Cairo: Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hany Sweilem met with Chitose Noguchi, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme in Egypt, to discuss the expansion of cooperation in water resource management and climate adaptation. The meeting focused on strengthening joint efforts in climate resilience and early warning systems for climate-related hazards.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the discussions highlighted ongoing collaboration between the parties. Dr. Mohamed Bayoumi attended the meeting, where Sweilem praised the partnership and emphasized the importance of continued coordination to support national adaptation strategies. This collaboration aims to build on Egypt's efforts to tackle climate challenges in the water sector.

Noguchi reaffirmed UNDP's commitment to deepening its cooperation with Egypt, stressing the significance of implementing integrated projects that enhance climate adaptation. The meeting covered progress on key initiatives, such as the 'Enhancing Climate Change Adaptation in the North Coast and Nile Delta' project, funded by the Green Climate Fund with a $31.4 million grant. This project has delivered critical outputs, including sea-level rise risk mapping and flood risk assessments.

Both parties explored future cooperation under the project's second phase, focusing on implementing beach nourishment projects as nature-based solutions for coastal protection. Additionally, they reviewed developments in the 'Desalination Using Renewable Energy for Agricultural Purposes' project, launched in 2023 in partnership with UNDP.

The meeting also addressed progress on the national water-sector climate adaptation plan. Discussions included assessments of climate impacts on water resources, groundwater studies, and the development of integrated databases to support flood protection measures.