(Cairo, Egypt – March 23, 2025) –The Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation (MoPEDIC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Egypt has officially launched 27 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) localization reports at the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects (NISGP) high-level conference under the Patronage of H.E. President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and in the presence of H.E. Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly.  

Localization is at the heart of sustainable development, and the comprehensive set of 27 SDG Localization Reports—one for each governorate—offers a clear picture of where we stand and where we need to go, both locally and nationally, to achieve the SDGs. Backed by an OECD-accredited methodology, these reports translate global goals into local realities by providing detailed, indicator-level insights on SDG performance, highlighting each governorate’s unique needs, challenges, and opportunities.  

UNDP is proud to have supported this effort in close partnership with the Ministry and other stakeholders, ensuring that local priorities are visible, actionable, and central to national development strategies. These reports come almost one year after UNDP supported efforts to develop Egypt’s first Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs) for Fayyum, Beheira and Portsaid. The reports are a valuable tool for local governments and communities, and a call to action for policymakers, the private sector, and civil society to leverage data and formulate impactful, locally tailored policies that drive inclusive and sustainable progress. 

Welcoming remarks were delivered by H.E. Dr. Rania Al Mashat, Minister of Planning and Economic Development and International Cooperation, Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, the United Nations Special Envoy on Financing the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, Elena Panova, UN Resident Coordinator, Alessandro Fracassetti, UNDP Egypt Resident Representative, and Ambassador Hisham Badr, the NISGP’s General Coordinator. In a presentation delivered by Dr. Mona Essam, Assistant Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation for Sustainable Development Affairs, the importance of localizing development efforts to ensure equitable progress across Egypt was emphasized.  

H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation said: "The launch of the second edition of the SDG Localization Reports reflects Egypt's ongoing commitment to sustainable development. By systematically evaluating the performance of all 27 governorates, these reports provide clear, actionable roadmap for directing development efforts where they are most needed. With an expanded set of 50 indicators and a newly introduced performance score based on an OECD-accredited methodology, there is greater clarity on the successes and areas for improvement across the country to ensure evidence-based and data-driven decisions."  

Al-Mashat also added that "This comprehensive approach empowers local communities and ensures that each governorate can contribute to Egypt's national vision, as also demonstrated today through the launch of the ClimateTech Report and the 3rd Edition of the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects."  

From his side, Alessandro Fracassetti, UNDP Egypt Resident Representative, said: “We are proud to have supported the NISGP since its inception three years ago during COP 27, witnessing how local innovation can drive sustainable solutions. With around 6000 project submissions, Egypt’s young innovators continue to lead the way in tackling climate challenges.” He added “Today, we are pleased to also launch two key initiatives—the Climatech Report and 27 SDG Localization Reports—both designed to strengthen local action and inform evidence-based policies. The NISGP Conference is the ideal platform to unveil these reports, reinforcing the vital link between smart, green, and inclusive local innovation, and ambition to translate the localization of sustainable development into real progress for all Egyptians.” 

In addition, the ministry and UNDP announced the launch of the Climatech Report, which provides valuable insights on the role of climate tech startups in tackling environmental challenges and explores the intersection of climate innovation and technology, further underscoring the role of local solutions in tackling global challenges.  

Drawing on primary data from over 400 climate tech startups, the resulting report offers in-depth analysis of the ecosystem, examining key factors such as enabling conditions, product innovation, technology development, and access to funding and investment opportunities—all aimed at strengthening the role of startups in advancing sustainable, climate-resilient solutions. 

The event’s highlight was the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects (NISGP). This initiative, supported by UNDP and other stakeholders, fosters local innovation and inclusivity, particularly among women and youth, while showcasing outstanding local achievements in smart cities, e-mobility, and smart agriculture. At the event, the winning 18 projects of the initiative's third round were announced, exemplifying the exceptional innovations emerging from local communities. 

The event brought together high-level representatives (via recorded video message), including H.E. Amb. Dr. Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration & Egyptian Expatriates; H.E. Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment; H.E. Dr. Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development; H.E. Dr. Amr Talaat, Minister of Communications & Information Technology; H.E. Dr. Mohamed Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research; and Counselor Amal Ammar, President of the National Council for Women. The event also brought together several governors from the governorates with winning projects, including Major General Dr. Mohammed Salman Al-Zamlout, Governor of New Valley; Major General Ibrahim Ahmed Abu Laimoun, Governor of Menoufia; and Major General Ashraf El-Gendy, Governor of Gharbia. 

For more information, please contact: 

UNDP | Fatma Elzahraa Yassin, UNDP Egypt, Communication Lead, fatma.yassin@undp.org