Upper Egypt: Challenges and Priorities for Rural Development

Background Papers contributing to the World Bank’s Policy Note

Description

The World Bank Policy Note Report: Arab Republic of Egypt Upper Egypt—Challenges and Priorities for Rural Development Policy (2006) was based on various unpublished background papers such as Upper Egypt’s Rural Organizations in Sohag and Fayoum
Governorates (2004) and the Rural Development Strategy for Upper Egypt (2004).

This sector report on Challenges and Priorities for Rural Development analyzes why Upper Egypt has lagged behind the rest of the country and to help the Government of Egypt and stakeholders to define a framework for interventions to promote broad-based economic growth and human development that will reach the poor and improve welfare in rural Upper Egypt. To achieve this objective, the strategic framework for intervention proposed here has two dimensions. The first is to foster broad-based economic growth based on agricultural development and off-farm activities. The second is to enhance access to basic infrastructure and services by promoting local level planning and civil society engagement.

As for the NSCE assignment in the framework of the Rural Development Strategy for Upper Egypt, the government of Egypt is proceeding with decentralization planning approach to economic and social development. Decentralization is a process of delegating the authority from the central government to the local units in the governorates. It also offers important role of participation and representation of local population and stakeholders. The World Bank is supporting the Government of Egypt to design a bottom up, participatory strategic planning for the economic development of rural areas, methodology and process applying/testing it in two governorates Fayoum and Sohag. The planning would be achieved through a combination of mapping of existing infrastructure, social and income generation sub-sectors. The approach would follow a participatory process involving local popular councils, civil society, private sector and governorate officials in all phases of the planning formulation.

The Sub-sector Development Planning is proposed as one of the components of local strategic planning and will be using a participatory approach. One of the key objectives of the sub-sector development planning is to develop interventions required to address constraints and opportunities within specific sub-sectors. Therefore, NSCE input within the overall framework of the planning process is to formulate a strategy document for the development of the economic sub-sectors of the rural areas of Fayoum and Sohag in more detailed NSCE is in charges to conduct the below listed services.

Services

  • Assessment of Sohag governorate economy and initial appraisal of sub-sectors;
  • Final selection of sub-sectors in both governorates Fayoum and Sohag;
  • Organizing sub-sector stakeholder participation in Fayoum and Sohag;
  • Dynamic sub-sector analysis and identification of constraints and opportunities for Fayoum and Sohag;
  • Participatory formulation of development strategy
  • Development of intervention programs for Fayoum and Sohag.