المنتدى الدولى للصحافة والإعلام

Cairo: Alaa Mourad

Dr. Sahar Nasr, Deputy Chair of the Financial, Economic Affairs and Investment Committee of the Egyptian Senate and Secretary-General of the Egyptian Zakat and Charity House, held a series of important meetings with United Nations leaders and officials to discuss frameworks for joint cooperation. The meetings took place on the sidelines of her participation in the Parliamentary Forum held as part of the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) in New York.

Dr. Sahar Nasr began her meetings with Ms. Susan Brown, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Assistant Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The meeting addressed ways to strengthen parliamentary cooperation to advance efforts toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and accelerate progress during the remaining four years leading up to 2030.

During the meeting, Dr. Sahar Nasr emphasized the pivotal role of the Senate and its Financial, Economic Affairs and Investment Committee in formulating policies that support sustainable investment and the economic empowerment of women. She also reviewed opportunities for cooperation between the United Nations Development Programme and the Egyptian Zakat and Charity House, and discussed mechanisms for coordination with institutions funded through Zakat and charitable donations to achieve shared development goals, particularly in the areas of poverty alleviation, support for vulnerable families, children’s education, and women’s empowerment.

In a related context, Dr. Sahar Nasr held a bilateral meeting with Ms. Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, Deputy Executive Director of UN Women for Normative Support, UN System Coordination and Programme Results. The discussions focused on reviewing the projects of the Egyptian Zakat and Charity House aimed at supporting and empowering women economically and socially, in addition to discussing parliamentary initiatives intended to strengthen legislation supporting women in Egypt.

Dr. Sahar Nasr noted that empowering women and integrating them into economic activity represent a fundamental pillar of the Egyptian Zakat and Charity House’s strategy. She expressed her aspiration to exchange expertise and develop partnerships with UN Women to support programs that empower and protect women who are the primary providers for their families.

For her part, the Deputy Executive Director of UN Women expressed her appreciation for the prominent developmental and legislative role played by Dr. Sahar Nasr. She praised Egypt’s efforts to integrate the Sustainable Development Goals into its national plans and affirmed the organization’s aspiration to strengthen cooperation with the Senate and the Egyptian Zakat and Charity House in order to achieve comprehensive sustainable development.

Following that, Dr. Sahar Nasr held a meeting with Mr. Juan Santander, Global Deputy Director General for Public Partnerships at UNICEF, at UNICEF headquarters. The meeting addressed ways to strengthen partnerships and discussed joint initiatives aimed at enhancing the care and protection of children and vulnerable families, as well as developing effective coordination frameworks in areas of shared interest related to community development.

As part of her high-level participation, Dr. Sahar Nasr took part in the High-Level Segment of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), in the presence of Ms. Amina Mohammed, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General. The session highlighted the experiences of different countries and future policies aimed at accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.