Learning for sustainability.. 3 new Egyptian cities join the UNESCO network

In an era in which the progress of cities has become measured by the extent of their ability to invest in their greatest resource, which is humanity, and in light of an ever-changing world, the concept of “learning cities” has emerged, so that knowledge is the first driver for achieving sustainable development and improving the quality of life in order to move toward the future, when public space turns into a major arena in which the process of acquiring knowledge does not stop at the borders of the school or university.

In this context, Egypt is moving at an accelerated pace to build a society of innovation and knowledge in order to enhance its international standing in the fields of education and sustainable development. Egypt has achieved a new achievement that is added to its record of regional leadership, represented by the announcement byUnited Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural OrganizationUNESCO of the accession of three new Egyptian citiesEto the Global Network of Cities Learning.

This accession, which was witnessed by the Ministers of Higher Education and Local Development, is an official announcement of the transformation of these cities into vibrant innovative environments, making “lifelong learning” a fundamental pillar for improving the quality of life of citizens, and a strategic driver for achieving the goals of sustainable development and Egypt’s Vision 2030.

Three new cities join the UNESCO network

Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Chairman of the Egyptian National Commission for UNESCO, and Dr. Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development and Acting Minister of Environment, witnessed the ceremony of three new Egyptian cities joining the UNESCO Learning Cities Network for the year 2025.

This came in the presence of Dr. Ibrahim Saber, Governor of Cairo, Major General Ibrahim Abu Laymoun, Governor of Menoufia, Major General Tariq Marzouk, Governor of Dakahlia, Engineer Adel Al-Najjar, Governor of Giza, and a group of leaders from the two ministries, deputy governors, and the Egyptian National Commission for UNESCO.

The selection was the result of active efforts

In this context, Dr. Ayman Ashour congratulated Dr. Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development and Acting Minister of Environment, Dr. Ibrahim Saber Arab, Governor of Cairo, Major General Ibrahim Abu Laymoun, Governor of Menoufia, and Major General Tariq Marzouk, Governor of Dakahlia, stressing that this achievement came as a result of the active efforts of the governorates and the active role of the Egyptian National Commission for UNESCO.

He also pointed out that the selection of the three cities came after a careful evaluation of the files of 15 Egyptian cities that applied to join the network, and he explained that the Egyptian National Committee for UNESCO is the official body responsible for nominating Egyptian cities for the various UNESCO networks, and evaluating their readiness according to international standards.

Promoting comprehensive learning and establishing a culture of innovation

Thus, Egypt has now included 10 cities within the UNESCO Network of Learning Cities, becoming a leading model at the regional level in promoting comprehensive learning and consolidating a culture of innovation and knowledge in local communities. This achievement will not prevent the efforts of the Egyptian National Commission for UNESCO in cooperation with UNESCO in promoting lifelong learning, supporting innovative education programs, and achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are consistent with Egypt’s Vision 2030 to rise to the position we deserve among the ranks of leading countries in Education, knowledge and innovation are global and have always been a beacon of knowledge and learning at the Arab and regional levels.

An important step that reflects integrated institutional efforts

For her part, Dr. Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development and Acting Minister of Environment, expressed her gratitude to the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the partners and national and international bodies that participated in obtaining this accreditation, pointing to the combined institutional efforts in which the Ministry participated.

The Minister also reviewed the role played by the Ministry in preparing and coordinating nomination files in accordance with UNESCO standards, in addition to organizing workshops to build local capacities in the field of lifelong learning policies, and supporting projects that link education to sustainable development with its economic and social dimensions, such as developing digital skills, learning in the workplace, and promoting community inclusion.

Egyptian National Network for Learning Cities

On this occasion, Dr. Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development and Acting Minister of the Environment, announced the establishment of an Egyptian national network of learning cities, aiming to exchange experiences and good practices between governorates, build the capabilities of workers in local administrations, and provide technical support to cities joining or wishing to join the UNESCO network, as well as providing a national digital platform for communication and joint planning.

It also provides technical support to joining cities and cities wishing to join the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities, and provides a national digital platform for communication and joint planning between governorates.

It is worth noting that with the addition of the three new cities, the number of Egyptian cities joining the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities has increased to ten cities, which reflects Egypt’s continued commitment to promoting lifelong learning as an essential pillar of comprehensive sustainable development.

Hence you seeThe Earth Guards Foundationthat learning cities are living platforms that develop human capabilities, support innovation, strengthen community ties, and provide empowerment opportunities for all segments of society. From this perspective, learning becomes a strategic tool for achieving comprehensive sustainable development, as learning is integrated with its comprehensive goals, including their social, economic and environmental axes, to ensure the building of societies that are more aware and capable of facing the challenges of the future, and to establish a sustainable city in which the human being is the center of every decision and planning.