Monthly Archives: November 2016

Adding a bit of green to Masaken Gezeret El-Dahab

With respect to the architectural measures incorporated in the climate change adaptation strategy of the Participatory Development Programme (PDP), the Cities and Climate Change component (C2) in partnership with The Research Institute for a Sustainable Environment (RISE) and Cairo Lab for Urban Studies, Training and Environmental Research (Cluster), has implemented a rooftop farm on one of the buildings in “Hassan Abdel Wahed” Street. It is hoped that this pilot project would act as a catalyst in spreading out the idea of rooftop farming in the area.

Architectural measures included plastering and painting of building façades in an informal settlement to contribute to its adaptive capacity towards intense climate conditions. A rooftop farm was also an important part of this project that aims to further yield environmental and socio-economic benefits to the residents. Having a strong socio-economic implication, contributing to income generation and reducing vulnerability to price hikes, rooftop farming greatly contributes to reducing temperatures through impacting the microclimate, while providing a recreational space for the local residents. Based on consultations with the building owner, the project partners designed and implemented the rooftop farm, planting eggplants, strawberries, cabbage, arugula, jasmine, mint, and rosemary.

 

 

 

GIZ supports the Egyptian Delegation Participation in The Third United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III)

Habitat III took place over the second week of October (17-20), with an active participation from the official Egyptian delegation along with representatives of civil society, academia, youth and private sector  supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. The delegation attended and presented in a number of events that took place at the venue.

On the 20th of October 2016, the official Egyptian delegation along with other official delegates from all over the world, adopted the New Urban Agenda, committing to actively work on localizing and implementing the agenda nationally. The adopted agenda included a number of issues that face the Egyptian Urban Areas. Sustainable Urban Development, Urban Mobility, Poverty, Inequality, Environmental Degradation and Human Settlements Conditions were acknowledged with a vision that promotes the right to the city and cities for all, created through inclusiveness and participation. The principles of the agenda support the collaboration of a multi-disciplinary and sectoral approach focusing on the role of the different stakeholders while acknowledging the importance of finance. The agenda commits to participatory housing policies and equal affordable accessibility to basic physical and social infrastructure as well as land.

With Habitat III and the adoption of the New Urban Agenda in Quito 2016, GIZ has been commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) to support the Implementation of the New Urban Agenda (INUA) in Egypt, facilitating a guided national follow up process succeeding the conference. The creation of an urban dialogue will be facilitated through the collaboration of different stakeholders representing national/local government, youth, academia, civil society and private sector, resulting in a final document called “Roadmap for Implementing the New Urban Agenda in Egypt.” The Roadmap is expected to be produced through an active urban dialogue between the relevant stakeholders.

 

 

European Union Delegation to Egypt Celebrates Climate Action Day – October 20th, 2016

The European Union (EU) Delegation to Egypt celebrated its Climate Action Day in Cairo in cooperation with the EU Member States Embassies. The event was attended by the delegation’s ambassadors, in addition to representative from the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) in Cairo, and representatives from companies and donors concerned with the climate change issue.

The event was dedicated to the fight against Climate Change. The European Union worldwide is organizing Climate Action Days in different shapes to raise awareness for what might be the most crucial struggle of this century. During the procedures, ambassadors of the EU Member States were handed over trees to be planted in Ahmed Badawy Preparatory School for Girls in Ezbet El Nasr area by the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services (CEOSS) one of the Grant Beneficiaries of the Egyptian-German cooperation; the Participatory Development Programme in Urban Areas (PDP). Additional information of PDP’s activities related to Climate Change were disseminated to the participants at the event.

In his speech, Mr. Reinhold Brender, Chargé d’Affaires of the EU Delegation emphasized that the EU and its Member States are taking concrete implementation towards climate change adaptation very seriously. Climate action is an important priority for the EU in Egypt. The total value of currently ongoing as well as under preparation projects exceeds 700 million EUR in grants for the benefit of Egypt. The areas of focus are: renewable and clean energy, energy efficiency, water and waste management, pollution abatement, housing and agriculture and urban development.

A complementary event was held on Monday 24th of October, 2016 at Ahmed Badawy School where some students, teachers and representative from the education directorate on the district level planted the trees in the school garden.