Egypt’s new Hub of Advanced Policy Innovation for the Environment launches to improve clean air and water access
Cairo, Egypt
The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab Middle East and North Africa at The American University in Cairo (J-PAL MENA at AUC) announced the launch of the new extension to the Egypt Impact Lab (named 'HAPIE'—inspired by the ancient Egyptian deity associated with the Nile’s annual flooding), in the presence of H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation.
HAPIE, which stands for the Hub of Advanced Policy Innovation for the Environment, represents the Egypt Impact Lab’s (EIL) extension into the environment, energy, and climate change sectors. Established through a partnership between J-PAL MENA and the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, the EIL has played a vital role in embedding evidence-based policy approaches across various development sectors in Egypt. EIL is made possible through founding partners Community Jameel and Sawiris Foundation, with additional support from UNICEF Egypt.
Building on J-PAL MENA's strong foundation of research and policy partnerships in the region and approaching its fifth anniversary, the HAPIE launch represents another significant milestone in leveraging evidence-based approaches. HAPIE aims to improve clean air and water access in Egypt by co-generating evidence and informing the policy decisions of government partners. HAPIE allows researchers to collaborate with J-PAL MENA and its government partners to innovate, test, and scale evidence-informed air and water policies.
The HAPIE launch was announced today at an event at The American University in Cairo, which brought together Egypt’s policymakers, development practitioners, and researchers. Panelists highlighted initiatives in the environmental sector aimed at addressing climate change through innovative technologies and sustainable practices. The event gave participants valuable insights into formulating evidence-based climate policies in Egypt.
H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Egypt’s Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, said: "At the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, we recognize that transformative change must be rooted in evidence-based and data-driven policymaking, strategic partnerships, and innovative financing mechanisms. The Hub of Advanced Policy Innovation for the Environment (HAPIE) accelerates this vision by creating a dynamic platform where research can directly inform policy action and financing decisions. This synergy is in line with the Ministry's Framework for Sustainability and Financing for Economic Development, ensuring that evidence-based policies drive inclusive sustainable growth and deliver a measurable impact for Egypt's future."
Dr. Sherifa Sherif, NIGSD’s Executive Director, said: “By placing environmental policy innovation as a cornerstone of governance, we are reinforcing our commitment to a greener future for all Egyptians. This Hub offers hope, driving evidence-based strategies to tackle issues like air and water quality and moving us closer to our sustainable development goals. I applaud the efforts that made this possible and eagerly anticipate its positive impact on Egypt's governance and sustainable development.”
George Richards, Director of Community Jameel, said: “Egypt is a country of wide, open skies and the great River Nile – but they are menaced by climate change, pollution and other threats. Together with J-PAL, the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, and a consortium of partners in this project, Community Jameel is committed to ensuring that the new Hub of Advanced Policy Innovation for the Environment – as part of the global network of J-PAL Air and Water Labs – will put scientific evidence at the heart of the government’s efforts to ensure a safe and healthy environment, with access to clean air and water, for all Egyptians.”
Laila Hosni, Executive Director of Sawiris Foundation for Social Development, said: “At Sawiris Foundation, our commitment goes beyond financial support—we strive to be impact investors, developmental knowledge leaders, and technical partners dedicated to creating meaningful change. Through continuous learning and innovation, we work to design and implement effective interventions that address the most pressing challenges facing our communities. We are proud to witness the launch of HAPIE as an extension of the Egypt Impact Lab, focusing on environment, energy, and climate change. This platform embodies our vision, driving the exploration of innovative, localized solutions to help vulnerable communities mitigate and adapt to the growing effects of climate change.”
Dr. Ahmed Elsayed, J-PAL MENA’s Executive Director, said: “J-PAL MENA is delighted to officially launch the Hub of Advanced Policy Innovation for the Environment, in full collaboration with the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development and Community Jameel. This partnership underscores our commitment to employing rigorous research to address critical environmental challenges and create a substantial impact in Egypt. I am enthusiastic about the potential of HAPIE to address air and water policies in Egypt and drive positive change and development in the future.”
HAPIE is part of J-PAL’s network of Air and Water Labs (AWLs) with Community Jameel. The Air and Water Labs expand on the work of J-PAL’s King Climate Action Initiative, building on the foundational support of King Philanthropies to develop new research and policy approaches at the intersection of climate change and poverty reduction worldwide. AWLs collaborate with government agencies to tackle critical air and water issues through evidence-based policymaking. HAPIE, like its regional AWL counterparts in India and South Africa, works closely with government partners to co-generate evidence-based solutions for the most pressing air and water challenges. HAPIE is an extension of the EIL, covering the thematic area related to the environment, energy, and climate change. HAPIE is made possible with generous support from its founding partners, Community Jameel and the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development.
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About NIGSD
1956 The 'National Management Institute' was established to deliver research, consultancy, and capacity-building services to Egyptian civil servants. It was the central training hub in the MENA region. In 2018, the institute's mandate and strategy were revisited and reframed to align with Egypt’s Vision 2030 and widen its outreach to include services for the private sector and civil society.
In 2020, The Egyptian Cabinet formally ratified resolution number 1880 for 2020, renaming the Institute the 'National Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development.
The National Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development is a para-public institution governed by a board of trustees headed by the Minister of Planning and Economic Development. The Institute’s vision is to mainstream the principles and culture of good governance practices for sustainable development throughout Egyptian institutions by empowering institutions and individuals to integrate these principles and collectively improve Egypt's performance in international indices.
About Community Jameel:
Community Jameel advances science and learning for communities to thrive. An independent, global organisation, Community Jameel was launched in 2003 to continue the tradition of philanthropy and community service established by the Jameel family of Saudi Arabia in 1945. Community Jameel supports scientists, humanitarians, technologists and creatives to understand and address pressing human challenges in areas such as climate change, health and education.
The work enabled and supported by Community Jameel has led to significant breakthroughs and achievements, including the MIT Jameel Clinic’s discovery of the new antibiotics halicin and abaucin, critical modelling of the spread of COVID-19 conducted by the Jameel Institute at Imperial College London, and a Nobel Prize-winning experimental approach to alleviating global poverty championed by the co-founders of the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab at MIT.
About Sawiris Foundation for Social Development:
SFSD is one of Egypt’s pioneering donor foundations. Established in 2001 by the Sawiris family, the foundation promotes and supports innovative, philanthropic solutions targeting comprehensive and sustainable development in Egypt. Over the past 23 years, SFSD has addressed critical challenges facing marginalized Egyptians, including poverty, unemployment, social exclusion, and limited access to quality education.
Through partnerships with the government, private sector, and civil society, SFSD funds programs designed to achieve sustainable development. By creating thousands of job opportunities, providing quality education, and ensuring access to essential services, SFSD has positively impacted the lives of nearly one million Egyptians across 24 governorates, with a focus on the most underserved villages. To date, its total investments have exceeded EGP 3 billion.
For information please visit: www.sawirisfoundation.org | www.facebook.com/SawirisFoundation | www.twitter.com/SawirisSFS
About J-PAL MENA at AUC
The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab Middle East and North Africa (J-PAL MENA) at The American University in Cairo’s School of Business is a regional office established in July 2020 as a part of a more extensive network of research centers worldwide working to reduce poverty by ensuring that policy is informed by scientific evidence. Anchored by a network of more than 260 affiliated professors at universities worldwide, J-PAL MENA draws on results from randomized impact evaluations to answer critical questions in the fight against poverty. We build partnerships with governments, NGOs, donors, and others to share this knowledge, scale up effective programs, and advance evidence-informed decision-making.
J-PAL was launched at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2003 and has regional centers in Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and North Africa, North America, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. For more information, visit povertyactionlab.org.
By 2025, J-PAL MENA will proudly celebrate five years of impactful work across the MENA region. Over the past half-decade, the organization has been dedicated to ensuring that policies are informed by rigorous scientific evidence. Through its partnerships and research initiatives, J-PAL MENA has played a crucial role in shaping policies that address the region's most pressing challenges, promoting sustainable development, and improving the lives of millions. As J-PAL MENA marks this significant milestone, it reaffirms its commitment to advancing evidence-based policy-making for the betterment of the MENA region.
About the American University in Cairo
Founded in 1919, The American University in Cairo (AUC) is a leading English-language, American-accredited institution of higher education and center of the intellectual, social, and cultural life of the Arab world. It is a vital bridge between East and West, linking Egypt and the region to the world through scholarly research, partnerships with academic and research institutions and study abroad programs.
The University offers 40 undergraduate, 52 master’s and two PhD programs rooted in a liberal arts education that encourages students to think critically and find creative solutions to conflicts and challenges facing both the region and the world. An independent, nonprofit, politically non-partisan, non-sectarian and equal opportunity institution, AUC is fully accredited in Egypt and the United States. For more information about the university news and events follow us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/aucegypt and Twitter @AUC
About the AUC Onsi Sawiris School of Business
Boasting an unrivaled reputation as the top private business school in Egypt and one of the best in Africa and the Arab world, Onsi Sawiris School of Business at The American University in Cairo is dedicated to transforming the eager and innovative minds of today to become the responsible change agents of tomorrow, all while developing relevance and leadership in an evolving ecosystem.
Situated within AUC and enjoying nearly seven decades’ worth of history, the school offers a wide range of programs and activities that extend beyond the classroom to provide a holistic and engaging experiential learning approach. The school’s seal of excellence is the Triple Crown accreditation, which places it among the top 1 percent of educational institutions worldwide to achieve the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the Association of MBAs, and the European Quality Improvement System accreditations.
For more information, visit business.aucegypt.edu/