Ashraf AboArafe
How can cities be made livable for all residents? What role do inclusivity and sustainability play in urban development? How can governments work better with civic actors and residents in urban development projects? Coordinated by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and organized by UN Habitat in Cairo, today’s event revolved around these topics, “Inclusive and Resilient Cities: Towards a Just Urban Transformation in Egypt,” as part of the “Egypt Urban Campaign.” The aim of this event is to conduct a dialogue with various parties about the opportunities and possibilities related to how to make urbanization in Egypt socially just and climate resilient in order to create better living conditions for people in cities.
Mr. Mario Zander von Turklos, Director of the Middle East Department at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, participated in the event as a guest of honor from Germany. It is worth noting that the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), in cooperation with the European Union delegation and Egyptian partners from the Ministries of Social Solidarity, Housing and Environment, presented successful joint projects, for example “Capacity Building through Urban Infrastructure Development,” and “The National Program for Managing… Solid Waste” and “Equal Opportunities and Social Development” as examples of best practices in this context.
During this event, Mr. Zander emphasized the following: “The German government has a long-term commitment to improving living conditions in slum areas in Egypt. Our strong cooperation with the Egyptian government on various projects has led to significant achievements, positively impacting the lives of Egyptians in urban areas. We thank all our partners for their dedication to enhancing the environmental, infrastructure and social framework for Egyptian citizens in a way that respects and protects nature while ensuring that no person or place is left unattended. Let us continue our work together to build cities that prioritize quality and quality of life for all residents.
Urban development is traditionally a major topic of German development cooperation and the focus of the comprehensive development strategy “BMZ 2030” of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. The projects “Equal Opportunities and Social Development” and “Capacity Building through Urban Infrastructure Development” are examples of long-standing successful German-Egyptian cooperation in this field. Germany’s sustainable and equitable urban development puts the needs of local residents at the center. Sustainable solutions can only be found through dialogue, cooperation and participation.
