SCALA's role in the dialogues: from national strategy to local action 

SCALA's approach reflects a growing recognition that effective climate policy cannot be built from the top down — it requires the active involvement of the communities most affected. By placing smallholder farmers, women, youth, and coastal and rural communities at the centre of the process, these dialogues helped ensure that Egypt's NAP is grounded in local realities and shaped by the people it is meant to serve — transforming it into a living document that bridges community insights with national climate targets. 

This was put into practice across Egypt's most climate-vulnerable governorates. FAO Egypt led sessions on food security and climate change in Beheira, Kafr El-Sheikh, Assiut, and Minya, building on its strong operational presence in these areas. UNDP facilitated sessions on climate-impacted coastal zones and biodiversity in Dakahlia, Beheira, Matrouh, Alexandria, Red Sea, Fayoum, and South Sinai, drawing on active programmes in climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable tourism. Together, these dialogues helped translate national climate strategies into actionable local priorities. 

FAO-led dialogues: Bridging policy and practice 

The FAO-led "Achieving Food Security under Climate Change" dialogues connected Egypt's National Climate Change Strategy 2050 with the realities of rural communities, raising awareness of climate risks, showcasingproven climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices, and gathering grassroots insights to strengthen local ownership of adaptation. 

The four dialogues engaged 131 participants (71 women, 60 men) from across society, including smallholder farmers, women and youth leaders, officials, and cooperatives. A clear consensus emerged: climate impacts—like heat stress, water scarcity, and soil salinity—are reducing crop yields and livestock productivity, lowering incomes, and raising costs. These challenges are worsened by practices such as flood irrigation and excessive agrochemical use. 

Participants pointed to FAO-promoted CSA practices—including drip irrigation, heat/salt-tolerant seeds, biogas units, and integrated pest management—as immediately effective tools for building resilience. Women were recognized as key drivers in implementing these techniques and driving community awareness. These local efforts are reinforced by broader national programmes like Nexus of Water, Food, and Energy, Hayah Karima, and IFAD-supported projects, collectively advancing mechanization, renewable energy, and capacity building across the sector. 

UNDP-led dialogue: Objectives and insights 

The UNDP-led dialogues on coastal zones and biodiversity painted a stark picture of climate change on the ground — erosion, flooding, desertification, and declining fish catches are already undermining livelihoods and degrading local ecosystems. Participants were equally united on the response: stronger climate education in schools and communities, and deeper capacity building to empower local stewardship of adaptation efforts. 

A clear message emerged from coastal communities: protecting coastlines demands sustained investment, stronger coordination, and innovative low-cost solutions. Government representatives called for expanded nature-based solutions and cross-ministerial alignment to manage coastal development as a national priority. Communities stressed the need for improved early warning systems, more resilient infrastructure, and the maintenance of buffer zones through Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) plans. Participants also saw real potential in green livelihoods — with recycling, eco-friendly enterprises, and public-private partnerships identified as concrete pathways to stimulate climate finance and create jobs in vulnerable coastal areas. 

In biodiversity-rich areas like the Red Sea and Fayoum, communities described visible and troubling changes in natural habitats and wildlife. Protecting coral reefs, mangroves, and sensitive ecosystems emerged as an urgent priority, requiring conservation campaigns, awareness activities, and stronger private sector engagement. Communities were equally clear about wanting a greater role in planning and decision-making, and called for support to develop nature-based income opportunities — ecotourism and green businesses in particular — as a way to make conservation economically meaningful for local people. 

Strategic recommendations for a climate-resilient future 

The dialogues produced clear recommendations across Egypt's agri-food systems, coastal zones, and biodiversity hotspots. Communities called for investment in solar-powered infrastructure, bio-fertilizers, safe pesticide alternatives, and improved water and sanitation — all integrated with nature-based solutions to restore and protect coral reefs, mangroves, and degraded habitats. Coastal communities were equally vocal, calling for stronger protection measures — natural barriers, beach nourishment, and buffer zones — backed by better coordination across ministries and more reliable early warning systems. 

The recommendations also emphasize the need to expand access to finance and build local capacity. Targeted financial support for farmers, fishers, and small enterprises — coupled with improved market regulation — is essential to reduce costs and sustain livelihoods. Farmer field schools, adaptive research, and youth-focused awareness programmes all have a key role to play, as do community-led conservation efforts to protect coral reefs, mangroves, and sensitive habitats, and nature-based income opportunities such as ecotourism. 

Participants were clear that women and youth must be at the centre of this transition — not only in training and local industries, but as leaders in decision-making, coastal protection, and biodiversity conservation.Underpinning all of this is the restoration of degraded ecosystems — agricultural, coastal, and biodiversity-rich — where indigenous knowledge and ecosystem-based adaptation must go hand in hand. 

Moving forward 

The path outlined by these dialogues is clear. Moving forward requires mobilizing resources and strengthening public-private partnerships to build climate resilience. Local communities are prioritized as stewards of their ecosystems, safeguarding natural resources and sustaining livelihoods. 

Priority actions include diversifying local production, promoting climate-resilient and high-value crops, and scaling up proven practices in agriculture, coastal resilience, and ecosystem restoration. Sustaining engagement will rely on youth education, local awareness campaigns, and digital knowledge-sharing platforms, alongside early warning systems and the scale-up of successful ecosystem-based and community-led initiatives. 

Dedicated capacity building will empower local NGOs, community organizations, and outreach workers to effectively engage farmers, fishers, women, and youth. Gender-responsive approaches must be embedded across all interventions to ensure no one is left behind. 

In 2026, UNDP, as coordinator of the climate change social dialogues, compiled all findings and recommendations, ensuring their integration and alignment with Egypt's National Adaptation Plan. Building on this work, UNDP and FAO will continue to support Egypt in translating community voices into concrete policy action.