Dr. Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development, emphasized the significant role of population units in all governorates and the coordination of population affairs within local administration units. These efforts aim to consolidate the work of concerned entities in addressing the population issue, promoting human development, improving population characteristics, and raising public awareness about the risks of population growth and its negative effects on development projects, the national economy, and the depletion of the state’s developmental efforts. The primary goal is to work towards limiting the escalating population growth according to Egypt’s Vision 2030.
The Minister of Local Development further noted that the ministry has worked on governance of the population file by activating the existing institutional framework based on a participatory approach, decentralizing the identification and analysis of issues, and decision-making regarding their resolution. The ministry has also emphasized community participation, the role of youth in decision-making processes at the governorate level, and local community responsibility to ensure the sustainability of population activities.
This came during the report reviewed by Dr. Manal Awad, which highlighted the efforts of the Central Population Unit within the Ministry of Local Development in February 2025, as part of the government’s continued efforts to control population growth rates and improve the population characteristics in line with the political leadership’s directives.
Dr. Awad explained that the Central Population Unit coordinated with the “Sonaa Al-Kheir” Foundation in February 2025 to sign a cooperation protocol with the ministry and the foundation. The agreement aims to empower youth in the areas of entrepreneurship and financial inclusion in collaboration with Banque Misr. Additionally, coordination took place with “Misr El-Kheir” and “Agyal Misr” Foundations to follow up on the implementation of the second phase of the cooperation protocol with the ministry under the project “Values and Life.” This phase focused on training to enhance key values in the workplace for the employees of the Population Unit, benefiting a total of 565 employees. The training was conducted by heads of population units in the governorates, following a preparatory trainer program provided by the foundation.
The report also mentioned the monthly meeting organized by the Central Population Unit with heads of population units to discuss recent developments, the 2025 annual work plan, and achievements.
Dr. Awad also highlighted that the Central Population Unit conducted field visits to the Sharqia and North Sinai governorates in February 2025. During the visit to Sharqia, a meeting was held between Eng. Hazem El-Ashmouni, Governor of Sharqia, and Dr. Fatima Zahra Jil, Head of the Central Population Unit, to stress the need to support the skills of population coordinators in villages. These coordinators play a critical role in identifying local issues and implementing swift interventions with the support of responsible agencies and partners. The minister also pointed out that the initiatives launched by the population unit require long-term activities to continue raising awareness and improving population characteristics in coordination with concerned partners. Furthermore, an activating training session was conducted to develop the skills of 22 population coordinators in “Population Initiatives” at the Sharqia Human Resources Training and Development Center.
The report highlighted that the visit to North Sinai included a meeting with Major General Khaled Megawar, Governor of North Sinai, to introduce the role of the population unit in the governorate and its work methodology for improving the development indicators of Sinai residents. Training courses were held in five cities and centers in North Sinai, including (Arish, Sheikh Zuweid, Nakhl, Hassana, and Bir Al-Abd), building the capacities of 200 city heads, coordinators, and executive leaders in population issues and human development. A community dialogue was also organized with North Sinai tribes regarding the population issue, and human development
