In line with the directives of Engineer Randa El Menshawy, Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities, Engineer Mostafa El Naggar, First Undersecretary of the Ministry and Head of the Housing and Utilities Sector, participated in the first meeting of the Technical Committee for the Arab Program for Enhancing Urban Resilience in Reducing Multi-Hazard Disaster Risks.
The meeting was organized by the League of Arab States in cooperation with the Arab Center for the Prevention of Earthquake and Other Natural Disaster Risks in Algeria and was hosted by the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria.
The meeting coincided with the Regional Workshop on Urban Resilience, Smart Cities, and Risk-Informed Development, held from June 28 to June 30, 2026, with the participation of representatives from more than 17 Arab countries.
Participants included national focal points for disaster risk reduction, housing and urban development officials, as well as distinguished international representatives from the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), and a wide range of regional and international experts and partners.
The first day’s sessions featured extensive discussions focused on strengthening joint Arab efforts to reduce disaster risks in cities and shifting from traditional approaches toward prevention and preparedness.
During the meeting, members of the program’s Technical Committee were selected, the Arab Program for Enhancing Urban Resilience in Reducing Multi-Hazard Disaster Risks document was reviewed, and mechanisms for implementing the program and strengthening coordination among Arab countries and regional and international partners were discussed.
Participants also approved the draft regional action plan for 2026–2029, established unified urban resilience performance indicators, and agreed to continue the Technical Committee’s coordination efforts to develop a practical framework for enhancing city preparedness.
Within this context, Engineer Mostafa El Naggar presented a number of observations and recommendations regarding the program document and the proposed implementation framework, aimed at strengthening the program’s objectives and establishing robust, continuous monitoring mechanisms for its implementation plan and performance indicators.
The second and third days were dedicated to reviewing national experiences and discussing the key themes of the regional workshop, including risk-informed governance, the role of green and smart cities, and an integrated approach linking planning, urban development, investment, and disaster risk management.
During these sessions, Engineer Mostafa El Naggar delivered a presentation titled “Egypt’s Experience in Enhancing Urban Resilience,” highlighting Egypt’s strategic and legislative framework for urban resilience, the Ministry’s efforts in achieving comprehensive and sustainable urban development, and the success story of the country’s fourth-generation cities and major housing programs, including the “Housing for All Egyptians” initiative.
He also emphasized the strong alignment between Egypt’s national development achievements and the seven proposed objectives of the Arab Urban Resilience Program.
During the closing session, Engineer Mostafa El Naggar reaffirmed the Egyptian Ministry of Housing’s commitment to making its technical guidelines and modern codes—such as the Egyptian Smart Cities Code and Urban Quality of Life Indicators—available to support joint Arab cooperation under the umbrella of the League of Arab States.