As the first large-scale project aimed to fight poverty across rural Egypt, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi inaugurated the first phase of the ‘Decent Life’ (Haya Karima) initiative at the Cairo International Stadium on Thursday. Al-Sisi declared that the initiative sets off “Egypt’s new republic” in his speech. “I am declaring the beginning of Egypt’s new republic, as this is the largest project aimed at upgrading and developing the Egyptian countryside.” The initiative aims to provide decent housing, water and sanitation, medical and educational services, support small and medium businesses, and provide in-kind support periodically for struggling families. Al-Sisi added that the project aims to raise the standards of living of 58 million Egyptians in more than 4,000 villages over three years at a cost of more than EGP 700 billion (about $44.6 billion). In January 2019, the first phase was launched targeting 1,000 villages across Egypt. By January 2021, the government increased the number of targeted villages to more than 4,000, representing 58% of the Egyptian population. Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin noted that the United Nations considers the Haya Karima national project…
‘The Beginning of a New Republic’: Egypt Launches Largest Anti-Poverty Initiative
July 16, 2021
