Conservation of Biodiversity into the tourism development and meeting Egypt’s international commitments are the two focus areas of today’s signing ceremony. In a sign of the exerted efforts in the area of environment, the Ministry of Environment and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) signed the two projects in the presence of H.E. the Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli. The signature ceremony took place on the margins of the United Nations Biodiversity Conference, currently taking place in Sharm ElSheikh.

The two projects “Mainstreaming the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity into the tourism development and operations in threatened ecosystems in Egypt” and the “Fourth National Communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)” were signed by Ms. Randa Aboul-Hosn, UNDP Country Director in Egypt, Dr. Mohamed Salah, Chief Executive Officer, Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency and H.E. Ambassador Hany Selim, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and Director of the Department for International Cooperation for Development.

Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment, Mr. Mourad Wahba, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations, Assistant Administrator of UNDP and Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for the Arab States and Mr. Richard Dictus, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative witnessed the signature.

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) funds the first project which aims to mainstream biodiversity into the Egyptian tourism sector and government. “Biodiversity is all about life on Earth and boosts ecosystem productivity. To protect the planet, Egypt is taking serious steps to conserve biodiversity and prevent any losses. We are proud to bring in our experience and support those efforts.” Said Ms. Randa Aboul-Hosn. “The project makes government institutions more accountable and develops the economy, both of which are resulting in considerable changes in the way that both tourism and biodiversity resources may be managed in the future.”

The second project will enable Egypt to prepare and submit its Fourth National Communication to the Conference of Parties (CoP) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change following its commitments as a Party to the Convention.

The two projects are worth around USD 3 million and will start implementation soon through the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency.

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United Nations Development Programme

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