As the COVID-19 pandemic was 

Technology, Public Policy, Communications, Innovation

Check out the tracker here (link)

Technology, Cybersecurity, International Cooperation, High-level Events

The Child Helpline in Egypt is considered a critical lifeline for vulnerable children who are facing various risks. It ensures that children receive timely and effective assistance through offering immediate support and protection for vulnerable children. Towards developing the capacities and improving the processes of the Egypt Child Helpline, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), in collaboration with the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood (NCCM), works to provide the necessary support and needed technical assistance to ensure the accessibility and convenience of its services.  

It was our honor to be involved in the research behind these efforts through developing a concept note about the International frameworks and the global best practices in the field of child protection and child helplines. Throughout our work, the analytical research was essential for examining the successful implementation of child helplines in other peer countries that have similar social and economic conditions to Egypt. In addition, we conducted in-depth interviews with the Child Helpline staff to gain deeper understanding about the workflow in the line, the ticketing system, case management processes, and the reporting system. The research resulted in providing actionable recommendations about how to improve the capacities and processes of the Child Helpline based on the international frameworks and best practices. 

Advocacy, Digital Transformation, Public Policy, Social Protection

In October 2020, the National Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development, under the auspices of the Ministry of Planning and Sustainable Development,  launched an ambitious initiative under the title “Ambassadors of Sustainable Development” (كن سفيراً). The initiative aimed at capacitating different beneficiary groups (students, government employees, NGO employees, etc.) in the field of Sustainable Development and general professional skills. This is done through a series of training sessions on key topics such as development patterns, just transition, green and circular economy, environmental preservation, and others.

We are proud to have been in charge of the development of the training manuals of the Ambassadors of Sustainable Development (كن سفيراً) Initiative. This included introduction to the various topics, resource libraries, glossaries of terms, success stories as examples, and the global ecosystem of sustainable development policymaking and action. This also included developing a Training of Trainers (ToT) manual so that beneficiaries of the initiative can pay it forward and in turn train their entities and local communities.

Education, Capacity Building, ToT, Sustainable Development

Irregular/illegal migration has in recent years become a key challenge in Egyptian society causing humanitarian crises and human rights violations. Towards combating this, the Egyptian-German Center for Jobs, Migration and Reintegration (EGC) was created as a cooperation between the Ministry of State for Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates’ Affairs (MoSEEEA) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). The EGC, while based in Cairo, operates in the governorates with the highest levels of irregular migrants, through local civil society organizations based in these governorates, to provide services that would support better opportunities for potential migrants such as employment support as well as reintegration services for returning migrants.

We are honored to have supported the EGC in developing a thorough needs assessment research exercise, assessing the capacities and challenges facing the operations of each of the 15 CSOs in the various governorates. The field research included in-depth interviews and workshops with each of the 15 CSOs which resulted in an assessment of their readiness and needs. Accordingly, an action plan to capacitate the 15 CSOs was developed, constituting short, medium and long-term measures so that they can sustainably provide the services of the EGC towards the ultimate objective of reducing irregular migration.

Social Protection, Migration, Civil Society, Research

Regarded as the brains of the Egyptian government, the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) is arguably the most strategic institution in Egypt’s developmental efforts being the national statistical office in charge of all official data collection and national statistics publishing. This project was a trailblazer in digital transformation of public entities in Egypt.

Applying an evidence-based methodology, the project included mapping and studying all statistical operations of CAPMAS and identifying pain points in operations and procedures. This was followed by a thorough analysis on how to overcome such pain points and institutionally develop CAPMAS towards being a fully digitally transformed entity on the 4 dimensions of transformation: people, technology, operations, and institution. The project also included the updating of CAPMAS’s website to ensure availability and accessibility of data and statistics in line with international standards and in a manner befitting CAPMAS’s expertise and history.

The first phase of the project has closed successfully moving on to the implementation phase. Along the journey, we are honored to have become CAPMAS’s trusted advisor in translating between business and technology.

Digital Transformation, Institutional Development, Research, Technology 

USAID Egyptian Pioneers is the largest Higher Education grant by the USAID to Egypt in 40 years. It aims to build a more inclusive and capable workforce that elevates sectors critical to Egypt’s economic growth through providing scholarships to professionals working in the Government of Egypt (GOE) and non-GOE entities. Through a nine-year cooperative agreement, the American University in Cairo (AUC) administers the program in coordination with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

The program offers scholarships to calibers working in the GOE entities who are interested in pursuing master’s degree, postdoctoral studies, and short-term training opportunities in Egypt and U.S. universities. In addition, it offers short-term training opportunities in Egypt for mid-career professionals working in non-GOE entities.

We are honored to be working as an implementing partner with the AUC. Under AUC’s direction, we manage the research and analysis components, outreach, and selection activities for the master’s degrees, postdoctoral studies, and short-term training programs in Egypt and the U.S.

Education, Program Implementation, Research, Technology

Check out the official portal (link).

The 2022 Islamic Development Bank Annual Meetings (IsDB-AM) came at a critical nexus of being hosted by Egypt for the first time in 40 years. It was a key regional event as the world was moving out of COVID-19 restrictions under the slogan “Beyond Recovery”, as well as coming right before COP-27 in the same city, Sharm El-Sheikh.

We were honored to have been part of the team working with the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development on the IsDB-AM 2022, supporting all content development of 14 of the sessions held during the event, including the content and stakeholder management and engagement of the Private Sector Forum. Our contribution included developing the agenda, sessions content, session briefs, speakers, ensuring alignment with MPED and IsDB plans and objectives, as well as developing knowledge products such as the policy recommendations from the discussions held during the event and way forward.

International Cooperation, Sustainable Development, High-level Events, Public Policy

As part of the Global Sustainable Development Agenda for 2030, all UN member countries are invited to voluntarily submit review reports on their progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals each year. Egypt’s Voluntary National Review (VNR), submitted to the UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), was hailed by the United Nations as one of the most comprehensive, insightful, and truly evidence-based VNR in the 2021 HLPF.

The report, Egypt’s third since the launch of the Sustainable Development Agenda in 2015, tracked the country’s progress in the 17 SDGs and analyzed the challenges faced and the impacts of initiatives done in each goal. The report also highlighted efforts done by non-government stakeholders such as the private sector and civil society organizations.

We were honored to have been part of the team working on the report. Our scope included the development of the core chapters of the report, namely Egypt’s progress in each of the 17 SDGs, as well as leading on the stakeholder consultations to document and select success stories to be presented in the report.

Sustainable Development, Research

Read the report here (link)

For several years, we were honored to have provided daily technical support for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates on a retainer basis. Supporting in particular the Economic & Trade Affairs Department in the Ministry, we contributed on matters of international relations policy, bilateral trade promotion, bilateral and multilateral FDI promotion, joint economic committees, and economic diplomacy.

Our work spanned over 35 countries with a focus on the MENA region and Arab-Arab cooperation. It included policy updates, news analysis, macroeconomic analysis, geopolitical analysis, engagement strategies, policymaking, initiatives ideation and development, and overall technical support to the office of H.E. the Minister. We take pride in being a trusted advisor on international cooperation and geopolitics for many governments in the region.

Labels: Trade & Investment, Risk Assessment, Geopolitics, Advisory