Dr. Rania El-Mashat, Egypt’s Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, has approved the results of the “Performance Excellence Incentives in Public Investment Management at the Local Level” initiative for the fiscal year 2024-2025. This initiative has led to the recognition of eight governorates—Beni Suef, Aswan, Menoufia, Sharqia, Giza, Alexandria, Qena, and the Red Sea—each receiving a total performance incentive of 300 million Egyptian Pounds. These governorates were selected from among 22 participants.
Dr. El-Mashat emphasized that the initiative aims to achieve several strategic objectives. Primarily, it seeks to enhance the role of public investment in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the local level. In addition, the initiative focuses on improving the efficiency and effectiveness of public spending at the local level, promoting transparency and accountability in investment allocation, and encouraging governorates to adopt international best practices in planning, monitoring, and performance evaluation. This approach supports Egypt’s Vision 2030, which emphasizes improving the quality of public services provided to citizens.
Aligned with Egypt’s Vision 2030 and Law No. 18 of 2022 on General Planning, the initiative is designed to foster better public sector management and improve the delivery of services to local communities. By incentivizing high-performing governorates, the initiative ensures that local investments contribute to the broader national development agenda and align with sustainable, transparent governance.
The initiative evaluates local governments based on the achievement of 26 specific criteria, which are grouped under eight fundamental standards. These standards focus on participatory planning, which encourages local governments to involve citizens in the investment planning process, ensuring that local priorities are addressed. Furthermore, local governments are required to conduct feasibility studies for investment projects, thereby improving the efficiency and quality of investment. They are also incentivized to adhere to established planning processes, follow a program-based and performance-driven approach, and implement effective performance monitoring mechanisms.
Transparency is a core component of the initiative, with local governments required to disclose their investment plans and related information to the public. Additionally, the initiative promotes capacity building by enhancing the planning and management skills of local government staff. The integration of environmental considerations into investment plans ensures that local development projects contribute to sustainable development goals, while fostering self-resource development within governorates allows for the long-term sustainability of local investments.
The performance incentives, which total 300 million Egyptian Pounds, are aimed at further enhancing local infrastructure, improving public services, and addressing the needs of residents in the selected governorates. By rewarding local governments for their performance, the initiative fosters a competitive environment that encourages efficient and transparent management of public funds, ultimately benefiting the communities served by these investments.
This initiative is a significant step in reinforcing Egypt’s commitment to effective governance and sustainable development. By empowering local governments to adopt better planning and investment practices, Egypt is ensuring that public resources are utilized efficiently to drive both local and national growth. The results of this initiative underscore the government’s ongoing efforts to create an environment in which public investment plays a critical role in advancing the nation’s development objectives.
Through this approach, Egypt continues to lay the foundation for a more inclusive and sustainable future, aligned with the principles of transparency, accountability, and citizen-focused governance.
