According to the Ministry of International
Cooperation’s Annual Report, $1.79 billion in soft development financing has been provided for social housing, drinking water, sanitation, and local development projects during the last four years.
The Ministry of International Cooperation’s 2023 annual report, titled “International Partnerships for Sustainable Development: Platforms for Policy and Practice,” showcases a significant achievement: securing $28.5 billion in development financing from multilateral and bilateral partners across the nation’s diverse sectors. Notably, $1.79 billion was specifically dedicated to social housing, drinking water, and sanitation, representing 6.2% of the government’s total development funding over the past four years.
This highlights Egypt’s strong commitment to prioritizing investments in essential infrastructure and improving the lives of its citizens.
Housing, drinking water and sanitation
During the year 2020, $1.2 billion in development financing agreements were signed, including $244 million from the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development to complete the Bahr al-Baqar water system construction project, and $500 million from the World Bank Group (WBG) in additional financing for the social housing financing project, as well as $18 million from the Kuwait Fund for Development to establish two seawater desalination plants.
Egypt’s infrastructure needs have been met by key partners:
Kuwait Development Fund: $183 million for the Bahr Al-Baqar water system.
The European Investment Bank has approved $134 million for the expansion of Alexandria’s Western Sewage Treatment Plant.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has approved a loan of $208 million for a sewage treatment project and the Fayoum Health Centre.
Germany has received a $6 million grant to manage water and sanitation.
Egypt made significant progress in acquiring critical development finance in 2021. The African Development Bank (AfDB) provided a critical $131 million loan and grant package to implement integrated sanitation services in Luxor’s countryside residential areas. Germany’s unwavering support manifested itself in three $12 million grants, which bolstered the Nile Delta Water Management Program project and a capacity building program focused on infrastructure development in areas affected by illegal immigration. The European Union gave a $25 million grant to the construction and improvement of Alexandria’s Western Sewage Treatment Plant, further strengthening this collaborative endeavor.
These substantial cooperation demonstrated Egypt’s commitment to strengthening key infrastructure and maintaining its people’s well-being.
2022 showed a huge increase in critical development partnerships, with $174 million in agreements signed.
The European Investment Bank played a critical part, donating $88 million to an important Aswan project that included four lifting stations, expulsion lines, and a brand-new wastewater treatment plant. The French Development Agency joined forces, contributing $57 million to the Aswan project.
The European Union demonstrated its unshakable commitment to this collaborative attitude by donating $27 million. These strategic alliances and targeted investment demonstrate Egypt’s persistent commitment to developing critical infrastructure developments.
The Ministry of International Cooperation’s continuous achievement in developing fruitful partnerships with critical development partners was evident in 2023. The African Development Bank loan of $122 million, a critical investment in the third phase of the Jabal al-Asfar wastewater treatment facility, marked a key milestone. In addition, Switzerland’s continuous commitment to water infrastructure development was underscored by a $10 million donation committed to the second phase of the Upper Egypt drinking water management program.
The United States of America further demonstrated its commitment by providing a $8 million grant for the second phase of the Integrated Water Solutions Support Program. These strategic alliances and targeted investment demonstrate Egypt’s persistent commitment to developing critical water and sanitation facilities for its residents.
Local development
Over the course of four years, $90.4 million in local development agreements were signed. With a $90 million financing project for Kitchener Bank’s solid waste management, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development played a key role, while the Islamic Development Bank provided a $4 million grant for technical research on smart investments and urban development interventions in Dahab. This emphasizes Egypt’s development efforts’ emphasis on both large-scale infrastructure and local requirements.
A meeting of the dedicated Kitchener Bank rehabilitation committee (established under Prime Minister Resolution No. 1687 of 2020) was held at the Ministry of International Cooperation to maximize project impact and speed implementation. Representatives from all relevant ministries, as well as the CEO of the Potable Water and Wastewater Holding Company, met to discuss the project’s current status in all components.
