Egypt Tackles Illegal Migration Through Development and Provides Alternative Opportunities to Save Youth
Egypt confronts illegal immigration with development… and provides alternative opportunities that save youth
Illegal immigration is one of the most prominent challenges facing developing countries, not only because of its security risks, but also because of the development gaps it reflects that push thousands of young people to leave their homelands in search of lost opportunities. In light of this reality, the state’s responsibility is to provide realistic alternatives that preserve human dignity and provide them with the means of a decent living within their country.
In this context, Cairo recently witnessed the convening of the final conference of the agreement to address the root causes of irregular migration, which was implemented by the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency in cooperation with the European Union, with high-level ministerial participation that included Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, and representatives of a number of ministries, international partners and entities.Donor, the conference reviewed the harvest of years of field work, providing job opportunities, improving infrastructure, and supporting entrepreneurship.
This integrated effort comes in the context of Egypt’s commitment to implementing the National Strategy to Combat Illegal Immigration (2016-2026), which views the phenomenon as a multi-dimensional challenge, in which the social, economic and environmental intersect. Instead of being satisfied with security deterrence, the state has chosen to address the root causes of immigration through real and comprehensive development.
The agreement was implemented under the directives of the Prime Minister, with the support of the Ministries of Planning and International Cooperation, Foreign Affairs, and Immigration, in coordination with the Ministries of Local Development and Environment. Efforts focused on youth employment through labor-intensive infrastructure and community projects, in addition to training more than 42,000 young men and women in craft skills and entrepreneurship.And enabling them to establish small and micro projects, as a safe alternative to illegal immigration.
Realistic job opportunities as an alternative to risking the lives of young people
The agreement yielded tangible results on the ground, the most important of which is the provision of more than 26 thousand permanent job opportunities, and nearly 4 million temporary work days for irregular workers. These opportunities mean a decent life for young people in areas that have long suffered from high rates of illegal immigration; In the targeted governorates, investments were allocated to labor-intensive projects that address service gaps and provide a suitable climate for stability, including replacing water and sewage networks, paving roads, and renovating service buildings. Which led to improving the local quality of life.
These results also represent practical implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal 8, which calls for actionDecent and economic growth, which is an indication that the development of society is not complete without providing an environment that preserves human dignity and gives him hope for the future without having to ride the sea, which is what the Egyptian state seeks through these projects that work to treat the basic roots of illegal immigration.
Entrepreneurship is a bridge towards economic empowerment
The agreement did not stop at employment, but rather extended to encourage entrepreneurship by training more than 42,000 young men and women in technical and craft skills, and helping them start small and micro projects, with integrated support that includes guidance, consultations, and financial and non-financial support. This comes within the framework of the state’s continued support for economic empowerment programs, and its keenness to transform youth energies into real production tools that promote sustainable development.
In her speech during the closing conference, she indicatedDr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, pointed out that the project represents a true translation of the commitment of Egypt and its international partners to address irregular migration from its roots, by providing job opportunities and enhancing economic resilience in the regions that export the highest migration.
She explained that the agreement was funded bythe European Union in the amount of 27 million euros, within the framework of the program to enhance the response to migration challenges in Egypt (ERMC), which has a total value of 63 million euros. This program has contributed to creating thousands of opportunities in 11 Egyptian governorates, and has also strengthened the concept of integrated development by linking economic empowerment and managing the migration file, in a role model for development cooperation. Between Egypt and the European Union.
Local development is the first line of defense
Mr. Basil Rahmi, CEO of the Enterprise Development Agency, also explained that confronting the phenomenon of illegal immigration begins from within, where the real roots of the crisis are, not at the coasts or points of departure. That is why the agreement focused on local development as the first line of defence. 211 sub-projects were implemented to improve infrastructure in the governorates that export the highest migration, such as Minya, Assiut, Beheira, and Dakahlia, with the participation of 166 civil society organizations and 53 local training bodies. To ensure support reaches the communities most in need.
The efforts were not limited to construction and vocational qualification, but also included hundreds of awareness seminars that aimed to dismantle the false discourse related to illegal immigration, and to introduce young people to the realistic opportunities available within the country, which contributed to building a pattern of participatory community development, responsive to…people’s needs, and gives them a sense of belonging and hope, instead of marginalization and despair.
In conclusion, theThe Earth Guards Foundation confirms that what Egypt has accomplished in confronting illegal immigration through this agreement is an effective model for sustainable development that addresses the roots, not just the phenomena; Instead of being satisfied with security solutions, the state chose to invest in people and societal structures. Which provided real alternatives for young people who were facing the option of immigration as the best solution.
Earth Guards commends the combined efforts of state agencies with international partners, most notably the Project Development Agency, which has succeeded in converting funds into decent life opportunities within the targeted governorates, through concrete projects that have changed the reality of thousands of young people, and this joint effort reflects a commitmentNationally, with a comprehensive development vision that maintains hope at home and rebuilds confidence among youth.
