EU, Italy pledge €1.5 mln to support Egypt’s disability programmes

The European Union and Italy have pledged €1.5 million ($1.76 million) to support capacity-building and institutional development at Egypt’s National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD), the council said on Thursday.

The three-year project, funded with €1 million from the EU and €500,000 from the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), aims to strengthen the council’s institutional framework, improve staff capacity, and enhance services for persons with disabilities.

Planned initiatives include upgrading the complaints management system and establishing a disability rights observatory, the council said.

Eman Karim, general supervisor of the NCPD, said the project would help translate the council’s strategy into operational plans and improve access to services across government institutions.

“The project will strengthen institutional capacity and coordination to ensure that public policies for persons with disabilities are more effective,” she said.

The initiative aligns with Egypt’s broader development strategy and international commitments on disability rights, including the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It also complements the European Strategy on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, reinforcing social inclusion and institutional performance.

The council said initial work will focus on assessing institutional needs, engaging stakeholders, and developing systems for monitoring and evaluation.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English