Nov 15, 2022

Tuesday 11-15-2022 Within the framework of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27), currently being held in the city of Sharm El-Sheikh from within the Blue Zone - the “Misr El Khair” Foundation announced on the sidelines of Civil Society Day the launch of its regional initiatives “Towards Green NGOs”, which will be implemented under the umbrella of the regional campaign “Sustainable Climate” and in cooperation and sponsorship of the campaign’s partners from international and local bodies. Dr. Ali Gomaa, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Misr El Kheir Foundation, stated that the campaign comes as a continuation of the efforts and successes achieved by the regional campaign “Sustainable Climate,” which the Foundation launched during the year 2022 and out of belief in the Foundation’s role in supporting civil society organizations at the regional level and contributing to the greening and sustainability of civil society practices. For her part, Hoda Bakr, Executive Director of the Arab Network for Non-Governmental Organizations, indicated that the Arab Network is one of the partners in the regional campaign “Sustainable Climate” and that the campaign has achieved many achievements, including: launching the “Arab Climate Action Charter for Non-Governmental Organizations” document, and that this initiative comes as a continuation of those efforts and supports civil organizations in adhering to the rules and principles of the “Climate Action Charter.” Mohamed Rifai, CEO of the Misr Al Khair Foundation, explained that the initiative comes from our belief that civil society organizations are one of the three pillars of the development process next to the private and governmental sectors and that they have an important role in managing the development process and achieving sustainable development goals, and that the initiative comes as a continuation of the regional campaign “Sustainable Climate.” Meanwhile, Mohamed Mamdouh, Head of the Associations Development Sector at Misr Al-Khair, explained that the “Green NGOs” initiative consists of several activities, the first of which is issuing a local quality standard certificate accrediting green NGOs according to a set of standards and indicators, as NGOs apply for accreditation in accordance with that specification. The second is working to provide institutional and programmatic technical support to help NGOs transform from traditional systems of management and practice to work systems consistent with sustainability and the transition to green, and the third is qualifying regional cadres of workers in NGOs. Which adopts green development practices, and fourthly, supporting green community initiatives for NGOs, pointing out that the initiative, in its first phase during the year 2023, aims to reach 3,000 NGOs at the regional level. Dr. Tariq Tamraz, a member of the Board of Directors of the Center of Excellence for Climate Change and Sustainable Development at the National Research Center, indicated that the center will provide all forms of technical support to make this initiative a success by providing cadres and building educational curricula. Hussein Abaza, an international expert in the green economy and sustainable development, confirmed that the “Misr El Kheir” Foundation has the tools and capabilities, and in cooperation with the partners of the “Sustainable Climate” campaign, what qualifies it to make this initiative a success, and we expect it to contribute to the transition of civil society to green practices. It is worth noting that in light of the “Sustainable Climate” campaign, a statement was launched addressed to world leaders meeting in Sharm El-Sheikh, carrying the aspirations, hopes and vision of civil society on the climate issue.