The Haya Karima project, Egypt’s largest rural development initiative, aims to reduce multidimensional poverty and address developmental gaps between governorates.

The project has been recognized internationally. It is listed on the UN’s "Sustainable Development Goals Accelerators" and "Best Practices" platforms in recognition of its contribution to achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The financial resources allocated for the project have reached EGP 295.5 billion, accounting for 84.4 percent of the total budget. A total of 16,812 projects were completed across 100 developed villages at a cost of EGP 21 billion, benefiting 1.2 million citizens.

The first phase alone has benefited 18 million citizens across 1,500 villages. The total cost for this phase, which encompasses 23,000 projects, exceeds EGP 350 billion.

Focusing on Upper Egypt
 

Minister Al-Mashat highlighted that 68 percent of the first-phase budget had been allocated to Upper Egypt, where 61 percent of the beneficiaries are located.

She also emphasized that over 70 percent of the first-phase investments focus on human development, aligning with Egypt’s National Human Rights Strategy.

Key achievements in education, water, sanitation
 

The initiative has made significant strides by establishing and upgrading 15,000 classrooms and renovating 1,300 schools.

Efforts to eliminate illiteracy have benefited 510,000 individuals, and the illiteracy rate in targeted governorates has dropped by seven percent from 2021 to 2024.

Additionally, 73,000 citizens have participated in digital literacy programmes.

The water and sanitation sectors accounted for nearly half of the first-phase budget. Key accomplishments include completing 21 wastewater treatment plants, 937 sewage projects, and 1.4 million household connections.

This resulted in a 45 percent increase in sanitation service subscribers in targeted villages.

The goal is to achieve 90 percent sanitation coverage in these villages by the end of the project, compared to just 12 percent in 2013/2014.

For drinking water, 248 plants and 1,380 projects have been developed, increasing water connections by 14 percent.

Natural gas, telecommunications, financial inclusion
 

The project extended the gas network to 506 villages in the natural gas sector, resulting in a 299 percent increase in gas subscribers between 2021 and 2024.

In telecommunications, installing fibre optic networks in 766 villages and adding 1,277 mobile network towers have improved services and increased telecom subscriptions by 41 percent.

The project has also supported financial inclusion efforts, with EGP 65.6 billion in loans provided to small, medium, and micro enterprises, benefiting over 2.9 million people.

The expansion of banking infrastructure included 137 new bank branches, 1,254 ATMs, and 160,000 Internet banking services.

Moreover, 340,000 prepaid cards, 78,000 mobile wallets, and 8,325 sale points with QR codes have been established, boosting the financial inclusion index by 11 percent.

Ongoing and future projects
 

The Haya Karima project is integrated with several national initiatives, including the Comprehensive Health Insurance Project. The first phase focuses on the development of 1,102 health units and 24 central hospitals.

Additionally, 30 percent of investments align with Egypt’s National Climate Change Strategy 2050. Three villages have been rehabilitated to earn the "Rationalization" certification under the Green Village initiative, marking a regional first.

This ambitious development programme continues to play a crucial role in improving the living conditions of rural Egyptians and is expected to bring lasting changes in infrastructure, health, education, and economic opportunities across the country.