Egypt launches initiative to renovate 80,000 homes in rural villages
Egypt has launched a corporate social responsibility initiative to renovate and upgrade 80,661 homes for vulnerable families in villages targeted by the first phase of the presidential 'Decent Life' initiative.
The 'Decent Housing for a Decent Life' programme was launched at an event attended by senior officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar. The initiative aims to unite the efforts of the government, private sector companies, banks, and civil society organisations to improve housing conditions in 1,477 villages across 20 governorates.
The project will be implemented in collaboration with the Misr El Kheir Foundation, the Orman Association, and the Hayah Karima Foundation.
Manal Awad, the minister of local development, said the government seeks to build a broad partnership to finance the project. 'The government is seeking to build a broad partnership with banks and companies within the framework of their social responsibilities, and with civil society organisations, to upgrade and develop the homes of 80,661 families,' she said.
The initiative has already raised EGP 377m in donations from the government, civil society, and the private sector, announced Maya Morsy, the minister of social solidarity, during a fundraising drive at the launch event.
Awad described the parent 'Decent Life' initiative, launched by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in 2019, as 'an unprecedented qualitative shift in the history of the Egyptian countryside.'
She stated that the first phase of the 'Decent Life' initiative is 90% complete, with 27,334 projects implemented at a cost of EGP 360 billion, serving 18 million citizens. The projects include developing infrastructure such as water, sanitation, electricity, and roads, as well as improving social services like schools and hospitals.
The new 'Decent Housing' initiative aims to ensure that families in dilapidated homes can fully benefit from the state's large-scale infrastructure investments. A detailed survey was conducted by the ministries of local development and social solidarity, in partnership with the civil society organisations, to identify the families in need.
A steering committee chaired by Mohamed Farid Hegazy, a presidential advisor for the 'Decent Life' initiative, will oversee the programme's implementation.
Awad outlined a framework for governance and quality assurance, which includes a joint financial account for the three implementing foundations, oversight from the Ministry of Social Solidarity, and quality control checks by engineering committees. This will ensure transparency and efficiency in the use of funds.
The minister detailed a clear division of roles:
The private sector and banks: Provide funding through their corporate social responsibility budgets.
Provide funding through their corporate social responsibility budgets. Civil society organisations: Design and execute the renovation, rehabilitation, and furnishing of homes, using local contractors and labour to create jobs.
Design and execute the renovation, rehabilitation, and furnishing of homes, using local contractors and labour to create jobs. Government ministries and governorates:Facilitate permits, licenses, and utility connections to streamline the process for the implementing organisations.
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