Dr. Khaled Okasha General Manager Dr. Abdel-Moneim Said Academic advisor Editor Belal Manzour Translators Asmaa El-Shafei Omnia El-Sayed Mariam Khaled General Coordinator Mai Saeed Art direction Eslam Ali Index Introduction: 4 Building the Egyptian Human Being I. Developing the Health Sector 6 II. Developing the Education Sector 12 III. Economic Policies 16 IV. Political Life 22 V. Developing Border Regions 24 VI. Fourth-Generation Cities 28 VII. Developing the Transport System 32 VIII. Developments in the Security and 36 Military Field IX. Egypt’s Foreign Policy 40 X. Energy Projects and the East 46 Mediterranean Gas Forum XI. Egypt’s Role in Africa 52 Research Team (Alphabetically) Ahmed Bayoumi Heba Zean Dr. Mohamed Shadi Amal Ismail Hussein Abd Elrady Mohammed Mansour Asmaa Fahmy Kenzy Serge Moustafa Abdella Basant Gamal Mahmoud Qassem Dr. Omar El-Hosseiny Ferdous Abdelbaki Mohamed Abdelrazeq Rahma Hassan Hala Fouda Mohamed Hassan Tokka ELnaggar Introduction Building the Egyptian Human Being gypt has been taking solid resolute steps toward drafting a new social contract since the 30 June 2013 Revolution. The contract addresses the mistakes of the past, all the Ewhile working according to a strategy that takes into account several security, polit- ical, economic and social factors. In this context, the concept of the New Republic represents a comprehensive framework and the philosophy adopted by the Egyptian state, based on a set of principles that are founded on two main pillars. The first is that socioeconomic development is a prerequisite for political development, which is the foundation for the stability of the state and its institutions and the sustainability of the social fabric. Working in tandem on all the aspects of development in a manner in which every sector serves the others is meant to achieve integration between all the plans for development. The second pillar is the comprehensive concept of human rights, which is the basis of Egypt’s New Republic. Such foundation sets the standards enshrined in the third gener- ation of human rights – such as the political, civil, economic, and social rights as well as sustainable development – for the work of institutions and is declared one of the goals of any national or societal project. Accordingly, the Egyptian state and society are not functioning separately from human rights. Rather, the country takes human rights as the launching pad for its developmental efforts. Furthermore, development is a guarantor of political stability and ensures the pres- ence of a social structure that supports the sustainable practice of democratic mechanisms and avoids the drawbacks that occurred in societies the world over following the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Hence, this publication delves into the aspects of the New Republic that focuses on the work of state institutions, civil society and individuals to foster human development efforts, honing the skills of the workforce, and improving the lives of citizens by targeting plans for developing the education and health sectors on a primary scale. In addition, the New Republic works according to an economic reform scheme that con- tributes to backing the state’s other sectors in order to, ultimately, support Egypt’s compre- hensive development at home and abroad by establishing an independent foreign policy 4 | The New Republic: Egypt’s Philosophy of Development that targets achieving development for all the parties involved on the basis of justice, the fair distribution of resources, and guaranteeing Egypt’s national security. It is also meant to present Egypt’s vision of dealing with development and conflict issues by reviewing the country’s efforts in Africa and the establishment of the East Mediterranean Gas Organization. The New Republic is based on the concept of building the human with the aim of improving people’s living conditions in order to boost their capacity to carry out their political, economic, and social duties, and with the aspiration of changing the mindset, attitude, management systems, and ways of life for the better. In 2019, this approach was materialized with the launch of “Decent Life” initiative aimed at providing a decent standard of living for the neediest groups in villages, rural districts, and urban slums through promoting decent housing, upgrading facilities and public services, providing financial support to the neediest families, opening up job opportunities for youth in small and medium enterprises, and providing quality healthcare and emergency surgeries. Upon launching Decent Life initiative, the state called for a concerted effort between state agencies, civil society institutions, and private businesses, allocating EGP 103 billion for implementing the initiative in eleven governorates. During the year 2020, ‘Decent Life’ was declared a non-profit organization tasked with accomplishing the objectives of the initiative announced by President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi in 2019. Decent Life initiative brought together around 23 civil institutions that closely collaborated to fulfil the set objectives. In early 2021, the President expanded the scope of the initiative to cover the entire Egyptian countryside, comprising of 4741 villages and 30888 village tracts, home to close to 58 million citizens. This expansion gave rise to the “National Project to Develop Rural areas”, which is worth more than EGP 600 billion. In this vein, it should be noted that Egypt has commended efforts in this area based on the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (UN 17 SDG) and even went further developing its own strategy for sustainable development, i.e. Egypt Vision 2030, which focuses on: Improving quality of life and standard of living of the Egyptian citizens in all aspects of life, by consolidating principles of social justice, ensuring participation of all citizens in political and social life, achieving an inclusive and sustainable economic growth that guarantees a decent life for all, and promoting investment in human beings and building their creativity by promoting increased knowledge, innovation, and scientific research in all areas. Egypt’s Vison 2030 also supports the engagement of all groups in development including the private sector and civil society institutions and gives a high priority to climate change and environment related issues. The Egyptian Center for Strategic Studies | 5 I. Developing the Health Sector eveloping Egypt’s clinics to keep pace with health sector has the development of health Dbeen a top priority services, and developing for President Abdel-Fat- the health workforces and tah Al-Sisi ever since he 2) introducing a package came to power in 2014, of urgent health reforms, being one of the most vi- consisting of numerous tal sectors affecting the health initiatives aimed bulk of Egypt’s popula- at raising efficiency and tion. Egypt’s efforts in improving service level this aspect were directed provided to citizens tar- towards two main areas: geting citizens of all ages, 1) rehabilitation of the starting from children to health infrastructure, de- elder population. velopment of rural health 6 | The New Republic: Egypt’s Philosophy of Development Achievements in the Health Sector (Decent Life initiative projects included). Completing 632,027 surgeries under the Between 2014 and 2020, Egypt managed to presidential “Waiting Lists” initiative, implement 960 projects in the health and making a total of 632,677 beneficiaries. population sector, with total investments Developing University Hospitals (113 uni- of about EGP 82 billion. The most notable versity hospitals were developed up from achievements in this area have been the 88 in 2014). implementation of about 200 projects for Launching health-related initiatives developing general hospitals and medical aimed at strengthening the capacity of institutions, 40 projects directed towards the health facilities to provide outstanding Egyptian Ambulance Organization, and 19 medical services while combating the projects aimed at developing model hospitals, coronavirus, increasing university hos- in addition to developing health clinics and pitals’ coverage in governorates, and es- undertaking about 25 initiatives inside Egypt tablishing an electronic health register for and 13 others to support the health sector in hospital admissions. Africa. Above and beyond, the following steps Achieving self-sufficiency of locally pro- have been taken to bolster the health sector: duced insulin and localization of oncolog- ic drugs, serums, and vaccines industry. Directing massive investments of more Launching and implementing a universal than EGP 120 billion into improving the health insurance scheme in selected gov- health sector. ernorates, with 3.6 million citizen regis- Brining about an increase in invest- tered, so far, on the system. ments directed toward the Ministry of Issuing more than 2.913 million treatment Health’s (MoH) projects the next fiscal decisions at the State’s expense. year 2022/2022, to reach EGP 47.5 billion Providing 20 million formula packs and hav- – a 205% increase compared to 2020/2021 ing a strategic stockpile of five million packs. The Egyptian Center for Strategic Studies | 7 abetes and 10 million diagnosed with high Presidential Initiatives Under “100 blood pressure. The total cost of the initia- Million Healthy Lives” Campaign tive was estimated at EGP 4 billion. According to the statement of Dr. Hala 2. The Presidential Initiative for Early De- Zayed, Egypt’s Minister of Health, to the ple- tection of Anemia, Obesity and Dwarf- nary session in the Parliament, the number ism and Improvement of Maternal and of beneficiaries of the Presidential health Fetal Health initiatives reached nearly 90 million cit- izens, with a total of 102 million visits to Under this initiative, 22 million school stu- hospitals. The most notable health initia- dents were examined, where 3, 4000,367 tives are: cases of obesity, 7,594,357 cases of anemia, and 10,657,036 cases of dwarfism were dis- 1. “100 Million Healthy Lives” Initiative to covered, and treatment has been provided Eradicate Hepatitis C and Early Detect to all cases by linking 300 clinics to the ini- Non-Communicable Diseases tiative’s online system.