Dr. Hala Al-Saeed, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, witnessed the signing of a cooperation protocol between the ministry, Ain Shams University, and the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development, to develop rural communities under the umbrella of the national project for the development of the Egyptian countryside, "A Decent Life", in the presence of Dr. Ahmed Kamali, Deputy Minister of Planning and Economic Development, and Prof. Abdel Fattah Saoud, Vice President of Ain Shams University for Education and Student Affairs.

The protocol was signed on behalf of the Ministry by Dr. Jamil Helmy, Assistant Minister for Follow-up Affairs of the Sustainable Development Plan, and on behalf of the university, Dr. Ghada Farouk, Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development, and on behalf of the Sawiris Foundation, the protocol was signed by Eng. Nora Selim, Executive Director of the Foundation.

Dr. Hala Al-Saeed, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, explained that the protocol came within the framework of cooperation between the three parties with the aim of developing and improving the social conditions of families and individuals most in need in rural communities and areas, adding that this is done through a set of developmental interventions.

Al-Said indicated that the protocol also reflects the integration and unification of efforts between national state institutions, private sector institutions, Egyptian universities, civil society, and development partners in Egypt, noting that the "Decent Life" initiative seeks to provide an integrated package of services, which includes various aspects of sustainable development, explaining that " A Decent Life " represents one of the most important and prominent presidential initiatives aimed at humanitarian intervention to develop and honor the Egyptian person and preserve his dignity and his right to a decent life, in order to bring about tangible change to devote all charitable and development efforts and unify the efforts of the state, civil society, and all the private sector, to address multiple dimensions poverty, providing a decent life with sustainable development for the neediest groups in the governorates of Egypt, in addition to bridging development gaps between centers, villages, and their dependencies, investing in human development, and enhancing the value of the Egyptian personality.

Dr. Jamil Helmy, Assistant Minister of Planning and General Supervisor of the "Decent Life" initiative, explained that the past period witnessed intense cooperation with Ain Shams University, represented by the community service and environmental development sector, and the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development, where a number of studies and field visits were conducted to monitor development needs in the targeted villages, pointing out that these efforts culminated in the signing of the cooperation protocol, which sets a framework for the three parties, in a way that achieves integration with the development interventions that the state is implementing in the villages of the "Decent Life" initiative, thus contributing to the localization of sustainable development goals at the governorate level.

Helmy reviewed the development interventions to be implemented in accordance with the protocol, including strengthening the infrastructure, providing innovative solutions to provide infrastructure services (drinking water, sanitation, energy), improving access to health services, as well as providing educational services and literacy activities, spreading social and environmental awareness, raising the efficiency of homes, and training and cognitive development of citizens.

As Prof. Ghada Farouk, Vice President of Ain Shams University for Community Service and Environmental Development, confirmed that this protocol is the culmination of the university's efforts in community service, where the community service and environmental development sector at the university carried out a series of comprehensive developmental activities and convoys touring the governorates of Egypt within the "Decent Life" initiative, through the development projects carried out by the university under the auspices of Prof. Mahmoud El-Meteini, President of Ain Shams University.

The community service and environmental development sector at Ain Shams University is one of the main tributaries of the university's activities, to advance progress and environmental development by providing various services to serve the local and regional community.

This is based on the belief in the community role of the university, as it is a national institution that is happy to provide and adapt its capabilities outside the borders of education and outside the borders of the university. Therefore, this protocol was signed with the Ministry of Planning and the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development.

The signing of the protocol was attended by Ain Shams University, Dr. Jihan Ragab, Advisor to the Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development, and from the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development, Nahed Yousry, Director of the Social Empowerment Sector, Mustafa Makhlouf, Director of Social Empowerment Programs, and Ahmed Gad, Public Relations Officer.