Egypt’s government approved on October 2 an agreement worth USD 1.2 bn with the United Nations Partnership Development Framework (UNPDF), covering the period from 2018 to 2022, state-run MENA news agency reports.

The deal is based on four pillars, economic development, social justice, women’s empowerment, and sustainable management of natural resources. It aims to brace the government’s endeavors to achieve national development plans in Egypt, according to a ministerial statement released on March 18.

The agreement was originally signed in March in Cairo between Minister of Investment and International Cooperation Sahar Nasr and UNDP Resident Representative Richard Dictus, in the presence of several ministries, Egyptian authorities, development partners, and UN organizations.

“Egypt is considered one of the key actors in the Sustainable Development Agenda … During the implementation of such partnership, the UN will be fully committed to benefiting from knowledge and experience of its members to contribute to achieving more sustainable future for Egypt and its people,” Dictus said in a previous statement.