As prepared for delivery. 

Your Excellency, Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, 

Your Excellency, Dr. Rania Al Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation,

Distinguished Ministers, Governors, Partners,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure to be here with you today.

I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Government of Egypt, particularly the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, for successfully completing the third phase of the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects.

I also congratulate all the winning projects for their remarkable initiatives.

The National Initiative for Smart Green Projects reflects Egypt’s forward-thinking approach to climate action and its drive to turn the ambitions of the National Climate Change Strategy 2050 into reality.

Over the past three years, it has become a powerful platform for local innovation and inclusive climate action.

With a total of 17,000 project submissions received from across all 27 governorates since its inception, with nearly 6,000 submissions this year alone, this initiative highlights the creativity and passion of young Egyptian women and men who are addressing climate challenges through digital solutions.

UNDP has been privileged to support this initiative from the start. 

We are proud to witness the progress of many of these projects from local communities to global platforms such as COP29 last year.

This initiative provides a vital national platform, leveraging entrepreneurial talent to drive local-innovations, and apply emerging technologies in smart cities, e-mobility, and smart agriculture.

These solutions showcase how technology can catalyze real change, not only in Egypt but globally.

What makes these solutions even more impactful is their local development. 

They foster ownership and empower local actors to advance meaningful change, while ensuring that interventions are evidence-based and tailored to each community’s unique needs.

In this context, I am delighted to highlight a new report, a collaborative effort between the ministry and UNDP, exploring the role of climate technologies and the vital role of startups in driving climate action.

This report is a flagship outcome of the ClimaTech Run initiative, launched by the Government of Egypt at COP27, and has since evolved into a multi-stage platform supporting climate tech entrepreneurs.

It offers a comprehensive overview, drawing on insights from over 400 climate tech startups, spanning seven key sectors, and powered by over 10,000 data points.

The report also presents trends, gaps, and real-world success stories that highlight the innovation landscape and the specific challenges climate tech startups face—from product development to funding.

What makes this report unique is that it centers on the voices of climate entrepreneurs—those on the frontlines of tackling our most urgent environmental challenges.

This report goes beyond diagnosis by offering clear, actionable recommendations to unlock the full potential of climate technology.

We hope that this report will contribute to Egypt’s Startup Ecosystem Charter, within the framework of the Ministerial Committee for Entrepreneurship, by highlighting ways to support climate-focused innovation in the green growth agenda. 

While integrating green, digital, and entrepreneurial initiatives is crucial, we must also prioritize local experiences in driving innovative solutions. 

This is essential for advancing the Sustainable Development Goals.

Building on our support for Egypt’s first Voluntary Local Reviews for Beheira, Port Said, and Fayyum governorates—presented at the UN High-Level Political Forum—we are now proud to support the launch of Egypt’s SDGs localization reports. 

These reports, one for each governorate, provide a comprehensive analysis of SDG performance at the local level.

As explained in the previous presentation, these reports provide a detailed overview of each governorate’s progress on specific SDG indicators. They highlight key challenges and opportunities unique to each region.

Localizing the SDGs requires a whole-of-society approach—engaging government, the private sector, civil society and local communities.

Local governments play a crucial role in SDG localization, as their deep understanding of local contexts allows them to identify and address pressing challenges. 

This is not just about aligning plans—it is about driving sustainable development from the ground up.

By involving local communities in SDG planning and implementation, we empower people to take ownership of their future. 

The Egyptian government is at the heart of this effort, strengthening capacities and providing the necessary tools to align local priorities with Egypt Vision 2030 and the SDGs.

In the same vein, UNDP is pleased to partner with the Egyptian government to support the localization of development. 

Through our partnership with Ministry of Local Development, and with funding from the European Union, we are supporting the governorates of Fayyum, Beni Suef, Aswan and Luxor governorates in strengthening their local level planning and governance. 

SDG localization is already yielding tangible results: For example, improved access to healthcare, education and economic growth through targeted initiatives like Hayah Kareema.

Today’s launch goes beyond the release of new reports; it serves as a call to action.

We urge governorates, policymakers, the private sector, and civil society to use this wealth of data to drive impactful, locally tailored policies.

We also look forward to advancing our work through the recently signed joint programme with MoPEDIC, UNICEF, and UN-HABITAT, aimed at strengthening evidence-based and inclusive planning, budgeting, and monitoring for SDGs at the local level in Egypt.

Together, we can ensure that SDG localization translates into real progress for all Egyptians.

Thank you.