Equal Opportunities Social Development

Launch & Signing Ceremony (Cycle 2)

Cairo, 21 May 2024

Closing Speech by

Ambassador Christian Berger,

Head of the EU Delegation to Egypt

Dear Minister Nevine Khabbaj, dear partners,

Dear participants, guests, ladies and gentlemen,

The EU is the biggest supporter of civil society organisations around world.  We believe that probables should be addressed where they arise; civil society often not only faces issues and problems but often has the answer and can contribute to finding solutions in close partnerships with the authorities, with these business community and other staheholders. 

I would like to reaffirm the EU’s commitment to support civil society organizations’ capacities to work in partnership with national and governorate authorities contributing to sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development aiming specifically at engaging and empowering youth, women and youth with disabilities. 

Youth are big asset for Egypt today, and in the future.  Both CSOs and young people play an important role in shaping a more sustainable and prosperous future in Egypt and beyond.

Thirty-three CSOs in cycle 1 and 29 CSOs in cycle 2 are part of a larger programme, the Equal Opportunities and Social Development (EOSD) implemented by GIZ.  The themes addressed by the grants and implemented by CSOs represent important priorities that support participation and engagement of youth, including youth with disabilities. Promoting accessibility, inclusivity, and meaningful participation will ensure that every young person, regardless of their abilities, has the opportunity to realise their full potential and contribute to the development of their communities.

The European Union is supporting the EOSD as an excellent model for achieving sustainable results through engaging with the youth, the civil society, the organisations of persons with disabilities, the local authorities, the public institutions and the local communities.

I would like to thank GIZ for the organisation of the two day civil society networking forum that featured a diversified engagement set as a dialogue platform for knowledge sharing and exchange of expertise that allowed for an enriched interaction among the various project stakeholders and partners.  Equally I would like to express full appreciation for the CSOs that successfully implemented the 33 EU funded actions implemented under the umbrella of the EU –GIZ partnership.

The European Union will further enhance the collaboration with the Government of Egypt and the CSOs through the establishment of the independent Civil Society Fund and supporting its institutional capacities which represents one of the key milestones under the EOSD project.

Allow me to highlight the role of EU Member States through the Team Europe approach. In particular the EU and the Government of Germany to support the efforts of the Egyptian partners in the framework of the project “Equal Opportunities and Social Development”.

The EU funded Equal Opportunities and Social Development project is one among several EU programmes that contribute to Egypt’s efforts towards empowerment and improvement of the quality of life of its citizens.  All fall within a comprehensive approach linking population and sustainable development, and with a great attention to investing in human capital that contributes to Egypt’s vision 2030.

The EU and Egypt recently signed the EU support to the Hayah Kareema Project that will contribute to rural development, food security, healthcare and social protection, with a specific focus on disadvantaged rural communities and including tailored actions for CSOs, Youth and women. 

In conclusion let me express my gratitude to all partners, the Ministry of Social Solidarity, the German embassy and GIZ, and more specifically to the CSOs present in today’s event for their contributions to the implementation of the EOSD project that constitutes a cornerstone for the future of young communities in Egypt.