In an official ceremony today, H.E Eng. Amr Nassar, Minister of Trade and Industry. witnessed the signature of “Employment for Youth in Egypt (EYE): Providing a Reason to Stay project”, which is being implemented by Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), international Labour Organization (ILO), in partnership with United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and funded by United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security (UNTFHS). The Project aims at offering decent job opportunities for youth and tackling the root causes of illegal migration in Egypt.

EYE – Providing a Reason to Stay project document was signed by Dr. Cherine Khallaf, Chairperson of the Development Projects’ Council, Mr. Sevane Ananian, ILO Social Dialogue and Wages Specialist for North and East Africa, Ms. Giovanna Ceglie, UNIDO Representative and Director of the Regional Office in Egypt, and Mr. Sylvian Merlen, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative.

Minister Nassar affirmed that the government is currently working to set a number of policies and reforms to tackle the migration challenges and respond to youth employment demands, this comes in the context of the comprehensive economic reform programmes undertaken by the government. In addition, he discussed the middle and long-term governmental new plans to support youth and offer decent and sustainable job opportunities, and ensure acquiring the needed skills and income for the continuation of the socio-economic development in Egypt to address the desire of youth to irregularly migrate.

Mr. Sevane Ananian, ILO’s Social Dialogue and Wages Specialist for North and East Africa said that “the project responds to one of the important UN Sustainable Development Goals ‘SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth’ by tackling the social and environmental threats through an economic angle by aiming to promote social entrepreneurship, good agricultural practices and to raise local communities’ awareness on social and environmental threats”.

“EYE: Providing a Reason to Stay offers an excellent opportunity to support Egyptian youth and women to develop their potential and to promote local economic opportunities through inclusive value chain development in Delta Governorates”, said UNIDO Director and Representative of the Regional Office in Cairo, Ms. Giovanna Ceglie.

“Today, one-quarter of the youth population between the ages of 15-29 years are unemployed while many have vulnerable employment. We are confident that this joint effort by key actors will tackle different dimensions of youth employment, will increase youth entrepreneurship and contribute to economic security in the critical areas of the Delta” said Mr. Sylvain Merlen, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative.

It is worth noting that ‘EYE: Providing a Reason to Stay’ project is implemented in close collaboration with the Ministry of Trade and Industry and other stakeholders. The ultimate beneficiaries of this programme are the unemployed and under-employed youth between the ages of 15 to 35 years in Nile Delta.