Green Forward Policies to Boost Egypt’s Circular Economy

As Egypt intensifies its transition towards a sustainable and resilient economy, the Green Forward programme - funded by the European Union and implemented at the meso level by SPARK and GESR MEK in Egypt - recently hosted a landmark event to launch and discuss its latest Green and Circular Economy Policy Recommendations. Bringing together a diverse selection of public and private stakeholders, the gathering came as a pivotal platform for outlining a roadmap to empower green startups and Business Support Organisations (BSOs) across the country. The primary purpose of this event was to formally communicate new policy frameworks designed to bolster Egypt’s burgeoning green sector while showcasing the significant milestones achieved by the programme. 

The event was attended by a high-level delegation, including Mrs Sylvie Fontaine, Programme Officer for Environment and Climate Action at the Delegation of the European Union to Egypt, and Dr Amal Amin, General Manager of Technical Support and Foreign Projects at the Ministry of Environment. They were joined by Eng. Amal Mobadda, Chief Fundraising Officer of the Misr El-Kheir Foundation, Mr Wael El-Shibany, Egypt Country Representative for SPARK, and Mr Mohsen Kamal, North Africa Senior Project Officer, SPARK. The presence of representatives from the Ministry of Industry, ecosystem enablers, international supporting organisations, and GESR and Misr El-Kheir Foundation further highlighted the cross-sectoral commitment to this widespread green shift.

The event featured two in-depth panel discussions that addressed the structural and practical aspects of the transition. The first panel, titled ‘From Barriers to Breakthroughs: Policies Powering Egypt’s Green Shift’, was moderated by Rowida Eldeeb (Senior Manager of International Grants at Misr El-Kheir Foundation) and provided a comprehensive recap of the programme’s journey and the proof of concepts developed throughout. Panellists from participating BSOs, including Dr. Mohamed Galal (Chief Executive Officer at Al-Azhar University), Dr. Hany Elsalamony (Chief Executive Officer at Enroot Development Consultancy), Dr. Ahmed Saber Abo Khadra (Founder and CEO of Egypt Elite Consulting), and Dr. Mohamed Mahmoud (Technical Deputy Director Ministry of Industry-Egypt), explored how these insights can address existing barriers and inform more enabling, forward-looking policies, followed by an interactive session to engage with the audience. The second panel, ‘Rewriting the Rules: What Startups Need to Drive the Green Economy’, was moderated by Dr. Mohamed Abbass (Innovation and Entrepreneurship Consultant) and brought together experts from the private sector, academia, and NGOs to examine how regulations must evolve. This discussion - featuring Dr. Amal Amin (General Manager of Technical Support and Foreign Project, Ministry of Environment), Dr. Ahmed El Karrany (Projects Manager, UNDP), Jakie Kaneel (Managing Director at Nahdet El Mahrousa), and Dr. Motaaz Darwish (Professor at The American University in Cairo) - highlighted the challenges founders face regarding funding and market access, emphasizing the need for a more supportive environment for sustainable innovation.

Beyond the formal launch, the event brought to light the collaborative efforts of SPARK, GESR MEK, the European Union, and local partners. By empowering BSOs and raising the visibility of their contributions, the Green Forward programme is ensuring that the infrastructure supporting Egypt’s startups is equipped to handle the unique demands of a circular economy. With Egypt continuing to align its goals with environmental stewardship, the recommendations unveiled at this event provide a clear signal that the future of Egyptian innovation is intended to be circular, collaborative, and green.