File Photo: A vegetable market in Cairo. Reuters
1.8 million citizens in 11 governorates across Egypt benefitted from the decent life 'Hayah Karima' initiative in its first phase that extended from July 2019 through to the end of December 2020, Minister of Planning and Economic Development Hala El-Said announced on Sunday.
The figures came within the ministry’s report on the first phase of the initiative that had been launched by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi in 2019, aiming at uplifting people’s living standards and quality through focusing on the neediest villages.
The first phase of the initiative covered 199 villages and districts with total allocations of EGP 5.5 billion, EGP 3.3 billion of which allocated in the FY2019/2020 budget and EGP 2.2 billion allocated in the current FY2020/2021, according to the report.
The report also showed that small projects were provided in the first phase of the initiative with a total of EGP 438 million and 71,000 job opportunities were extended in nine governorates.
The initiative contributed in improving the performance of sustainable development in the targeted governorates in line with the state’s strategy sustainable development goals (SDGs) agenda. This includes establishing sustainable cities and local communities, improving healthcare and education, providing clean drinking water and sanitising tools, as well as offering job opportunities and achieving economic growth.
According to the United Nations, the 'Hayah Karima' initiative has contributed to alleviating the negative impacts of COVID-19 through improving the standards of living conditions for the most in need groups and providing job opportunities through supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The initiative aims at providing decent housing, water and sanitation for deprived families, medical and educational services, as well as establishing micro-projects for those most in need and families.
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