Egypt is accelerating its adaptation efforts with international partners. In a meeting marking the conclusion of UNDP Resident Representative Alessandro Fracassetti’s term in Egypt, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Dr. Hani Sewilam reaffirmed the country’s commitment to climate resilience, highlighting the joint success of the $31.4 million “Enhancing Climate Change Adaptation in the North Coast and Nile Delta” project.
Backed by a grant from the Green Climate Fund and implemented in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the initiative has focused on shielding Egypt’s most fragile coastal zones from the risks of rising sea levels and increasingly frequent extreme weather events.
A Model for Nature-Based, Community-Led Adaptation
Minister Sewilam praised Fracassetti’s leadership over the past years, citing tangible outcomes of their cooperation, particularly the deployment of 69 kilometers of natural, low-cost shoreline protection in five critical coastal governorates: Port Said, Damietta, Dakahlia, Kafr El-Sheikh, and Beheira.
Utilizing locally sourced, eco-friendly materials, the project established longitudinal sand trap barriers designed to stabilize vulnerable coastlines and prevent saltwater intrusion. Involving local communities in the design and implementation of these systems has been key to the initiative’s long-term sustainability.
The project also supported the installation of advanced monitoring stations along the Mediterranean coast to collect real-time data on wave activity, sea-level fluctuations, and wind patterns—data that will inform Egypt’s future coastal resilience strategies.
National Strategy for Climate Defense
Dr. Sewilam emphasized that the initiative is a key component of Egypt’s comprehensive shoreline protection strategy. The aim: to preserve agricultural land, protect urban centers and new industrial zones, and shield critical infrastructure from climate-induced flooding.
This integrated approach is part of a long-term plan to manage the Mediterranean coast through sustainable development principles—ensuring that economic growth, environmental protection, and social resilience move in lockstep.
Spotlight on Desalination for Food Security
In their discussions, Sewilam and Fracassetti also explored new frontiers in climate adaptation, particularly the potential for seawater desalination to support large-scale food production. Sewilam urged the international community to ramp up research and investment in desalination technologies, stressing the importance of reducing costs to make desalinated water viable for agriculture in water-stressed nations.
UNDP: A Committed Partner in Egypt’s Climate Vision
Alessandro Fracassetti expressed his appreciation for the strong partnership with Egypt’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation and commended the government’s proactive stance on climate change.
He reiterated the UNDP’s commitment to supporting nature-based solutions, risk-informed policymaking, and the mobilization of climate finance for vulnerable countries.
The meeting concluded with mutual acknowledgment of the progress made and a shared commitment to scaling up climate resilience—both along Egypt’s coast and across its broader water and food systems.
