A document for the new development project ”Strengthening development, planning, and management in greater Cairo”, was signed on Friday in a meeting between UN agencies and Egyptian authorities, according to a press statement on Saturday.
According to the statement the aim of the project is to find and implement solutions to the key challenges facing Greater Cairo relating to the burden on all public utilities, infrastructure, traffic, the environment, and urbanisation.
The Greater Cairo Region (GCR), with a population approaching 20 million, is a vast agglomeration comprising the urbanised areas of Cairo, Giza, and Qaliubiya. It is also home to archaeological and historical landmarks.
The objective is to develop a vision and strategic trends for the GCR through 2050. Such visions were thoroughly analysed in preparation for this project to ensure it meets the needs of the 21st century.
The project seeks to achieve economic competitiveness, social justice, and better provision of public services in an environment-friendly manner through priority development projects.
Among the goals of the project is the restoration of important historical and heritage sites as a means of economic development and the enhancement of living conditions for residents of these areas.
Furthermore, the project will seek to narrow the gap between strategic and action plans, facilitating the implementation processes and achieving the strategic vision and urban development in the GCR.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) aims to develop the skills and capacities of Egypt’s General Organisation for Physical Planning (GOPP) employees in the fields of participatory planning, administration, and implementation to ensure the project’s sustainability beyond its duration.
This project goes hand in hand with the recent government plans to address and improve slums in the GCR, ending the problem of informal housing in Egypt within two years while working on the New Administrative Capital with investments worth $300bn.
The project was signed by the UNDP, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), Egypt’s General Organisation for Physical Planning (GOPP), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), and the New Urban Communities Authority (NUCA).
