As envisaged by Law 125/2014, Italy not only participates in the definition of the European Union's development aid policy, but also implements development projects financed by European funds through entities accredited for their indirect management. In this context, AICS originally operated as a technical support entity of the MAECI-DGCS and, following accreditation, as a qualified organization for the indirect management of cooperation programs.
In a parallel manner, the AICS-Cairo Office first supported the Embassy of Italy in Cairo (MAECI-DGCS) in the implementation of the Delegated Cooperation Program "EU-Joint Rural Development Program" for a total of € 21.9 million and then obtained delegated management authority for three other programs as follows:
(a) "MEPEP - Multi-Educational Program for Employment Promotion in Migration-affected areas," whose Contribution Agreement was signed in late 2020 for a total of € 6 million, which aims to contribute to the improvement of socio-economic conditions in Sharkeya Governorate to counter irregular migration trends through the strengthening of the national technical and vocational education and training (TVET) system.
(b) The "EU-ZIRA3A - European Union Integrated Rural Development Program for Egypt" (€27.3 million, of which 24 is funded by the EU and 3.3 by AICS), is designed to support the Egyptian government in the implementation of the Sustainable Agricultural Development Strategy (SADS) for 2030 in the three governorates of Sohag, Asyut and Damietta. The objective of the action is to improve the livelihoods and incomes of smallholder farmers and their communities in the three governorates through a sustainable and integrated approach to rural development, while addressing issues of increasing resource scarcity in a context of rapid population growth.
c) The "WATDEV - Climate Smart Water Management and Sustainable Development for Food and Agriculture in East Africa" (7.5 million European funding) which aims to ensure the sustainability of water management in agricultural systems and the resilience of agro systems to climate change in East Africa and Egypt. The agreement was signed in December 2021.
Egyptian Italian Environmental Cooperation Project 3rd Phase, Fayoum, Egypt