Hurghada, Egypt – 7 June 2026 – The Ministry of Local Development and Environment, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Red Sea Governorate and the Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR) today launched the Egyptian Red Sea Initiative (ERSI) during an inception workshop held in Hurghada, on the side lines of World Environment Day, bringing together government representatives, development partners, private sector stakeholders, financial institutions, civil society organizations, local communities and national and international experts to advance coral reef conservation and sustainable blue economy development in the Red Sea region.

At the workshop, opening remarks were made by H.E. Dr. Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development and Environment; Dr. Walid Abdel Azim Al Barqui, Governor of the Red Sea Governorate; Ms. Chitose Noguchi, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Egypt; and Mr. Yabanex Batista, Deputy Director of the UN Global Team for the Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR) through a recorded video message. The workshop was also attended by Eng. Sherif Abdel Rehim, CEO of the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA); Ms. Yomna El Bahar, Vice Minister of Tourism and Antiquities; Major General Khaled Abbas, Director of the Nature Conservation Sector at EEAA; and Ms. Amany Nakhla, Assistant Resident Representative for Biodiversity, UNDP Egypt.

Implemented by UNDP in partnership with the Ministry of Local Development and Environment and supported by the Global Fund for Coral Reefs, the Egyptian Red Sea Initiative aims to strengthen coral reef conservation and protect the unique marine ecosystems of the Red Sea through sustainable natural resource management, nature-positive investments, and the mobilization of sustainable finance. The initiative seeks to safeguard marine biodiversity, support the growth of the blue economy, and enhance livelihoods for local communities that depend on healthy marine ecosystems.

In her opening remarks, H.E. Dr. Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development and Environment, emphasized that the Red Sea’s coral reefs represent a national and global natural asset of exceptional ecological and economic value. She noted that protecting these ecosystems is an investment in sustainable tourism, the blue economy, and the future prosperity of coastal communities. She highlighted that, “The Egyptian Red Sea Initiative is a nationally led initiative that reflects Egypt’s priorities in biodiversity conservation, local development, climate resilience, sustainable tourism, and green investment. It represents a national commitment to protecting the Red Sea, one of Egypt’s most valuable natural assets".

“The Initiative demonstrates how strong partnerships can translate national priorities into tangible action. Through our collaboration with UNDP Egypt and the support of the Global Fund for Coral Reefs, we are strengthening protected area management, supporting coral reef monitoring, advancing sustainable financing mechanisms, promoting community-based ecotourism, and supporting economic activities that are aligned with reef conservation. At the heart of this effort is national leadership, shared responsibility, and the active engagement of local communities as key partners in protecting our natural heritage and building a more sustainable future,” she added.

In his remarks, Dr. Walid Abdel Azim Al Barqui, Governor of the Red Sea Governorate, emphasized the strategic importance of the Red Sea Governorate as a global tourism destination and highlighted ongoing efforts to balance economic development with environmental protection and sustainable resource management saying “Our development vision is built on achieving a balance between economic growth and investment on the one hand, and environmental protection and sustainable resource management on the other".

“The launch of the Egyptian Red Sea Initiative marks an important step towards advancing the sustainable blue economy and developing innovative financing mechanisms that support the long-term conservation of our unique coral reef ecosystems. Protecting these natural resources is not only an environmental imperative, but also a critical investment in the resilience of our local economy and the livelihoods of coastal communities that depend on the Red Sea,” he added.

Opening the workshop, Ms. Chitose Noguchi, Resident Representative of UNDP Egypt, highlighted the importance of strengthening partnerships to protect one of Egypt’s most valuable natural assets while supporting sustainable development opportunities for local communities. She stated that , “The Egyptian Red Sea Initiative presents an important opportunity to bring together coral reef conservation and sustainable development. These unique ecosystems support tourism, local economies, and livelihoods across coastal communities, making their protection an investment in the region’s future prosperity and resilience. Through this initiative, we are working with our partners to strengthen conservation efforts and advance sustainable financing mechanisms”.

In a recorded video message, Mr. Yabanex Batista, Deputy Director of the UN Global Team for the Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR) underscored the importance of innovative financing and partnerships in accelerating coral reef conservation efforts globally and supporting countries in protecting critical marine ecosystems. He added that, “Initiatives like the Egyptian Red Sea Initiative demonstrate how coral reef conservation can be embedded within broader economic and development planning,“By combining policy reform, sustainable finance, and reef-positive investments, ERSI has the potential to protect one of the world’s most resilient coral reefs while supporting livelihoods, poverty alleviation, and strengthening long term socio-economic resilience for coastal communities that depend on a healthy Red Sea.”

Ms. Yomna Emad, Project Manager of the Egyptian Red Sea Initiative, presented the project’s objectives, implementation framework, and expected outcomes. The workshop also served as an important platform to foster dialogue among key stakeholders on opportunities and challenges related to coral reef conservation and enhancing ecosystem resilience in the face of climate change and growing environmental pressures. Discussions also explored pathways for mobilizing sustainable finance and advancing investment mechanisms that support long-term conservation efforts across the Red Sea region.

Through partnerships with government institutions, local communities, financial institutions, development partners, and the private sector, the initiative will support efforts to strengthen coral reef conservation and management, promote reef-positive investments, mobilize sustainable finance, and create opportunities for local communities to benefit from a more sustainable and resilient blue economy.

The Inception workshop marks the beginning of a collaborative process to ensure that the initiative is implemented in line with Egypt’s national priorities for environmental protection, climate resilience, and sustainable development, while contributing to the conservation of one of the world’s most remarkable marine ecosystems.