Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development, commenced the third day of the 12th World Urban Forum by leading a significant dialogue session focused on “Localizing Financing for Sustainable Development Goals and Local Financing”, Invest-Gate reports.
The session welcomed notable attendees, including Anacláudia Rossbach, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Organization; Eva Granados, Spanish Secretary of State for International Cooperation; Ming Zhang, Global Director for Urban Development, Resilience, and Land at the World Bank; along with several ministers, mayors, and representatives from multilateral international banks, organizations, and international bodies.
Awad underscored the paramount importance of the dialogue session’s theme, particularly given the challenges confronting sustainable urban development, not only within Egypt but on a global scale.
She highlighted the Egyptian government’s unwavering commitment to realizing the Sustainable Development Goals, evidenced by substantial investments in infrastructure, the pursuit of balanced spatial development, the empowerment of local communities, and other national endeavors aimed at fulfilling Egypt’s Vision 2030, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
This collective effort epitomizes a steadfast dedication to fostering adaptable and sustainable urban environments while bolstering their capacity to secure appropriate financing.
Furthermore, Awad elucidated that sustainable urban development hinges not solely on ambitious plans and strategies but also on sustainable financing mechanisms and robust, flexible, and efficient local capacities. The implementation of the “Integrated National Financing Framework” stands as a pivotal stride towards fostering sustainable and holistic development at the national level.
This initiative aims to craft enduring financing blueprints that prioritize sustainability and ensure equitable resource distribution among various governorates.