(Beni Suef, 19 January 2026) — Dr. Mohamed Hany Ghoneim, Governor of Beni Suef held a meeting with a delegation from a number of United Nations agencies and the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation (MoPEDIC), in the presence of Mr. Belal Mohamed Habash, Deputy Governor, to discuss a joint development programme, supported by the UN Joint SDG Fund, and its upcoming work plan in the governorate.  

The delegation included Dr. Mona Esam, Assistant Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation for Sustainable Development Affairs, as well as representatives from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), as the technical lead agency, UNICEF, and UN-Habitat. The meeting focused on coordination around the implementation of the Joint Programme titled “Strengthening evidence-based and inclusive planning, budgeting and monitoring for SDG localization”, with particular attention to the planned activities and next steps in Beni Suef governorate. 

Discussions covered the programme’s proposed work plan, including support to Beni Suef’s Governorate in preparing a Voluntary Local Review (VLR) on the governorate level and city level. Notably, the city-level VLR will be the first city-level Voluntary Local Review ever undertaken in Egypt, marking a significant milestone in advancing SDG localization. The VLRs will support assessing progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals at the local level and strengthenthe use of data and evidence in local planning and decision-making. In addition to support strengthening local institutional capacities, including improved use of data and SDG driven approaches to planning and budgeting at the governorate level, as well as participatory approaches that enable local communities and stakeholders to engage in monitoring public resources in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Participants emphasized that localizing the SDGs is essential to accelerating Egypt’s development path. This approach was highlighted in Egypt’s 2021 Voluntary National Review as a key mechanism to address geographic and social disparities, promote inclusive growth, and ensure that no community is left behind. 

The programme is aligned with Egypt’s Vision 2030, and the National Narrative for Comprehensive Development, which place particular emphasis on spatial planning as a key instrument for localizing economic development, based on the conviction that spatial and social equity constitute fundamental pillars of comprehensive development and contribute to improving the quality of life of citizens across all governorates. In this context, State General Planning Law No. (18) of 2023 underscores the importance of formulating development policies that take into account disparities among regions and local administrative units, and that seek to bridge development gaps at both the sectoral and geographical levels. 

The programme also aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2023–2027, which identifies SDG localization as a national priority. Implementation is led through close coordination with MoPEDIC, ensuring strong collaboration between national and local levels of government. The Joint Programme is coordinated under the leadership of the United Nations Resident Coordinator Office (RCO) in Egypt, ensuring strategic coherence across participating UN agencies. 

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment by the Governorate of Beni Suef, MoPEDIC, UNDP, UN-Habitat, and UNICEF to work closely together on the implementation of the Joint Programme. Participants agreed on the way forward for implementation, including coordination mechanisms, next steps, and continued collaboration to advance sustainable, inclusive, and data-driven development that responds to the needs of local communities.