About FES in Egypt

The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) in Egypt works on a wide range of topics from social justice to climate change and urban transition.  This is inspired by our general aims to promote democracy and social justice, to support economic and social development, as well as to advocate for human rights and gender equality.

Since 1976 we have an office in Egypt and are now working for more than 45 years in cooperation with local partners on the achievement of projects and objectives related to social protection, gender justice, adaption to climate change, energy transition as well as sustainable urban development.

Activities

FES Egypt operates within four primary areas of focus.

1. Socio-ecological transformation: First, FES initiates conversations on socio-ecological transformation with the aim of generating a discourse on how to alleviate the environmental and social ramifications resulting from climate change and ecological decline.

2. Socio-economic development: Second, FES is committed to championing the well-being of society's most vulnerable by advocating for social protection, healthcare enhancements, educational reforms, and gender equality. Their objective is to ensure that everyone has equal and fair access to essential public services.

3. Empowerment of civil society: Third, FES aims to strengthen civil society as a key actor in the process of socio-economic development.

4. Cooperation and International Dialogue: Fourth, FES engages with the MENA region as a whole to enhance regional stability and integration and promote cooperation on issues such as gender equality or pluralism.

On our legal framework in Egypt:

FES has worked within the framework of several agreements with the Egyptian government. The first was endorsed by Presidential Decree 139/1976 and by the Egyptian parliament. The agreement was renewed in 1988, endorsed by Presidential Decree 244/1989 and approved by the Egyptian parliament.

In March 2017, a new Additional Protocol was signed in Berlin by both, the Egyptian and the German governments, amending the Cultural Agreement of 1959. This protocol was ratified by the Egyptian parliament in July 2017 and entered effect in November by Presidential Decree 267/2017.

While the legal framework of FES’ engagement in Egypt has changed, its commitment to assist the Egyptian people during the ongoing transition process remains the same. The Egyptian uprising of 2011 was driven by demands for profound social and political change. Responding to these aspirations still is and will be the main challenge for stakeholders and the whole of Egyptian society during the coming years. Through a brought range of mutually agreed upon projects, FES is contributing to meet this challenge.