UNICEF Egypt
UNICEF work in Egypt is focused on promoting sustainable development with multidimensional equity for children, embodying the fair chance for every child principle. In line with national priorities, UNICEF work in Egypt focuses on Early Childhood Development bridging the first 1000 days through the first years of formal education, as a key means by which multiple threats to children may be addressed through cross-sectoral linkages. The expected results of UNICEF’s work in Egypt will contribute to national efforts and priorities and the 2030 National Sustainable Development Strategy; as well as the United Nations Partnership for Development Framework (UNPDF 2018-2022).
UNICEF Egypt’s Country Program is supporting the Government of Egypt to ensure that:
- Poor and vulnerable children increasingly benefit from child sensitive and integrated social protection systems and child responsive national policies and public spending;
- Vulnerable mothers, newborns and children have better access to, and utilization of, quality essential package of maternal, neonatal and child health care services;
- Nutritional situation for children is improved through strengthening the preparedness and institutional capacity of the Nutrition system and operationalizing the nutrition sensitive policies in the country;
- More children and adolescents have equitable access to quality learning opportunities relevant to their cognitive, social and economic empowerment;
- More children in Egypt are increasingly protected from violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect including in those in emergency situations;
- There is a positive influence on social beliefs related to child care and gender perceptions with a particular focus on positive parenting, reducing child violence and reducing the prevalence of harmful practices (FGM, early marriage) affecting girls;
- Improved national M&E systems for better Production and utilization of rigorous evidence/data for SDS/SDG monitoring to improve inclusive social programs and policies for children.
BRUNO MAES
UNICEF REPRESENTATIVE IN EGYPT
Mr. Bruno Maes, a Belgian national, took up his post as UNICEF Representative in Egypt in September 2015. He has previously served as UNICEF Representative in the Republic of Chad and the Republic of Madagascar.
Joining UNICEF in 2000, Bruno Maes worked as Deputy Representative in the Republic of Burundi and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Prior to joining UNICEF, Bruno Maes served as the Representative of the European Commission Humanitarian Office (ECHO) for the Republic of Angola. He holds a Master’s Degree in Development Economics, University of Louvain, Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium.
A Word from our Representative
Egypt has made recent gains in the reduction of child mortality, and nearly universal access to education. However, a rapidly growing population and increasing levels of poverty and inequality are exacerbating health, nutrition, education, and protection risks for boys, girls and women throughout the country. In 2018, UNICEF and the Government of Egypt, with other partners, are embarking on a new five-year programme to expand opportunities for the poorest children, and mitigate the inter-generational transmission of poverty and inequity. To achieve this, UNICEF is aligning its programmes with national and international development priorities, including Egypt’s Vision 2030, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and UNICEF’s Five Global Goal Areas.
UNICEF is supporting the Government to target its programmes toward the most disadvantaged children in Egypt, including children with disabilities and children on the move. The new country programme priorities will strengthen systems and services to address inequities. UNICEF will develop a strong, coherent and cross-sectoral approach to Early Childhood Development to improve children’s physical, cognitive and social-emotional development. Risks for children on the move will be prevented and mitigated, and children and adolescents will be protected from violence and harmful practices like female genital mutilation/cutting and child marriage. Social and behavioral change communication techniques to improve knowledge, attitudes and practices supporting children’s rights and positive parenting will enhance these initiatives.
UNICEF’s key strength is its holistic approach to support the Government to develop and strengthen policies and services that improve the survival and well-being of the whole child. UNICEF also has unique expertise to promote positive and measurable individual and social change to advance children’s rights. Through its partnerships with key line ministries, other UN agencies, and implementing partners UNICEF’s programmes can make an immediate, far-reaching and sustainable impact on the lives and social environment of women and children in Egypt.
UNICEF is committed to working with the Government of Egypt to ensure the survival and positive development of every boy and girl in Egypt. Through a focus on the generation of evidence to identify and address inequities in quality and access to services, supporting socio-cultural norms that promote the well-being of children, and scaling-up high-impact interventions, UNICEF can reach more than 7 million vulnerable children in Egypt within the next five years.