Egypt’s GOPP, UN-Habitat celebrate 20 years of strategic partnership

CAIRO – 25 December 2025: The General Organization for Physical Planning (GOPP) and UN-Habitat Egypt marked twenty years of cooperation that has played a major role in advancing sustainable urban development and strengthening Egypt’s urban planning system at the national, regional, and local levels.

The partnership has resulted in more than 75 approved strategic urban development plans for small cities and cities with special characteristics, developed using participatory planning approaches. These efforts have helped guide development priorities, improve services and infrastructure, limit unplanned urban growth, and enhance quality of life, with over 165 public hearings involving local authorities and development partners.

At the national level, cooperation contributed to the development of Egypt’s National Urban Policy, aligning urban development with Egypt’s Vision 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals, while promoting integrated planning, spatial justice, and effective implementation mechanisms.

Joint initiatives also addressed the complex challenges of Greater Cairo through 45 projects and studies covering heritage revitalization, environmental sustainability, Nile island development, local governance, and capacity building. More than 1,000 engineers and planners were trained, alongside the engagement of over 300 urban development experts.

A key milestone was the “Hayyina” Integrated Urban Development Project, implemented in Damietta and Qena, which reached the final shortlist for the 2025 UN Secretary-General’s Prize for Digital Transformation and Innovation. The project represents Egypt’s leadership in data-driven urban planning and is the only Egyptian and Arab nomination in its category.

The cooperation also included Egypt’s participation in successive World Urban Forum sessions, culminating in hosting WUF12 in Cairo in 2024, and the preparation of voluntary national reports on the New Urban Agenda.

Dr. Eng. Maha Fahim, Chairperson of GOPP, highlighted that the partnership has focused on moving from planning to implementation, linking urban development with economic growth, quality of life, and spatial justice.

Professor Ahmed Rizk, UN-Habitat Representative in Egypt, affirmed that the collaboration has helped transform urban policies into tangible actions supporting resilient, inclusive, and sustainable cities.

At the humanitarian and development levels, the cooperation has improved living conditions in targeted cities through integrated planning, more efficient services, and stronger local participation, helping reduce spatial disparities and promote sustainable urban development. 

Both sides confirmed plans to expand cooperation through new joint projects supporting regional balance and urban development in Africa, in line with Egypt’s priorities. They also reaffirmed their commitment to continued collaboration toward equitable, resilient, and sustainable cities, in line with UN-Habitat’s mandate and the Sustainable Development Goals.