New Egyptian Minister of Local Development Promises Continued Empowerment through Education and Community Development”.

Recently, Dr. Manal Awad Mikhail took the constitutional oath before Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi as she assumed her new role as Minister of Local Development in Dr. Mostafa Madbouly’s government. Throughout her impressive career, she has held several leadership positions, including serving as Governor of Damietta from September 2018 to July of this year, and Deputy Governor of Giza for Community Affairs and Environmental Development for three and a half years prior to that.

During her tenure in Giza Governorate, Dr. Manal managed important files such as civil society organizations, slum development, and women’s affairs. Her work in this capacity contributed significantly to the city obtaining membership in the UNESCO “Learning Cities” program in 2016. She also implemented the first safe city free of violence against women and girls, known as “SafeCity,” in partnership with the National Council for Women and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women. This initiative was later replicated in Damietta Governorate.

Dr. Manal Awad earned her Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Medical Sciences from Benha University in 1989, followed by a Master’s degree and a PhD from Alexandria University in 1995 and 1999, respectively. Her dedication to education has been recognized with various scientific awards throughout her career, including the State Encouragement Award in Agricultural Sciences in 2007 and the UNESCO Learning Cities Award in 2017. In addition to these accolades, she was also named one of the most prominent inspiring women in the Arab world by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme.

As Minister of Local Development, Dr. Manal will continue to promote community development and empowerment through education and social justice initiatives. Her experience and track record make her an excellent fit for this role, and we are excited to see what she will accomplish during her tenure at the helm of Egypt’s local development sector