Engineer Nafisa Mahmoud Hashem, Advisor to the Egyptian Minister of Housing and Head of the Permanent Working Group for National Urban Agenda Reporting, represented Egypt in a panel discussion titled “Our Collective Efforts in Implementing the New Urban Agenda” at the UN Habitat Arena during the 12th World Urban Forum. The session brought together urban development experts from the Philippines, Kenya, and Chile to discuss the goals and progress of the New Urban Agenda.
In her speech, Hashem emphasized Egypt’s dedication to tracking and implementing the New Urban Agenda. She highlighted the Ministry of Housing’s collaborative efforts with the General Organization for Physical Planning, urban planning experts, multiple ministries, and civil society organizations in preparing and issuing national reports. Egypt was among the first nations to complete its initial report.
Hashem shared that the Ministry of Housing, in collaboration with local stakeholders, has issued two annual reports: the 2022 “Annual Urban Development Performance Report for Egypt” and the 2023 report on “Urban Development Facing Climate Change.” These reports are steps toward the second national report set for release in 2025-2026. The forthcoming report will reflect Egypt’s sustainable urban development commitments, informed by comprehensive input from national and regional development partners.
She further elaborated on Egypt’s urban vision, which prioritizes innovative and sustainable population growth management, social housing for low-income citizens, mid- to high-income housing, and the improvement of existing cities and informal areas. Key projects include the enhancement of historical neighborhoods, road infrastructure upgrades, quality-of-life projects, and private sector partnerships, especially in Upper Egypt, transforming it into an investment-attractive region.
Hashem concluded by emphasizing Egypt’s commitment to expanding sustainable, Fourth Generation Cities and enhancing service and housing projects within existing cities, which are expected to create sustainable employment, attract local and foreign investment, and drive economic growth in Egypt.
