Egypt’s Minister of Planning, Rania Al-Mashat, has arrived in Hamburg to participate in the Hamburg Sustainability Conference. The conference is organized by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development in partnership with the United Nations Development Program, the Michael Otto Foundation for Sustainability, and the City of Hamburg.
Al-Mashat’s participation is part of international efforts to address global development challenges. Her recent international visits, including the G20 Development Ministerial meeting, the UNGA High-Level Week, the Summit of the Future, and NDB Board of Governors meetings, reflect Egypt’s active engagement in global development discussions.
At the conference, Al-Mashat will participate in events that will tackle promoting private investment in renewable energy, exploring innovative climate action solutions, expanding the impact of national platforms, and discussing carbon markets. She will also hold bilateral meetings with German government officials.
The Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation is committed to achieving sustainable economic growth through a comprehensive strategy based on evidence-based policies, domestic and foreign financing mobilization, enhanced resource allocation, private sector investment stimulation, and accelerated progress towards development goals.
Logina Salah, Egypt’s First Vitiligo Miss Universe in 2024, Advocates for Beauty Diversity
Logina Salah, Top 50 Forum’s member, has become the first Egyptian woman with vitiligo to win the Miss Universe Egypt title. Her crowning marks a significant step towards promoting inclusivity and challenging traditional beauty standards.
In her acceptance speech, Salah expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to represent Egypt on a global stage. She emphasized the importance of embracing individuality and raising awareness about vitiligo, a skin condition that affects millions worldwide.
Salah’s journey has resonated with many as she actively advocates for diversity in the beauty industry. She hopes to inspire young women to embrace their unique features and build confidence in themselves.
The Miss Universe Egypt competition aims to empowering women and recognizing their contributions to society. With Salah leading the way, the event continues to champion messages of self-love and acceptance.
As she prepares for the Miss Universe pageant, Logina Salah is determined to showcase not only her beauty but also her mission to celebrate diversity. Her crowning represents a significant milestone in the pageant’s history and paves the way for broader representation in the beauty world.
National Council for Women Collaborates with ILO to Train Financial Educators
UNESCO’s Groundbreaking Program Aimed At Empowering Women And Communities In Egypt
The UNESCO Regional Office in Cairo, in collaboration with the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) and the Regional Center for Adult Education (ASFEC), organized a four-day Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop to prepare adult educators for piloting the Women, Family, and Community (WFC) learning program in Egypt.
The workshop brought together 35 educators representing various key stakeholders in the adult education sector, including the Ministry of Social Solidarity, civil society organizations, the Adult Education Authority, ASFEC, and champion literacy facilitators.
The WFC program is a unique learning initiative designed to foster social and economic empowerment for marginalized women in Egypt. Aligned with the country’s national family development plan, it focuses on capitalizing on women’s critical role in developing their families and communities. UNESCO and UIL introduced this framework during the International Literacy Day 2023 celebrations, demonstrating their commitment to supporting Egypt in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 by promoting lifelong learning for all, ensuring no one is left behind.
The ToT workshop, held at ASFEC in Sirs El-Ryan, marked the beginning of the project’s pilot phase. Over four consecutive days, participants engaged in interactive sessions covering diverse topics such as family and intergenerational learning, social and emotional learning (SEL), education for sustainable development, civic education, global citizenship education (GCED), financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) and creative industries (CCIs). “The WFC Learning Together content and training program provides a good opportunity to build strong partnerships with civil society and many actors in adult education,” remarked Dr. Amal Shaheen from the Public Authority for Adult Education.
Participants left the workshop equipped with practical skills and tools, ready to implement the WFC program and its learning toolkits in their professional and personal lives. Many attendees committed to operating literacy classes using the WFC methodology in vulnerable areas covered by their organizations. A comprehensive action plan for the pilot phase and a monitoring framework are being developed to assess the effectiveness of this new approach to adult education. Dr. Magda Mahmoud Abdel-Aal from the Majd Misr Foundation for Media and Development expressed, “Through my long work with women in the neediest villages, I find that this content provides an integrated package for personal, community, and professional development that contributes to achieving family cohesion and enables effective citizenship practices.”
One of the workshop’s significant outcomes was raising awareness about the importance of promoting intangible cultural heritage (ICH) in teaching and learning practices. Additionally, participants explored various approaches to creating safe learning environments and promoting gender equality. Hadeer Adel from the Community Development Association commented, “The presentation and training motivated me to complete my master’s and PhD studies in adult education; I feel empowered to use the integrated WFC content in my work.”
Looking ahead, WFC is designed to be adaptable and contextualized in diverse learning environments. Additional workshops will be organized in the coming months for stakeholders interested in adopting the program in their projects to reach more adult educators in underserved areas. For more information on upcoming workshops and initiatives, visit the UNESCO Cairo and UIL website
Egypt’s Minister of Planning, Economic Development, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, met with Labor Minister, Mohamed Gibran, to discuss strategies for job creation, human capital development, and international cooperation.
The meeting focused on the importance of investing in human capital to achieve inclusive and sustainable economic growth. Both ministers emphasized the need to create more employment opportunities, particularly for young people, through the 2024-2027 Economic and Social Development Plan.
Al-Mashat highlighted the role of vocational training, high-quality employment services, and private sector involvement in creating job opportunities that align with the evolving labor market. She also discussed the Ministry’s efforts to support the state’s development efforts and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Labor Minister Gibran outlined the Ministry of Labor’s initiatives to modernize labor services, digitalize labor offices, and improve vocational training programs. He also emphasized the importance of creating a balanced labor environment that protects the rights of both employers and employees.
The meeting underscored the importance of collaboration between the two ministries in addressing the challenges and opportunities facing the Egyptian labor market. By investing in human capital, creating jobs, and improving vocational training, Egypt can achieve inclusive and sustainable economic growth.