Egypt Inaugurates Shabab Balad Academy Headquarters and launches Partnership with Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation

CAIRO, 17 December 2025 —The Government of Egypt, in partnership with UNICEF and the United Nations, today inaugurated the Shabab Balad Academy Headquarters in Cairo, and announced the partnership with the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation (AGF), marking a major milestone in Egypt’s journey to support youth skills for future, employment, and provision of decent work.

The high-level event was attended by H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation;  H.E. Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, Minister of Youth and Sports;  Ms. Elena Panova, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Egypt; Ms. Natalia Winder Rossi, UNICEF Representative in Egypt; Dr. Kevin Frey, CEO of Generation Unlimited; and H.E. Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair, Chairman of the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation, alongside the UnitedNations Country team, development partners, the private sector and Shabab Balad youth ambassadors.

The Shabab Balad Academy is the first flagship platform under Shabab Balad initiative, the national version of the global initiative “Generation Unlimited”, designed to support youth in Egypt through integrated pathways in education, training, employment and entrepreneurship. The Academy provides a national ecosystem offering a dynamic and interconnected platform to help young people unlock their potential and contribute to the country’s development.

“Shabab Balad is about turning potential into progress. By equipping young people with relevant skills and connecting them to opportunity, we are building a resilient workforce that can drive inclusive growth, entrepreneurship, and innovation, and support Egypt’s long-term economic development transformation. The Shabab Balad Academy serves as a national platform that brings these pathways together, linking skills development, mentorship, and employment opportunities in one integrated ecosystem. I am proud to co-chair this initiative with the UN Resident Coordinator and to serve on the Generation Unlimited Global Board, helping translate national ambition into real opportunities for young people across Egypt,” said H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation.

Serving as a national hub, the Shabab Balad initiative brings together government institutions, development partners, the private sector, civil society and youth to co-create and scale innovative solutions for young people across Egypt through a blended model combining a physical headquarters with a national digital platform. It is worth noting that the Government of Canada and the Education Above All Foundation are major contributors to both the Global Generation Unlimited and the National Shabab Balad initiatives.

The Academy will provide access to market-relevant skills, entrepreneurship support, mentorship and pathways to employment, aligned with Egypt Vision 2030 and national strategies and targets.

H.E. Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, Minister of Youth and Sports, said: “the inauguration of the Shabab Balad Academy headquarters represents a pivotal step in Egypt’s path toward building an integrated national system for youth empowerment, and linking education and training with labor market needs, in line with the political leadership’s directives to place young people at the heart of development priorities. He affirmed that the launching of the cooperation with the Abdullah Al Ghurair Foundation reflects international confidence in the Egyptian experience and supports plans to expand the Academy’s branches across governorates, in addition to launching a digital platform for learning and employment. This will help ensure access to opportunities for young people nationwide and transform youth centers into dynamic spaces for learning, innovation, and entrepreneurship.”

The event also marked the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation and UNICEF to support the national Shabab Balad initiative, the Egyptian version of Generation Unlimited, including the Academy inaugurated today.

The agreement was signed by Dr. Sonia Ben Jaafar, the Chief Executive Officer of the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation and Ms. Natalia Winder Rossi, UNICEF Representative in Egypt, and was witnessed byH.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, H.E. Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, Minister of Youth and Sports, and H.E. Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair, Chairman of Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation, underscoring strong national leadership and a shared commitment to investing in youth.

“Egypt’s people have always been its foundation, and investing in the skills of its youth is essential to future growth,” H.E. Al Ghurair said. “When young people gain skills that connect to real pathways for work and enterprise, they are able to build sustainable livelihoods and contribute to long-term national growth.”

He said the Academy reflects a growing alignment around systems that turn learning into meaningful employment. “Enduring impact is created when national leadership, and institutions come together to invest in people in ways that are practical, scalable, and focused on outcomes,” he said.

The Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation’s contribution represents a powerful example of how Arab philanthropy can play a catalytic role in advancing youth skills, employability and opportunity at scale.

“Today, we are not simply inaugurating a new facility. We are unlocking possibility. This marks a powerful milestone in Egypt’s determination to ensure that every young person has the skills, confidence and support to build the future they deserve,” said Ms. Natalia Winder Rossi, UNICEF Representative in Egypt.

“The United Nations stands fully united behind Shabab Balad, working with Egypt to unlock youth potential and accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals,” added Ms. Elena Panova, UN Egypt Resident Coordinator.

The inauguration of the Shabab Balad Academy Headquarters and the signing of the strategic partnership with AGF represent a significant step toward expanding this model across governorates by 2030, ensuring that young people across Egypt are equipped with the skills, opportunities and confidence to lead the country’s future.

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