Egypt approves nearly EGP 13bn in foreign grants to NGOs in 2025/26
Egypt approved 1,828 foreign grants worth nearly 13 billion Egyptian pounds for civil society organisations in the fiscal year 2025/26, benefiting 515 associations and foundations, the Ministry of Social Solidarity said on Monday.
The grants came from 610 donor entities, according to a report submitted to Social Solidarity Minister Maya Morsy by Amr Hosny, head of the ministry’s Central Unit for Associations and Civil Work.
The report also recorded the registration of 407 new associations and civil society foundations during the fiscal year, alongside the issuance of permits for six foreign non-governmental organisations, the ministry said.
Egypt had 35,779 registered civil society organisations under the ministry’s supervision, including 66 permitted foreign NGOs, 27 regional federations, 50 specialised federations, and the General Federation of Associations and Civil Institutions.
The ministry described civil society organisations as key partners in implementing social and economic programmes and supporting sustainable development. Their activities cover community development, social assistance, healthcare, cultural and scientific services, economic development, human rights, and support for people with disabilities.
Foreign funding and donations
The ministry’s central unit reviews foreign funding applications to assess compliance with the law governing civil work and its executive regulations, as well as alignment with development needs. The process aims to promote transparency and sound governance, the report said.
The report also outlined the regulation of charitable fundraising through legally approved channels, including bank accounts, text messages, collection companies, charity events, and competitions.
Egypt had 481 active fundraising permits, while 351 permits had been closed, the report said. The permits primarily covered social assistance and services, healthcare, and care for vulnerable groups and people with disabilities.
Digital channels, including banks and collection companies, accounted for 88 per cent of the fundraising methods analysed, making them the dominant means of collecting donations, the report said.
The unit also issued regulatory decisions and circulars to organise civil society work and strengthen the governance of donations and grants, while standardising review procedures and reducing the time and effort required from associations and foundations.
Complaints and institutional capacity
The unit responded to 488 complaints concerning civil society associations and foundations submitted through the government’s complaints portal, recording a 100 per cent completion rate, the ministry said.
It also launched a dedicated hotline, 17673, to handle inquiries and complaints related to funding, fundraising permits, registration requirements, and other issues affecting civil society organisations.
The unit conducted training programmes for ministry and directorate employees and prepared guidance manuals and booklets to support the work of associations and foundations.
The report also highlighted the unit’s role in supporting Egypt’s national strategy to combat money laundering and terrorist financing by strengthening organisations’ compliance with relevant legal requirements and raising awareness of associated risks.
Other initiatives included the Farhet Masr Initiative, the Development Partners Award, and the formation of teams within Social Solidarity directorates to improve the sector’s ability to respond quickly to emerging needs, the ministry said.
The ministry said the report reflected a broader institutional shift from a primarily regulatory approach towards supporting civil society as a development partner.