Egypt on Monday launched the Civil Society Support Fund, a state-backed initiative to strengthen partnerships with NGOs and international partners, including the European Union, to empower local communities.

The Civil Society Support Fund was launched on Monday under the theme “Towards a Supportive and Enabling Environment for Emerging Civil Society Initiatives.” The initiative is designed to empower local communities and was attended by several government ministers, members of parliament, and representatives from civil society, the private sector, and development partners.

Minister of Social Solidarity Maya Morsy, delivering the opening address, said: “We are launching today a new chapter in the partnership between the state and civil society. We are not just inaugurating a passing event; we are dedicating a public policy that redefines the role of civil society as an authentic partner in development.”

Morsy expressed gratitude to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for his “historic support” of civil society in Egypt. She explained that the fund would operate on the principle of “results-based financing,” where funding is linked to performance indicators and transparent monitoring. She emphasized that the framework would be “flexible, fast, and clear” while maintaining compliance with legal standards.

EU Ambassador to Egypt Angelina Eichhorst underlined the European Union’s commitment to the fund’s goals. “We are proud to have supported the development of the Civil Society Fund through our Equal Opportunities and Social Development Project,” she said. “The EU firmly believes that a vibrant, independent, and empowered civil society is essential for sustainable development.”

Minister of Local Development Manal Awad said the new fund represents “an important step towards empowering civil society institutions and supporting innovative youth initiatives.”

Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat noted that the program would place strong emphasis on innovation and technology. “The launch of the fund opens new horizons in the path of digital Egypt,” Talaat said. He added that collaboration between his ministry and the Ministry of Social Solidarity would ensure civil society is empowered, stressing that “human creativity and technological progress will remain the two basic pillars for achieving comprehensive sustainable development.”

Afreximbank Leadership Transition Praised By Al-Sisi

In another development, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met with Benedict Oramah, outgoing president of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), and George Elombi, the bank’s president-elect. The meeting was also attended by Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) Governor Hassan Abdalla.

According to Presidential Spokesperson Mohamed El-Shennawy, Al-Sisi congratulated Elombi on his election, while commending Oramah for his leadership over the past decade. The president highlighted the bank’s crucial role in expanding intra-African trade and boosting the continent’s participation in global commerce.

Elombi presented his vision for strengthening Afreximbank’s role in supporting industrialisation, trade finance, and economic growth across Africa. Oramah reviewed key achievements from his tenure, notably the bank’s contribution to launching the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Both men expressed appreciation for Egypt’s unwavering support, which has anchored the bank’s success since its establishment in Cairo.

President Al-Sisi reaffirmed Egypt’s strong partnership with Afreximbank, noting the bank’s importance in overcoming structural barriers to industrialisation, expanding export capacity, and advancing the objectives of Africa’s Agenda 2063 alongside the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. He also pointed to Egypt’s prioritisation of localising industry, attracting foreign direct investment, and strengthening export growth to African markets.

Bank officials discussed current initiatives aimed at boosting intra-African trade, industrial development, and access to trade finance. They also expressed interest in increasing the bank’s participation in Egypt’s major development projects.

CBE Governor Hassan Abdalla stressed Egypt’s strategic partnership with Afreximbank, noting that the Central Bank is the institution’s largest shareholder, joined by five Egyptian commercial banks that also hold stakes. Afreximbank officials welcomed further cooperation opportunities and commended Egypt’s growing exports, rising investment levels, and strong economic performance, bolstered by large-scale infrastructure development in recent years.

The launch of the Civil Society Support Fund and the reaffirmation of Afreximbank’s partnership highlight Egypt’s dual focus of strengthening domestic development through civil society empowerment while positioning itself as a central player in Africa’s broader economic transformation.