Dr. Rania El-Mashat, Egypt’s Minister of Planning and Economic Development, delivered a compelling speech at the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the “Takaful and Karama” program. The event, held under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, gathered an esteemed group of attendees, including UN Resident Coordinator Elena Panova, UK Ambassador Gareth Bayley, and several key figures from government, civil society, and international organizations.
In her address, Dr. El-Mashat highlighted the tremendous success of “Takaful and Karama,” which has become an iconic model of social protection and an example of fruitful international partnerships. She emphasized how these collaborations have supported Egypt’s efforts to provide targeted aid for vulnerable populations, which has contributed directly to achieving sustainable economic development. Dr. El-Mashat noted that, alongside economic reform programs, the government has been equally committed to launching initiatives aimed at protecting the most vulnerable groups, particularly in times of crisis.
Dr. El-Mashat pointed out that the “Takaful and Karama” program is a powerful demonstration of Egypt’s long-term commitment to social justice and human capital investment. She described how, over the past decade, the program has evolved into a cornerstone of Egypt’s social protection system, benefitting millions of citizens in need. Looking ahead, she underscored the government’s strategic vision for the next decade, which aims to expand social protection, enhance women’s roles, and improve the quality of life for rural populations. Additionally, she noted that Egypt’s social protection programs are firmly aligned with the country’s overarching development goals and are designed to adapt to the evolving needs of its citizens.
Notably, Dr. El-Mashat stressed that the program has gone far beyond traditional cash transfers. The innovative model integrates social protection with education and healthcare, ensuring the well-being and dignity of vulnerable groups. She also acknowledged that “Takaful and Karama” serves as a national initiative supported by the World Bank through concessional loans and technical expertise, making it a benchmark for social protection not only in Egypt but also globally. Dr. El-Mashat highlighted that the World Bank is looking to leverage the lessons learned from this program in Egypt to benefit other countries facing similar challenges.
Since its launch in 2015, the “Takaful and Karama” program has attracted significant international support, including a $1.4 billion (approximately 70 billion EGP) loan from the World Bank to ensure the sustainability of the initiative. The funding has enabled the digitization of cash transfers through the “Meeza” card and the development of robust monitoring and evaluation systems. The UK government has also contributed with a grant aimed at strengthening institutional capacity at Egypt’s Ministry of Social Solidarity, while the International Labour Organization has partnered with Egypt to launch the “Wai” program, which focuses on eradicating child labor.
Dr. El-Mashat shared that the program has successfully reached more than 4.6 million households across the country, impacting around 17 million individuals, both directly and indirectly. The program has implemented strict health and education compliance criteria: 51% of households adhere to health requirements, such as annual visits to healthcare facilities, while 63% meet educational requirements, maintaining an 80% attendance rate. Additionally, 100% of beneficiaries receive their support through electronic payments, marking a significant step toward financial inclusion.
Dr. El-Mashat underscored the program’s societal impact, noting that “Takaful and Karama” not only improves the living standards of its beneficiaries but also incentivizes them to remain in school and seek healthcare. She also emphasized the program’s integration with other initiatives, such as the “Haya Karima” presidential initiative, which aims to address the needs of vulnerable families. She highlighted that empowering women is central to the program, as women represent 75% of its beneficiaries.
The Minister also addressed the government’s ongoing efforts to secure financial resources for social protection. She revealed that the 2025/2026 fiscal year budget will allocate EGP 732.6 billion for social protection programs, with a specific focus on supporting low-income groups. Of this, EGP 327 billion will be directed toward human development. This investment will help advance the government’s commitment to expanding social protection and promoting economic empowerment, particularly for women, through initiatives like the “Forsa” program. Dr. El-Mashat explained that “Forsa” offers vocational training and skill-building to empower beneficiaries, preparing them for the job market and enhancing their economic independence.
Looking to the future, Dr. El-Mashat noted that Egypt’s social protection programs will continue to evolve in response to national priorities. She emphasized that the government will continue to focus on enabling the private sector, providing funding for micro-enterprises, and facilitating access to small-scale financing for vulnerable families, which will allow them to transition from reliance on state aid to self-sufficiency.
In closing, Dr. El-Mashat extended her gratitude to those who drove the success of the “Takaful and Karama” program. She specifically thanked Dr. Ghada Wali and Dr. Nevine El-Kabbaj for their early contributions to the program’s design and implementation, as well as Dr. Maya Morsy and the team at the Ministry of Social Solidarity for their outstanding work in managing the program. She also acknowledged the contributions of the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development’s team for their tireless efforts in coordinating agreements with international partners and expressed her deep appreciation for the World Bank’s continued support of Egypt’s development goals. Dr. El-Mashat concluded by reaffirming the government’s commitment to advancing social protection and creating a more inclusive and sustainable future for all Egyptians.
