Egypt and Canada have signed three new cooperation initiatives worth around EGP 552 million, aimed at supporting women, girls and refugees across several regions of Egypt.
The agreements were signed by Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, and Ulric Shannon, Canadian Ambassador to Egypt. The projects form part of ongoing bilateral cooperation focused on social development, gender equality and access to essential services.
One of the initiatives is designed to provide comprehensive support for refugee women and girls living in Egypt. The project seeks to improve living conditions while strengthening access to basic services and protection mechanisms. It also aligns with Egypt’s wider efforts to advance women’s empowerment and promote gender equality.
Implementation will take place in cooperation with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) across several governorates, including Aswan, Greater Cairo, Alexandria and Damietta. The programme will focus on addressing vulnerabilities faced by refugee women and girls and supporting their integration within host communities.
A second initiative, titled Food for the Future, targets women’s empowerment through an integrated approach to maternal and child nutrition. The project aims to strengthen Egypt’s health and nutrition sector by improving the quality of nutrition and healthcare services for mothers, girls and children.
The initiative will support coordination between government ministries and complement existing education-focused programmes such as EGY CAN. It also seeks to build local capacity and raise community awareness around nutrition, contributing to long-term social and economic sustainability for beneficiaries.
Food for the Future will be implemented by UNICEF in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Population across multiple governorates, including Asyut, Qena, Sohag, Sharqia, Gharbia, Beheira, Cairo and Giza.
The third agreement covers the Empowering Women and Girls in Adolescence in Upper Egypt (Masarat) project. The initiative focuses on young women and girls, with the aim of strengthening access to reproductive health services and advancing gender equality in Upper Egypt.
The Masarat project aligns with Canada’s cooperation priorities in Egypt and supports progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals by concentrating on adolescents and enhancing the capacity of local communities to deliver essential services efficiently. It will be carried out by the Ministry of Health and Population and the National Council for Women in the governorates of Asyut and Minya.
According to officials, the new agreements build on an established Canadian cooperation portfolio in Egypt, which currently totals approximately CAD 40 million, equivalent to around EGP 1.4 billion. Existing projects span a range of sectors, including women’s support, economic development, health, education and climate-smart agriculture.
