the aspects highlighted by this review identify developmental gaps due to the paucity is that Egypt has a lot of untapped potential. of data has proven to be misleading (as in the Examples and success stories presented case of the Millennium Development Goals), under each goal are only a limited sample of and as such, a data revolution is imperative to all the efforts being exerted to place Egypt achieving sustainable development globally. on the path to sustainable development. It is clear that, with its diversified resources and CAPMAS, the state statistics body, plays a young population, the country is capable of proactive role as a producer, collector and achieving the transformative goals of the disseminator of data, being fully aware of all 2030 Agenda. Nevertheless, consultations data gaps in Egypt and working extensively with all relevant stakeholders since 2014 have to bridge them. Yet, these efforts must be revealed a number of factors that hamper the complemented by data users, who are mutually pace of development. Issues pertaining to responsible for pressuring data producers to data, financing, governance are presented are provide reliable, timely and disaggregated all hindering factors that must be tackled to data. Boosting demand for data through unleash Egypt’s potential to make progress on the promotion of research and analysis on the path to sustainable development. sustainable development would contribute significantly in accelerating the data revolution. Data Additionally, easy access to data and metadata through an integrated national database The first national statistics report on the SDGs has become essential. The process of data produced by CAPMAS sheds light on the issues collection in Egypt is fairly time-consuming and of data availability and accessibility, revealing requires considerable effort. Unfortunately, that only 35.7 percent of the SDG indicators Egypt has fallen behind in this regard, which are classified under Tier 1.23 This percentage in turn is a major impediment to its efforts reflects the availability of these indicators on to improve data accessibility, especially with the aggregate level, but not necessarily by the the global trend towards the adoption of big required level of disaggregation (geographical data technology and continuous technological location, sex, age, ethnicity or disability). advancement. Having only approximately 87 measurable and regularly updated indicators, coupled with In addition, a mechanism for integrating both problems of data disaggregation, somewhat existing and new sources of data into the constrains the SDG monitoring process. official system is required. Sources like official Moreover, these data problems adversely affect registries and big data remain beyond the planning decisions and raise concerns regarding scope of CAPMAS, which suggests the need allocative justice. Not being able to precisely for a revision of the Egyptian law on statistics. Big data concerns related to privacy and 23 Tier 1 indicators are conceptually clear, have an in- confidentiality have to be tackled at the policy ternationally established methodology and standards level, in order to produce realistic and meaningful are available, and data are regularly produced by data that can directly contribute to making countries. better planning decisions. Official registries Egypt's Voluntary National Review 2018 59

have to be digitalized and well-integrated country’s infrastructure and its main economic to act as reliable and less costly (relative to sectors. surveys) sources of data and verification tools. To this end, CAPMAS is currently working In Egypt, the saving-investment gap stood on developing a comprehensive strategy for at 12.2 percent of GDP in 2016/2017 updating the national statistics system, with (approximately EGP 422.9 billion).26 To meet the aim of addressing all these issues and the the aim of reducing that gap to 6 percent by requirements of the data revolution. 2019/2020, Egypt needs to summon vast resources annually to finance the investment Finance needed to fully implement the 2030 Agenda. Much of the required investment will need to Shortage of capital at the global level is not the be financed from government resources. As issue; it is rather the channeling of these funds such, a major part of Egypt’s economic reform that poses a challenge in implementing the program was directed to improving Egypt’s 2030 Agenda. Unlocking the transformative business climate, including the new investment potential of people and the private sector and law, passed in 2017, which provides investors incentivizing innovation in financing, as well and entrepreneurs with various incentives. as consumption and production patterns, to More efforts are needed, however, to revitalize support sustainable development are key to public private partnerships as an effective achieving the desired goals. method of finance, especially for long-term investment projects. The Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA), which resulted from the UN’s Third International Currently the aggregate size of investment Conference on Financing for Development, is insufficient; moreover, a large share of stipulates the global framework for financing investment and financing resources are development post-2015. The agenda calls for not perfectly aligned with the objectives of action on both the domestic and international sustainable development. Reorienting even a level to gear investments towards sustainable fraction of these investments domestically and development. In this agenda, Official internationally would accelerate sustainable Development Assistance (ODA) providers development. As such, more efforts from reaffirmed their respective ODA commitments, the Government are required to achieve that including the commitment by many developed alignment through better institutional, legal countries to achieve the target of 0.7 percent and regulatory policies and frameworks. of ODA/GNI and 0.15 to 0.20 percent of Resorting to nontraditional sources of ODA/GNI to the least developed countries. finance is also pivotal in increasing local and As mentioned in the section above on SDG international private investment. These efforts 17, Egypt’s ODA inflows reached $3.4 billion must be augmented by the international in 2017,24 and the Government allocated 68 community’s commitment to partnering with percent25 to supporting the development of the developing countries in achieving sustainable development; international partnerships can 24 Compared to $7 billion in 2016 and $4.7 billion in aid in crowding in finance from the private 2015. sector, especially in new sectors such as the 25 Investing in Development, Annual Report 2017, the 26 Calculated as a percentage of 2016/2017 GDP at Ministry of Investment and International Coopera- current prices, produced by the Ministry of Planning, tion. Monitoring and Administrative Reform. 60 Challenges

green economy. Egypt stands ready to explore the process at all levels of implementation, innovative sources of sustainable finance, from the project level to the policy level. such as green bonds. Again, partnering Strengthening the monitoring and evaluation with international organizations would be units in all governmental entities is a must to instrumental in garnering the benefits of these ensure their ability to effectively deal with any new forms of finance. deviations from plans and targets. These units must be well-equipped with all the necessary Governance human and material resources to monitor and evaluate the progress of all programs Steering the wheel towards sustainable and projects using predefined criteria and development with its interlinked and collaborative key performance indicators. Having a well- nature requires an ambitious, comprehensive, developed monitoring and evaluation system and holistic approach. Effective, accountable is essential for better utilization of limited and inclusive institutions, sound policies and financial resources. The system can also good governance at all levels underpin this encourage the production of timely and transformative process. sound data given its reliance on measurable outcomes and targets. Ensuring that all efforts are aligned and well- integrated to avoid wasting resources requires High Population Growth the adoption of an accountable and transparent framework. Egypt, like many countries, has Over the last three decades the population faced the problem of sporadic and disjointed of Egypt has doubled, reaching nearly 100 efforts. For the first time, however, the country million. The last decade in particular has has a national strategy in place to act as the main witnessed increasing fertility rates, with governing framework for all projects through the annual number of live births rising from to 2030. This achievement must be supported 1.85 million in 2006 to 2.72 million in 2014. by improved enforcement and cooperation However, birth registrations last year showed mechanisms. Aligning the efforts of the a slight decrease, with a total of 2.55 million. private sector, NGOs and academia is crucial The number of deaths also increased from to accelerating sustainable development. 452,000 in 2006 to 574,000 deaths in Governance is a principal element in 2015, but net growth remains high, and the overcoming the challenges pertaining to data increasing population size puts great pressure and finance. It is a prerequisite to fulfilling data on governmental services and on natural and finance requirements. Solutions provided resources like water, ultimately threatening by technological advancements in establishing Egypt’s ability to achieve the national strategy a cooperation mechanism should be exploited and the SDGs. to achieve the level of alignment, transparency and knowledge-sharing required. The Government is aware of the implications of this population growth, particularly the Egypt’s monitoring and evaluation system, economic strain from the pressure to create described above in the section on the enough jobs in a society that already suffers policy-enabling environment, also requires from high unemployment rates and is enhancements to reinforce the importance of struggling to reduce poverty. Egypt's Voluntary National Review 2018 61

7. Final Word Egypt’s strategic geographical location, at the to stabilize the economy, it did not relinquish its heart of the Arab world and at the crossroads long-term sustainable development programs. of three continents, offers an array of both Rather, it has shown even more commitment opportunities and challenges. Egypt is a firm to invest in infrastructure, social protection believer in the necessity of pursuing a strategic and science and technology. plan to achieve sustainable development that leaves no one behind. The Government of Egypt Egypt is well-aware that the path toward realizes that economic growth is necessary the full realization of its vision is long and but not sufficient to achieve sustainable and hard. However, the potential benefits and inclusive development. As a result, Egypt was opportunities for the Egyptian people are vast. one of the leading countries to have embraced which is why rallying all stakeholders around the 2030 Agenda through the launch of its these goals is key. The private sector, civil national sustainable development strategy, society and the international community should which outlines the path ahead along economic, join forces with the Government to march social and environmental dimensions. Egypt together towards sustainable development. also volunteered to present its voluntary Strategic integration between all these players national review report at the High-Level should be reinforced and orchestrated to Political Forum on Sustainable Development effectively utilize current resources and to twice in three years, to take stock of the enhance future ones. progress it has made in implementing the SDGs and its national strategy, and to outline As a middle-income country that is home to existing challenges. around 100 million people, Egypt needs to summon vast financial resources to finance Egypt is committed to the achievement of the investment needed to fully implement the both the SDGs and its national strategy. This 2030 Agenda. Finance for development is commitment goes beyond announcements not a buzzword; it is an overarching financial and declarations and has been translated framework to achieve and fully implement the into concrete programs and action plans with 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development well-defined targets and key performance in its three dimensions, economic, social and indicators. This report attempts to give a quick environmental. The challenge for Egypt is review of these efforts, which show Egypt’s therefore to focus more on nontraditional resolute commitment to making progress sources of finance, from blended finance to towards sustainable development. green-economy related financial instruments. This long-term vision of progress remains The existence of well-designed programs steadfast, despite the many challenges, both supported by buoyant financial resources does internal shocks and unfavorable external not guarantee that domestic and international conditions, that the country has weathered sustainable development goals will be since 2011. Even when the Government of Egypt achieved. Egypt must also invest in a reliable embarked on an ambitious economic program monitoring and evaluation system that is capable, firstly, of making sure that the projects 62 Final Word

are being implemented, and secondly, that national programs. For Egypt, this could mean these programs are having the desired impact. that the consequences of conflicts or violence The monitoring and evaluation process should nearby, such as the enduring Israeli-Palestinian pick up on any unexpected deviation from conflict, or the regional struggle around water the forecasted results, allowing corrections resources, disrupt its efforts toward achieving and modifications to be made. Such a system its national sustainable development strategy is essential for better governance and better and the SDGs. Egypt has been always a utilization of limited financial resources. The firm advocate of international law and of Government of Egypt has an ambitious plan to cooperation between all countries in the upgrade its monitoring and evaluation system interests of mutual peace and prosperity. A to guarantee the efficacy of its sustainable predicament arises therefore around the best development programs. course of action when this belief is not shared by other countries. Lastly, in the age of globalization, global and regional factors can affect the outcomes of Egypt's Voluntary National Review 2018 63

Annexes Annex 1: Summary of SDG Indicators by Goal SDG Number of Total Available Unavailable Inapplicable Targets Indicators Indicators Indicators SDG 1 7 14 SDG 2 8 13 6 8 0 SDG 3 13 27 5 8 0 SDG 4 10 11 16 11 0 SDG 5 9 14 4 7 0 SDG 6 8 11 11 3 0 SDG 7 5 6 4 7 0 SDG 8 12 17 4 1 1 SDG 9 8 12 13 4 0 SDG 10 10 11 10 2 0 SDG 11 10 15 1 8 2 SDG 12 11 13 3 11 1 SDG 13 5 8 2 10 1 SDG 14 10 10 2 4 2 SDG 15 12 14 3 7 0 SDG 16 12 23 2 9 3 SDG 17 19 25 8 15 0 Sum 169 244 12 10 3 106 125 13 Source: CAPMAS 64 Annexes

Annex 2: SDG Indicators # Goal Indicators Change Reference Source Proportion of population 2.3 in 2012 World Bank, Poverty & 1 SDG 1 below the international Equity Data Portal poverty line (%) Proportion of population 26.3 in 2012 World Bank, Poverty & 2 SDG 1 living below the national Equity Data Portal poverty line (%) 3 SDG 2 Stunting prevalence (% 29 in 2008 DHS Survey 2008/2014 children <5 years of age) 4 SDG 2 Total volume of agricultural 267.4 in 2011 Ministry of Planning, production (thousand tons) Monitoring and Administrative Reform 5 SDG 3 Maternal mortality ratio 52 in 2014 CAPMAS (per 100 000 live births) 6 SDG 3 Under-five mortality rate 28 in 2008 Egypt Demographic and (per 1,000 live births) Health Survey 2014 7 SDG 3 Neonatal mortality rate (per 16 in 2008 Egypt Demographic and 1,000 live births) Health Survey 2014 8 SDG 3 Tuberculosis incidence (per 19,000 in 2009 World Health Organization, 100,000 people) Global Tuberculosis 9 SDG 3 Suicide mortality rate 91 in 2014 Ministry of Health Data 2015 Death rate due to road 9.2 in 2015 Ministry of Health 10 SDG 3 traffic injuries (per 100,000 Information Center Bulletin 2014 population) 11 SDG 4 Illiteracy rate (%) (10 years 29.3 in 2006 CAPMAS and older) 12 SDG 4 Class density (number of 42.76 in 16/17 Ministry of Education and students/class) Technical Education 13 SDG 4 Quality of primary education 2.1 in 16/17 The Global Competitiveness (score) Report - 4th pillar 14 SDG 4 Primary education 95.8 in 2014 World Development enrolment rate (net %) Indicators (WDI) 15 SDG 4 Internet access in schools 2.6 in 16/17 The Global Competitiveness (score) Report - 5th pillar Proportion of girls and 16 SDG 5 women aged 15-49 years 92.3 in 2014 Egypt Health Survey who have undergone female genital mutilation/cutting Egypt's Voluntary National Review 2018 65

# Goal Indicators Change Reference Source Proportion of seats held 2 in 2010 Global Gender Gap Report 17 SDG 5 by women in national parliaments (%) 18 SDG 5 Proportion of women in 18 in 2017 National Council for ministerial positions (%) Women 19 SDG 5 Global Gender Gap Index 132 in 2016 Global Gender Gap Report 20 SDG 5 Proportion of women who 9.3 in 2014 The World Bank DataBank have bank accounts (%) Ratio of nontraditional water 20 in 2015 Ministry of Water resources 21 SDG 6 resources to total water and Irrigation resources usage (%) 22 SDG 6 Percentage of loss in water 30 in 2015 Ministry of Housing, Utilities treatment plants (%) and Urban Communities 23 SDG 6 Amount of treated water 8,867 in 2015 CAPMAS (mn m3) Proportion of population 99 in 2014 CAPMAS 24 SDG 7 with access to electricity (%) 25 SDG 7 Renewable energy share in 1.95 in 2015 Egyptian Electricity Holding total energy production (%) Company Annual Report 26 SDG 7 Contribution of energy 13.1 in 2014 Ministry of Planning, sector to GDP (%) Monitoring and Administrative Reform Contribution of energy 5.14% in 2014 Ministry of Planning, 27 SDG 7 investments to total Monitoring and Administrative Reform investment (%) 28 SDG 8 Annual growth rate of real 5.3 in 17/18 Q2 Ministry of Planning, GDP (%) Monitoring and Administrative Reform 29 SDG 8 Total unemployment rate 12.8 in 2015 CAPMAS (%) 30 SDG 8 Unemployment rate (male) 9.4 in 2015 CAPMAS (%) 31 SDG 8 Unemployment rate 24.2 in 2015 CAPMAS (female) (%) 32 SDG 8 Female participation in labor 23.5 in 2015 CAPMAS force 33 SDG 8 Tourism direct GDP as a 3.7 in 2013 CAPMAS proportion of total GDP (%) 66 Annexes

# Goal Indicators Change Reference Source Number of Automated 10733 in 2013 Ministry of Tourism 34 SDG 8 Teller Machines (ATMs) (per 100,000 adults) 35 SDG 8 Global Competitiveness 115 in 2016/2017 Global Competitiveness Index (rank) Index Report 36 SDG 9 Manufacturing value added 12.5 in 2014/2015 Ministry of Planning, as a proportion of GDP (%) Monitoring and Administrative Reform Manufacturing employment 12.4 in 15/16 CAPMAS 37 SDG 9 as a proportion of total employment (%) 38 SDG 9 CO2 emissions per unit of 167 in 2005 Ministry of Environment value added (million tons) Research and development 0.71 in 2014 Ministry of Finance 39 SDG 9 expenditure as a proportion of GDP (%) 40 SDG 9 Global Innovation Index 107 in 2016 Global innovation Index (rank) Report 41 SDG 10 Disposable income per 5,009 in 2015 Business Monitor capita ($) International/ CAPMAS 42 SDG 10 Non-oil private sector PMI 36.3 in Nov. 2016 Emirates NBD Egypt (out of 100) 43 SDG 10 Gini coefficient 29.8 in 2012 World Development Indicators (WDI) 44 SDG 11 Total population density 92.4 in 2017 CAPMAS/ World Bank (population/km2) Databank 45 SDG 11 Inhabited area to total area no change CAPMAS (%) Percentage of households 96.6 in 2006 CAPMAS 46 SDG 11 connected to the public water network (%) Percentage of households 46.6 in 2006 CAPMAS 47 SDG 11 connected to the public sanitation network (%) Proportion of slum areas A reference year is not 48 SDG 11 to total urban area (%) - available, yet positive unsafe change is expected Ministry of Housing, Utilities based on the efforts and Urban Communities being exerted in that area. Egypt's Voluntary National Review 2018 67

# Goal Indicators Change Reference Source Proportion of slum areas A reference year is not 49 SDG 11 to total urban area (%) - available, yet positive unplanned change is expected Ministry of Housing, Utilities based on the efforts and Urban Communities being exerted in that area. Proportion of new cities A reference year is not 50 SDG 11 with waste management available, yet positive systems (%) change is expected Ministry of Housing, Utilities based on the efforts and Urban Communities being exerted in that area. A reference year is not available, yet positive 51 SDG 11 Per capita green landscapes change is expected CAPMAS in cities (m2/capita) based on the efforts being exerted in that area. 52 SDG 12 Global Food Security Index 56/100 in 2016 EIU Food Security Index (score out of 100) Report (2016) 53 SDG 12 Amount spent on oil 73.9 in 2015 Ministry of Finance subsidies (EGP bn) Number of deaths, missing Egyptian Cabinet’s Information and Decision 54 SDG 13 persons and persons 2.3692 in 2016 Support Center affected by disaster per 100,000 people Proportion of fish stocks 55 SDG 14 within biologically 1,362 in 2011 CAPMAS sustainable levels (thousand tons) 56 SDG 15 Red List Index 135 in 2013 Ministry of Environment 57 SDG 16 Corruption Perception Index 34 in 2016 Transparency International (out of 100) 68 Annexes

Ministry of Planning, Monitoring and Administrative Reform 9 St. Salah Salem Street, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt