Egypt’s Environmental Protection and Climate Change Mitigation Projects in Africa

Contributing to environmental protection and climate change mitigation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda

Towards a Solution

The Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development (EAPD) contributes to environmental sustainability through the provision of funds and expertise to implement projects that help mitigate challenges in the areas of environment and climate change. Under EAPD’s mandate of addressing the pressing issues of developing countries and enhancing South-South cooperation in confronting contemporary challenges to peace and security, the Agency has developed an action plan that underscores its priorities in that regard. Contributing to global efforts towards addressing the detrimental effects of climate change, EAPD is focused on issues of environmental protection, climate change, rising sea levels, decarbonization and renewable energy.

Within this context, EAPD established a Rain and Climate Change Prediction Centre in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a step towards enhancing the country’s capacity in dealing with the impacts of climate change. Established through a collaboration between the EAPD and the Egyptian Ministry of Irrigation, the Centre has been equipped with the latest rain forecasting systems, serving as a centre for the study of climate change in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Contributing to SDG 13 (Climate Action), the project aims to boost the country’s capabilities in the management and operation of national water resources, enabling the local authorities to design accurate response measures to natural disasters.

The Centre uses satellite technology and advanced numerical models to simulate the natural hydrological behaviour of rivers and to predict rain and floods and it develops studies on climate change and its impact in the country. The flood early warning system also contributes to minimiz- ing the risks and impacts of floods. The establishment of such a Centre in the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kinshasa, stems from Egypt’s keenness on transferring Egyptian expertise in the field of integrated management of water resources to its partners in the Nile Basin countries, in order to build national capacities and maximize the efficient use of water resources.

In another contribution of Egypt to environmental protection and climate change mitigation – the EAPD has established the Busia Solar Plant in Uganda. The project is part of the firm commitment of the Egyptian Government to boosting green energy production and minimizing carbon emissions and to supporting its partners in the global South in following suit. Through partnering with the Arab Organization of Industrialization, affiliated with the Egyptian Government, the EAPD implemented this project under the umbrella of bilateral cooperation.

The Busia Plant project is a significant addition to the energy network in Uganda, where the amount of energy it provides reaches 4 megawatts, and it will be connected to the Ugandan national electricity grid so that the energy generated by the plant is of maximum benefit to other regions. The support provided by the project to the energy sector in Uganda is rooted in the firm belief in the importance of diversifying energy sources and increasing reliance on clean and renewable energy in facing and adapting to the repercussions of climate change on the continent. This is especially the case at a time where Egypt is preparing for its presidency of the next round of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change COP27, which it hosts this year.

The implementation of the above-mentioned projects has encouraged other developing countries, predominantly in Africa, to seek deeper regional cooperation on green energy, environmental protection and climate change, thereby raising public awareness of the importance of including these topics in national development plans.