On 14-16 June 2015 the first Egypt Urban Forum was organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Communities of the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Ministry of Urban Renewal and Informal Settlements and UN-Habitat.
The creation of the EUF aims to strengthen the existing institutional landscape at the national level and paves the way of a greater integration of Egypt on the global urban development scene. The EUF will serve as a permanent dialogue platform able to convene an annual National Urban Forum in Egypt.
The main objective of this 1st EUF was to allow for a meaningful dialogue and active participation of all stakeholders concerned with the challenges related to sustainable urbanisation.
Titled “My City, My Responsibility” the Forum emphasised that everyone has a role in shaping urbanisation and debated many key urban issues that affect the daily lives of Egyptians and their built environment. Under the themes of urban planning and design, urban service delivery, urban economy, housing, and urban legislation and governance, the debate revolved around pertinent questions such as “ What are innovative tools to tackle Cairo’s traffic congestion?”; “What are the impacts of gated communities on social equity?” or “How should the challenge of informal settlements be addressed?”
During 3 days officials from Egypt National Governments including Dr. Leila Iskander, Minister of Urban Renewal and Informal Settlements and Dr. Mostafa Madbouly Minister of Housing and Urban Communities; Governors, academics and NGOs had the opportunity to propose solutions and guidelines to strengthen urban development in Egypt. The meeting gathered more than 600 participants, who entered into constructive exchanges in almost 30 thematic sessions and formulated a clear future urban agenda of Egypt (in the form of a declaration), to be presented in Quito during Habitat III in October 2016.
UCLG-MEWA participated in a session on the benefits of international cooperation for local authorities. Among a very rich panel composed by representatives from the European Union, the League of Arab States, the World Bank or UN-Habitat, UCLG-MEWA had the opportunity to present the importance of networks of cities in advocating the role of local authorities for development and in holding capacity building programs.