Egypt's emigration ministry and WFP launch Bedaya Digital initiative
Ahram Online , Wednesday 16 Dec 2020
The initiative aims to bridge the gap between youth skills and the job market, providing opportunities while raising awareness on the risks of illegal migration


The Ministry of Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Affairs (MOEEA) and the World Food Programme (WFP) have launched the e-learning platform ‘Bedaya Digital’ under the presidential initiative ‘Life-Saving Boats,” which aims at raising awareness on the dangers of illegal migration.

The newly launched platform provides vocational and skills-building training for Egyptian youth and returning migrant Egyptian workers who have recently lost their jobs due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Training will be provided by the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, a key partner of the WFP and of the joint initiative.

The platform reduces the risks of irregular migration by promoting job opportunities for youth and returning migrants through skills development, linking them to services provided by the government, the WFP and the private sector.

Users of the platform will have access to vocational training to increase their employability as well as professional e-recruitment services with private sector partners. They will also be able to use the platform to apply for loans for small and medium-sized enterprises and other income-generating projects to improve their incomes and living conditions.

“The MOEAA has always the pleasure to collaborate with WFP in regard to several fields and initiatives,” said Minister of Emigration and Egyptian Expatriate Affairs Nabila Makram.

“We are keen on consolidating our efforts together, to come up with positive and perfect results within the framework of the ministry’s Sustainable Development Strategy, especially in the field of combating illegal migration and within the global repercussions of the Covid-19 outbreak," Minister Makram explained.

WFP Representative and country director Menghestab Haile stated: “The WFP is very proud to collaborate with the MOEAA to complement the Egyptian government’s proactive efforts to mitigate the negative impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had on youth who have been pushed into unemployment or illegal migration."

“We aim to significantly decrease the number of youth at risk of illegal migration through this one-stop shop that will help bridge the gap between youth’s skill sets and market demands,” Haile said.

The WFP and the MOEAA have been joining efforts to achieve the ministry's sustainable development strategy within the framework of "Egypt's Vision 2030" and through the creation of community champions at village levels to raise awareness on the risks of irregular migration and its safe alternatives.

In coordination with the Ministry of Education, due to Covid-19 this activity continues through remote online training, reaching more teachers and communities.

It is thanks to partnerships like these, with government, donors and non-governmental organisations, that the WFP has been able to deliver needed assistance to the most vulnerable.

The WFP is the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. It is the world’s largest humanitarian organisation, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

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