With a portfolio of MAECI/AICS funding amounting to approximately €5.7 million, the Italian Development Cooperation has adopted a strategy based on an integrated, multi-level and multi-stakeholder approach, recognising that effective management of migration dynamics and the promotion of inclusive local development require the strengthening of institutional capacities, the improvement of the socio‑economic conditions of migrants, refugees and host communities, the expansion of access to essential services and the creation of concrete opportunities for young people.
In particular, by building on the joint contribution of public institutions, international agencies, civil society and local communities, the AICS Cairo Office carries out initiatives that aim:
- on the one hand, to strengthen social protection mechanisms, community cohesion and access to essential services – such as education and healthcare – in line with the approach of the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus.
- on the other hand, to support access to decent employment opportunities through vocational training, the development of skills required by the labour market and the improvement of employability, thereby facilitating integration into the labour market both locally and within the context of regular migration pathways. In line with the approach set out in the Migration-Development Nexus, these measures help improve people’s economic prospects and strengthen the development of the communities of origin and the host communities alike.
The office is currently funding two initiatives implemented by the International Organisation for Migration. The SAWA project, with a budget of €1.5 million, implemented in partnership with Save the Children and the Egyptian Red Crescent, aims to integrate the migration dimension into national health and education systems, improving access to essential services for vulnerable groups. The initiative promotes safe learning environments for migrant children, refugees and minors in host communities and improves access to healthcare services, with a special focus on women and girls. Through actions promoting inclusion in national plans and strengthening social cohesion, the project offers sustainable responses to the vulnerabilities associated with forced displacement. SAWA also carries out applied research to produce policy papers intended for policy-makers and stakeholders.
The PLAY project, with a budget of approximately €1.5 million, aims to reduce irregular migration among young Egyptians by strengthening training in the tourism sector, employability and awareness of regular migration pathways. The initiative supports the establishment of an Applied Technology School (ATS) in the hospitality sector, based on a public-private‑partnership that assigns the private sector a central role in practical training and employment opportunities. The model includes accreditation, curriculum development, staff training, quality assurance, operational management and upgrading of the facilities.
There are also plans to collaborate with an Italian educational institution involving technical expertise and mobility programmes. The Fayoum Governorate, an area experiencing significant migratory pressure, was chosen in order to reach the young people most at risk, while awareness-raising activities serve to promote an informed understanding of migration dynamics. Alongside these initiatives, the AICS Office supports two further projects promoted and funded by the head office, which focus on strengthening employability, innovating training systems and promoting the socio‑economic inclusion of the most vulnerable groups.
The OpenMED project, implemented by Progetto Sud ETS with a budget of €1.7 million, supports innovation in the textile and leather sectors in the Cairo Governorate through work-based training focused on digitalisation, green technologies and the circular economy. The initiative strengthens the employability and entrepreneurial skills of vulnerable young people and women, combining apprenticeships, incubation and microcredit to support the creation of sustainable micro-enterprises.
The TAKE STEPS project, implemented by the NGO M.A.I.S. with a budget of approximately €1 million, strengthens the link between technical education and the labour market in partnership with the Federation of Egyptian Industries. The initiative develops apprenticeship programmes and supports NEETs, women, refugees and persons with disabilities through career guidance, skills development and inclusive, work-based learning opportunities.