Coinciding with International Youth Day, Egypt’s Cabinet launched its National Youth and Sports Strategy 2025–2030, signaling a strategic pivot toward youth-centered development. The announcement underscored a deep commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and inclusive growth, aligning with global development priorities, particularly SDG 8 on decent work, SDG 4 on quality education, and SDG 17 on partnerships.
Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Egypt’s Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, joined Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, Minister of Youth and Sports, and Elena Panova, UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt, to unveil the plan, which focuses on mobilizing youth as a transformative force for sustainable development, particularly in areas of economic inclusion, digital innovation, and climate resilience.
“This strategy reflects our belief that investing in youth is not optional—it is a strategic imperative for economic and social resilience,” said Dr. Al-Mashat. “
Measurable Progress in Human Development
According to the UNDP’s latest Human Development Report, Egypt has climbed five positions since 2021 and is now classified as a country with high human development. Dr. Al-Mashat confirmed that the Ministry is currently preparing the National Human Development Report 2025, with youth as its primary focus.
She also noted a shift in the global perception of sports — from a service activity to a full-fledged economic sector. The new strategy, she said, capitalizes on Egypt’s demographic advantage by integrating youth into this evolving landscape.
Youth Demographics and Startup Momentum
Official figures from Egypt’s Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics show that youth aged 15–24 number approximately 18.5 million, representing 17.5% of the total population, while those aged 15–39 make up nearly 40%.
This young majority is increasingly entrepreneurial. Between January and May 2025, Egyptian startups secured $228 million in funding across 16 deals — a 130% increase compared to the same period in 2024. These developments are the result of focused efforts by Egypt’s ministerial group on entrepreneurship, which continues to strengthen the ecosystem through improved access to finance, capacity building, and regulatory support.
A Digital Push: Launch of Hafez Platform
To further enable youth entrepreneurship, the Ministry launched “Hafez” in December 2023 — a multilateral digital platform offering more than 90 services. It connects private sector actors with development partners, both local and international, and facilitates financial and technical support that directly creates sustainable job opportunities for young Egyptians.
Youth-Led Development: UN’s “Shabab Balad” Initiative
A central pillar of Egypt’s youth development vision is “Shabab Balad”—the national implementation of Generation Unlimited, a global UN initiative to link youth with education, employment, and entrepreneurship opportunities. The program exemplifies Egypt’s commitment to tri-sector collaboration, engaging government, private enterprise, and civil society.
“Shabab Balad” represents a scalable model for Global South cooperation, particularly in its emphasis on local ownership, resource alignment, and measurable impact.
