COLLEGES AND INSTITUTES CANADA
New Green Skills Program will support Climate-smart Agribusiness in Egypt

On November 6, Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussen announced the launch of Colleges and Institutes Canada's (CICan) new strategic partnership connecting Canadian colleges and institutes, and their counterparts in Egypt to advance sustainable agriculture. The Egypt Green Skills for the Climate-smart Agribusiness Network Program (EGYCAN) will improve economic pathways for young Egyptian women and men in a climate-resilient agribusiness sector.

Using CICan's flagship Education for Employment approach to partnership, EGYCAN will strengthen the capacity of ten TVET institutions in the Delta region of Egypt to deliver innovative, gender- and industry-responsive, and climate-smart programs that support sustainability in Egypt's agriculture sector. The program will also contribute to the creation of an Agribusiness Centre of Competence (CoC) that will support young men and women enrolled in newly established climate-smart agribusiness programs as they learn, while also providing resources that help businesses become more inclusive and resilient.

The announcement was shared in a video message from the Minister at CICan's offices in Ottawa during a reception attended by an Egyptian delegation including representatives from the Head of the Central Division of MoETE and the President of Daltex, a key industry partner for the program, and representatives from the Canadian Embassy in Cairo.

Education for Employment (EFE) is CICan's proven strategy that brings together Canada's network of colleges and institutes and education, industry, and government partners in more than 15 countries to empower students - particularly women and girls - with the skills needed to find work, to meet the needs of local economies, and to respond to the world's biggest challenges.

The program will continue CICan's long history of partnership in Egypt, first implementing the Canadian International Development Agency's (CIDA) Small and Medium Business Support Project (SMBSP) from 1998 to 2004 and then through the Business Development Services Support Project (BDSSP) from 2004 to 2011. Both projects left a legacy of sustainable results by building the institutional capacity of BDS facilitators and providers. More than 30,000 young women and men benefited from the technical support services facilitated by these projects.

EGYCAN is a five-year (2024-2029) $9.9-million program funded by the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada and implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Technical Education (MoETE), and in collaboration with the Ministry of the Environment, the National Council for Women (NCW), the Ministry of International Cooperation, and other Egyptian partners in government, industry, and civil society.

Quotes:

"Canadian colleges and institutes are global leaders in skills training that meet the needs of both learners and employers and respond to the biggest challenges we collectively face around the world. Bringing together that expertise through intentional and integrated strategic partnerships is a key element of CICan's work to drive impact. We are very excited to build on our existing relationships with partners in Egypt and to continue to support sustainability in Egypt's agriculture sector."

Pari Johnston, President & CEO, Colleges and Institutes Canada

"By increasing education and training opportunities for youths, we are addressing skill gaps in the labour market, enhancing career prospects, promoting inclusion and building a more sustainable and resilient future for communities. Canada's support for this project, which leverages on its strong ties with Egypt, will help more women and rural youths enter the workforce and advance priorities such as sustainable education, employment, climate change adaptation and food security."

Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development