SDGs Localization on sub-national-level in the lagged regions within the Egyptian Context: The Initiative "Decent Life" and Upper Egypt Local Development Program as an example

Towards SDGs' localization and with an emphasis on urban planning and governance, the event will highlight the Egyptian experience to advance national and sub-national reforms through two integrated and complementary megaprojects as a model for community development; working on both sub-national and local levels, and targeting both urban and rural development.

Within the framework of the SDGs, State's vision 2030, and the Government of Egypt (GOE) prepared a national program for the development of the lagged areas, the Egyptian Ministry of Local Development works on mega national projects targeting SDGs localization on the local-level through multi-stakeholder, multi-sectoral approach, with an emphasis on Urban Planning and governance.

The main mega projects, initiated in 2018, are Upper-Egypt Local Development Program, and the 'Decent Life' initiative, which are aligned with Sustainable Development goals, and were Listed as Best Practice to Achieving Results Towards 2030 SDGs on United Nations' platforms. Whereas, 'Decent Life' Egyptian initiative for sustainable rural communities is an integrated and unprecedented program to develop the entire Egyptian countryside through a comprehensive approach that includes the provision of all infrastructure services, social and economic development, as well as extending the umbrella of social protection to the most vulnerable groups within each village, within the new phase of the initiative.

The main strategic objective is to enhance societal stability by continuously raising the citizens' standards of living in villages, especially the poorest villages, raising their level of satisfaction with the services provided by the state, and increasing their sense of continuous improvement in their quality of life. Thus, the state has allocated 700 billion pounds for the Decent Life program, which aims to develop the entire Egyptian countryside, specifically 172 districts comprising 4,584 villages.

The initiative contributes to the 17 SDGs' goals; and is aligned with the state’s vision for sustainable development 2030, as well as the governmental program. Therefore, the United Nations considered it one of the best initiatives in 2020 that have been monitored not only at the local level but at the global level as well.

The Upper Egypt Local Development Program (UELDP)'s strategy is relying on expanding the financial resources by improving infrastructure and public services while working in parallel on institutional development and developing local administration systems and areas of work in support of decentralization, and enhancing and developing local capabilities so that governorates can manage the integrated local development and attract investments.

The program was instrumental in GoE’s efforts to reduce disparities & localize sustainable development. Implementation required inter-ministerial collaboration; whereas, the international partnerships built secured funding & developed operational mechanisms.