In Egypt, population growth and human activities have far-reaching environmental consequences. The pressure on natural resources, further exacerbated by the adverse effects of the climate crisis, has a significant impact on the resilience of ecosystems.
With the majority of the population concentrated along the Nile and in its Delta, rising temperatures, increasing water scarcity, uncontrolled urbanisation and soil degradation are undermining the sustainability of natural and socio-economic systems. These factors intensify competition for natural resources, while at the same time exacerbating the challenges of social and economic inclusion, prompting many young people and families to move away from their home towns.
In this scenario, environmental protection and conservation, through the sustainable management of agricultural production activities, are priority objectives for cooperation initiatives. The initiatives promoted by the Office help strengthen the resilience of rural communities by mitigating the economic impact of environmental degradation and fostering alternative development opportunities that help protect the environment. The Italian Development Cooperation’s activities are fully aligned with Egypt Vision 2030 and the National Climate Change Strategy 2050, supporting national priorities in the areas of environmental sustainability, green growth and social inclusion.
During 2025, with a portfolio of €4.8 million, the Office was supporting two initiatives under the multilateral grant channel, both aimed at promoting circular and green economic models by offering economic and environmental development solutions that make use of livestock manure and agricultural residues.
Through the Inclusive Green Growth in Egypt initiative – using blended finance instruments – Italy is supporting the construction of a pilot-scale pyrolysis plant aimed at optimising the treatment of agricultural waste. The process makes it possible to control the degradation of biomass and maximise the recovery of high value-added products, such as biochar, syngas and pyroligneous acid.
At the same time, the project “Tackling climate change through the sustainable management of livestock farming” has been developed in response to the growing demand for animal protein in Egypt, which entails risks linked to antimicrobial resistance, the spread of animal diseases and increased greenhouse gas emissions. By promoting the One Health approach and drawing on the expertise of the Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Abruzzo and Molise (IZSAM), the project adopts an integrated approach that recognises the interconnection between animal, human and environmental health. The aim is to strengthen the resilience of livestock systems and contribute to the development of sustainable and safe agri-food systems with reduced environmental impacts.
The initiative also aims to integrate the livestock sector into the circular bioeconomy through the production of biogas. This approach helps promote the sequestration of greenhouse gases, including by reducing the amount of antibiotics entering the water-soil system from livestock farms, and by enabling the sustainable production of renewable energy.
Taken together, these measures help reduce the environmental vulnerability linked to agricultural production systems and promote inclusive development, demonstrating how environmental challenges can be transformed into opportunities for sustainable development and the strengthening of resilience.
