Context
According to the UN Development Programme, Egypt is Africa's third most populous country and it has the largest population in the Arab world. About 95 per cent of Egyptians live near to the River Nile, on less than five per cent of the country’s territory, which makes the Nile Valley one of the world's most densely populated areas. This is especially pronounced in greater Cairo, Alexandria and other major cities in the Nile Delta.
Based on the current growth rate of 2.2 per cent, the total population is expected to exceed 100 million by 2030. This poses numerous development challenges, considering that 26.3 per cent of Egyptians already live below the poverty line. There is a high unemployment rate (13.2 per cent), particularly among young people (34 per cent). The rate is almost three times as high for young women. Significant inequalities also exist between urban and rural areas, and the quality of public services is inadequate.
Objective
The National Population Council (NPC) performs its role in formulating objectives and strategies for a development-oriented population policy. In this way it contributes actively to reducing the rate of population growth in Egypt.
Approach
The project advises the National Population Council in a number fields, and provides assistance with the Council’s processes and organisational development. Its advisory services focus on four closely linked areas of activity at the national level:
Optimising core processes and management procedures
Data analysis and formulating of policy recommendations based on this analysis
Coordination of, and cooperation between sectors
Civil society participation