• Egypt is one of the most populous countries in Africa and the Middle East with a population of around 100 million; the country’s population grows by about 2.5% annually. This makes Egypt one of the world’s fastest growing markets for food and agricultural products, according to the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA).
• 28.8% of Egyptians live below the poverty line (World Bank 2018). Along with migrants, they struggle to cover their basic needs (lodging, food and health).
• Gender disparity for both Egyptians and migrants in the unemployment rate is high, with unemployment estimated at 8.30% among men and 24.66% among women.
• There is a gap between skills of the unemployed population and job market demands.
• Food-processing and the food service sector is ranked as Egypt’s second largest manufacturing industry[1]. It is estimated to have 5,200 food companies with a turnover of $22.5 billion (January-August 2017). The sector contributes to 4.7% of Egypt’s GDP and has a high potential for growth (World Bank 2017).

[1][1] According to Ministry of Trade and Investment

• The project will directly benefit a total of 1200 (30% Egyptians and 70% migrants) out of which 50% are women.
  
• Indirectly the project will reach 6000 (5 members per family) out of which 70% are of migrants families and 30% are of vulnerable Egyptian families.

Outcome 1: Enhanced employability of migrants and vulnerable Egyptians, with a special focus on women, in the food sector. 

Outcome 2: Relevant authorities become knowledgeable of the “3S Employment Model” and able to replicate it for enhanced employability.

Outcome 3: Evidence and lessons learnt from the project are documented and shared to inform SDC long term programming and policy dialogue.

Risultati principali attesi:  

Output 1.1  1200 vulnerable Egyptians’ and migrants’ professional, life and technical skills are enhanced through trainings.

Output 1.2  Beneficiaries’ access to job fairs and employer’s platforms in the food sector is facilitated.

Output 1.3  800 migrants and vulnerable Egyptians (50% women) have obtained job placement within the food sector through brokering.

Output 2.1  10 ETP Food staff members are trained on the “Employment Model” for replication at grassroots level.

Output 2.2  15 key practitioners at vocational unit in the Ministry of Education are trained on the “Employment Model” for replication within the Egyptian Vocational Schools.

Output 3.1  CDS and ETP Food share project outcomes and lessons learnt with other SDC partners and external stakeholders.

Risultati fasi precedenti:  

• 1700 refugees received psycho-social support from which 500 are identified for career counselling provision to increase employability and facilitate their access to the labour market.  
• Creation of an employment navigation platform.
• Conducting round table discussions in regard to refugees and migrant employability.
• The end of project report recommends (1) to build on the interest of the private sector in hiring migrants. (2) The need for policy change to respond to the legislation issue to facilitate migrant access to wage employment. (3) For political acceptance and local ownership, more evidence based knowledge on migrant’s employability in Egypt is needed.

Food Processing Enterprise Partnership (ETP Food)

• International Organization on Migration, IOM
• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR
• International Labour Organization, ILO
• Plan International Egypt, PIE

Fase 1 01.07.2019 - 30.06.2023   (Completed)