Wednesday 22 Jan
Dr. Maya Morsy, Minister of Social Solidarity, witnessed the signing of a cooperation protocol with the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development to expand the "Bab Amal" program, which aims to lift 100,000 Egyptian families out of poverty by 2028. The signing ceremony took place at the Ministry's headquarters in the New Administrative Capital.
The protocol was signed by Engineer Margaret Sarofim, Deputy Minister, and Laila Hosni, Executive Director of the Sawiris Foundation. The event was attended by ministry officials, including Dr. Mohamed El-Aqbi, Assistant Minister for Strategic Communication and Media, Dina El-Sirafy, Assistant Minister for International Cooperation and International Relations and Agreements, Raafat Shafik, Assistant Minister of Social Solidarity for Social Protection and Programs to Support Social Safety Networks, Economic Empowerment and Human Development, Counselor Karim Qalawy, Legal Advisor to the Ministry, and members of the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development, researchers, and financing and implementation partners.
"Bab Amal" is inspired
by the "graduation approach" developed by BRAC International, proven
successful in over 50 countries and about 14 million people benefited from it.
This approach aims to provide sustainable livelihoods and break the cycle of
poverty through a combination of social protection, livelihood enhancement,
financial inclusion, and social empowerment.
Dr. Morsy emphasized the
importance of collaboration, stating that it is crucial for achieving the
state's goals and serving the most vulnerable families. She highlighted the
ministry's commitment to integrating social protection services, such as
Takaful and Karama, to support families beyond cash assistance.
Laila Hosni said: 'The diverse
positive results of the study on the "Bab Amal" program reflect our
ambition to lift 100,000 families out of extreme poverty by 2028.
The program has proven its
effectiveness in breaking the cycle of extreme poverty by developing a sustainable
and comprehensive path that combines social protection, enhancing livelihoods,
providing financial inclusion, and achieving social empowerment.'” The
program's positive results reflect the foundation's ambition to lift families
out of extreme poverty.
The Sawiris Foundation launched "Bab Amal" in 2018, focusing on the poorest families in Assiut and Sohag. The program is supported by various partners, including ExxonMobil Egypt and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) is also providing policy guidance.
