CLIMATE PROOFING FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS: “DECENT LIFE INITIATIVE AS A CASE STUDY”

1 June 2022; 9:00 - 10:30 AM

Venue: Tonino Lamborghini International Convention Center Sharm El Sheikh (Suez Canal Hall)

OVERVIEW:

Despite being among the least contributors to global Green House Gas (GHG) emissions, many member states of the IsDB are facing a wide range of socio-economic challenges related to climate change. Such challenges exceed these countries’ adaptive capacities such as increasing temperatures, rising sea-levels, abrupt changes in precipitation, and extreme weather events. Such cascading challenges pose significant risks to agriculture and food security and affect the livelihoods of the local communities and potentially reversing hard earned developmental gains. Such risks are also considered the root-causes of “climate-induced migration” phenomenon. The situation was aggravated after the outbreak of the pandemic as the amount of finance dedicated for developmental purposes decreased due to the retrenchment of private sector investment, the decline in government revenue, and the souring debt crisis of developing countries. The challenge has now intensified due to the geo-political instability caused by the conflict in Ukraine, amidst a situation of global recession and inflationary pressures. In Egypt, the presidential initiative “Haya Karima” (Decent life) has been recognized by UN-DESA as one of the accelerators to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs) at the local level, The initiative aims to raising the quality of life of nearly 58% of the Egyptian population living in rural areas where poverty is mostly concentrated.

KEY ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED:

  1. What are the policies adopted by the IsDB’s member states (especially among panelists) in achieving sustainable development while ensuring climate proofing?
  2. What have been the recent interventions of the Government of Egypt that took climate-aspects into consideration? How are climate considerations integrated in such programs/interventions?
  3. Focusing on Egypt’s “Decent Life” Initiative:
    1. How is the initiative meant to bridge developmental gaps during COVID-19 implications?
    2. How is the initiative meant to achieve inclusivity and “Leaving No One Behind”?
    3. How is investing in human development and human capital prioritized and why?
    4. How is it applying climate proofing towards promoting green sustainable livelihoods? (infrastructure, solar energy and clean environment)
  4. How should partnerships (global, regional, and local) be leveraged to ensure inclusivity? What are the benefits of a participatory approach in policymaking and intervention design?
  • Speakers:
    • H.E. Hala Helmy El-Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development

      is the Egyptian Minister of Planning and Economic Development and the IsDB Governor. She is a prominent female banking figure, as a member of the Central Bank's Board of Directors and previously as an Executive Director of the Egyptian Banking Institute.

    • H.E. Nadia Fettah

      HE Nadia Fettah is the Minister of Economy and Finance IsDB Governor, Morocco. Nadia Fettah was appointed by His Majesty King Mohammed VI as the first female Minister of Economy and Finance of Morocco. Graduated from HEC Paris, she was Managing Director of Sanlam PanAfrica group. She won the African CEO of the Year Award in 2018.

    • Fatima Yasmin

      Fatima Yasmin is the Secretary Economic Relations Division, Ministry of Finance, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, she joined the Economic Relations Division (ERD), Ministry of Finance as Secretary in February 2020. Prior to this position, she was Vice-Chairman, Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Ministry of Commerce, and Director General, Institute of Public Finance (IPF), Ministry of Finance.

    • Sara El Batouty

      Sara El Batouty is the founder of one of Egypt’s leading green business companies ECOnsult who has achieved the highest number of energy saving certified projects in Egypt by an Egyptian consultant. She is a global award-winning architect with 18 years’ experience in the field of Green and Environmental Buildings and Sustainable Development. She is Hayah Karima ambassador and Cop 27 Envoy.

    • Ambassador Seyni Nafo

      Ambassador Seyni Nafo is the Spokesperson for the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) since 2011. He also acts as coordinator of the African Adaptation Initiative (AAI), a continent-wide initiative, endorsed by the African Union Assembly, which aims to strengthen adaptation to climate impacts in Africa. In addition, Ambassador Nafo serves as the High Representative for Climate Change to the Malian President since 2019

    • Heba Moghaieb

      Heba Moghaieb is the Head of the Regional Planning Division – Ministry of Planning and Economic Development- Egypt, she is responsible for governing the long-term and yearly investment plans of the 27 governorates in Egypt. She is also an Associate Professor at the Institute of National Planning which allows her merge academic knowledge with practical experiences.

    • Gamil Helmy Abdulwahed

      Gamil Helmy Abdulwahed is the Minister Assistant for Monitoring Affairs at Ministry of Planning and Economic Development- Egypt. Also, he is the General Supervisor of the National Project for Rural Development "Haya Karima" and Head of Programs and Performance based Planning Unit.