Sisi reviews Egypt’s social protection, subsidy reforms

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi reviewed proposed reforms to the country’s social protection and subsidy systems on Monday, including plans for a cash support programme and measures to strengthen assistance for low-income households, the presidency said.

During a meeting attended by Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly and senior government officials, Sisi reviewed developments in the Takaful and Karama Programme, Egypt’s flagship social assistance scheme, which provides financial support to eligible low-income families, elderly citizens, and vulnerable groups.

The meeting also examined a proposed cash support programme, which officials said could improve subsidy targeting and provide beneficiaries with greater flexibility to meet their household needs. According to the presidency, similar systems have been adopted, either fully or gradually, in several countries to enhance the efficiency of social protection programmes.

The oficials also reviewed developments in the ration card system as part of broader efforts to strengthen social protection and improve the delivery of subsidies to eligible households.

Supply and Internal Trade Minister Sherif Farouk briefed the meeting on measures to ensure subsidies reach their intended beneficiaries and to improve the efficiency of the distribution system.

The meeting also reviewed the subsidised bread programme and progress on establishing strategic bakeries, with the first phase covering 300 bakeries nationwide. Officials further discussed the performance of the National Food Safety Authority (NFSA) in monitoring the quality and safety of food products available in the domestic market.

Sisi called for continued efforts to achieve greater self-sufficiency in strategic commodities, maintain adequate reserves to support market stability, strengthen partnerships with the private sector and continue developing subsidy mechanisms to ensure assistance reaches those most in need, according to the presidency.