Egypt

FY 2001 Program Description and Activity Data Sheets

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FY 2001 Program USAID requests $695,000,000 of economic support funds to support these Agency priorities: $487 million economic growth and agriculture, $49 million population and health, $90 million environment, $17 million democracy, and $52 million human capacity development. The $487 million for economic growth and agriculture will continue to increase Egypt's attractiveness for increased trade and investment, to allow business to operate more competitively and to generate more opportunities for business to expand. To achieve these results, USAID will use the cash transfer program to focus on policy obstacles. It will provide technical assistance to accelerate privatization, implement investor friendly tax systems, fortify capital markets, improve market information, and improve the legal and regulatory environment. USAID will use the private sector commodity import program and the small and micro-enterprise program to expand business opportunities, especially for disadvantaged groups. USAID will also work with the private sector, with a more focused assistance to the GOE, to improve competitiveness through developing workforce skills, workforce training and management skills, with a special focus on selected industries (initially tourism, information technology and horticultural exports). While almost completing the capital investments in power, telecommunications and water and wastewater, USAID will increase its attention on the legal and regulatory environment which is necessary to attract increased private sector participation and ensure that USAID investments are sustained through cost recovery. The $49 million for population and health will be used to improve the environment for private sector participation in the two sectors, to increase the quality and range of family planning services, to focus public sector service delivery on a more targeted clientele while consolidating and improving capacity, to expand the capacity and role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), to integrate service delivery of family planning and health, to increase client satisfaction, and ensure sustainability. USAID will use a combination of a sector cash transfer program, technical assistance, grants to NGOs, and active dialogue to implement these activities. The $90 million for environment will strengthen the ability of Egyptians partners to identify and undertake policy reforms to improve management of the environment, to create more public awareness and willingness to help improve the environment by changing behaviors and voluntary compliance with existing laws and regulations, and to increase citizen participation in determining environmental policy, laws and regulations. Because the poor and marginal urban and rural populations, especially women and children, disproportionately suffer from pollution, USAID will include a specific focus on these target groups. This assistance will be provided through a combination of a sector cash transfer program, technical assistance, policy dialogue, technology transfer, and human resource development. In addition to the human capacity development included in other parts of the program, the $52 million for human capacity development will continue to expand access to basic education for girls (and boys) through the New Schools Program, to develop alternative models of basic education for girls who have not had access to school, to deepen and expand the English Language program, to develop "master teachers" who will transfer modern teaching methods, to strengthen school-to-work programs, to support an Egyptian "Sesame Street" to better prepare children for the school system, to improve literacy and numeracy programs, to promote greater community and private sector involvement in decision-making about education, and to improve the responsiveness to private sector needs by secondary and vocational schools. This assistance will be provided through policy dialogue, technical assistance, and grants to NGOs. The $17 million for democracy programs will work with the entire USAID program and its partners to increase stakeholder participation in public decision-making, to strengthen NGO capacity to provide quality services and advocacy, and to improve the administration of justice in commercial law through greater efficiency and a better understanding and knowledge of pertinent laws and statutes. This assistance will be provided through grants, technical assistance and policy dialogue. ACTIVITY DATA SHEET PROGRAM: Egypt TITLE AND NUMBER: Environment for Trade and Investment Strengthened, 263-016 PLANNED FY 2000 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $484,243,000 ESF PROPOSED FY 2001 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $501,557,000 ESF STATUS: New INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 2000 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2009 Summary: Egypt has made tremendous progress over the past ten years. Nonetheless, challenges remain to Egypt's full participation in the global economy. Additional trade and investment is critical to generate jobs and accelerate economic growth, while spreading equitably the benefits of growth. This strategic objective (SO) will focus on improving the environment for trade and investment, which is key to creating private sector jobs. Direct beneficiaries will include private sector firms (including micro-enterprises), private sector workers, and the families of the workers. Special efforts will be made to provide employment and income opportunities to the country's poorest--the four million small farmers, landless laborers and women--who produce and process horticultural and agricultural commodities, and the three million non-agricultural informal sector micro-entrepreneurs. Key Results: As a result of USAID activities, the private sector grew rapidly and real GDP growth, the broadest measure of Egypt's progress, hit 6%, double the rate of 1994, the initial year of the program. Between 1996 and 1999, the private sector contribution to GDP increased from 63% to 74% as a result of USAID-supported reforms intended to unleash the private sector and the privatization of over 30 firms in 1999, representing more than 10% of all state-owned enterprises. The challenge for the future is to maintain and build upon these outstanding results. In order to achieve SO 16, Environment for Trade and Investment Strengthened, USAID will focus on improving the policy framework for trade and investment, increasing the competitiveness of the Egyptian private sector, and enhancing opportunities for business growth. USAID will continue to support the development of a strong capital market and a significant reduction in state-owned enterprises. Accelerated privatization, together with the policy reforms supported by the Mission, is expected to contribute to an increase in real output per worker in industry and productive services. In 1998, real output was approximately $7,600 per worker. By calendar year (CY) 2001, output is expected to rise to approximately $8,100 per worker if the USAID-supported GOE reform program is successful. Performance and Prospects: USAID will continue to support GOE policy reform through the cash transfer Development Support Program (DSP), begun in 1999, which builds upon reforms achieved to date. USAID will continue to support reform of Egypt's agricultural sector to increase agricultural productivity and income through fiscal year (FY) 2002. Major reforms have been achieved in the last year in the liberalization of cotton, the private sector's role in fertilizer distribution, horticultural exports, water productivity, and employment generation. USAID expects these positive impacts to continue and expand. To help the Egyptian private sector to increase exports, as a way to insure job creation, SO 16 will provide technical assistance to increase exports in targeted sectors such as livestock, food processing, furniture, leather, and software, which have been identified as having the most growth and job creation potential. USAID activities will also support the adoption of better technology for production, better market information, and the strengthening of Egyptian firms' capacity to market goods abroad, particularly in high-value horticulture commodities. USAID activities have contributed to the excellent growth in 1999 in products such as grape exports, which increased 40%, and strawberry exports, which doubled. In both instances, the export potential is ten times the current volume of exports. USAID's approach to developing skills to expand international marketing and improve management skills has been refined and now forms the basis of the new SO 17, Skills Developed for Competitiveness. In FY 2001, USAID will design a new activity to support the development of information technology in Egypt. Egypt needs to modernize its approach to information technology if its private sector is to compete effectively in both domestic and international markets. USAID's activities will focus on facilitating the necessary changes in the legal and regulatory framework, in human capacity development and in technology transfer. Several successful activities from SO 1 will migrate into SO 16. During FY 1999, USAID's Private Sector Commodity Import Program (CIP) financed 627 commercial transactions totaling $233 million. USAID plans to continue the CIP at $200 million per year with no program changes. Through sale to investors, employees, public offerings and/or sales to anchor investors, the GOE continues to privatize state-owned enterprises. USAID will continue assistance to this GOE program and over the next three years, USAID expects that the GOE will privatize 100 more state-owned enterprises. In the first year of implementing support to the Egyptian capital markets, USAID has helped improve capital market efficiency and transparency through a series of new reforms, including executive decrees authorizing bond dealers and a settlement guarantee fund to protect the financial integrity of the capital market system. The capital markets development activity will be expanded to further strengthen Egypt's capital market, including meeting the requirement for new financial instruments such as securitized mortgages, and strengthening the human resource and organizational capabilities of partner institutions to issue, trade and regulate these new instruments. USAID will continue to strengthen the legal and regulatory environment to accommodate new instruments and to ensure their efficient, fair and transparent trading in both debt and equity markets. Other activities will include the expansion of automated systems, particularly for the regulatory agencies, and a broader public relations campaign to enhance awareness of the equities market. In the first three quarters of FY 1999, USAID's Small and Micro-Enterprise Development (SME) activity supported 96,164 new loans valued at $167 million made to 34,389 businesses by NGOs and generating 20,000 new jobs. More than 90% of these borrowers had never obtained credit from formal financial institutions. USAID will continue to support SME development in Egypt as an important, reliable source of new jobs. In FY 2000, USAID plans an expansion of its support of the Egyptian Center for Economic Studies. Over the past six years, the Center has become an important economic policy institution in Egypt. Recently, the Center and USAID received a Ministerial request to expand the Center's work focusing on formalizing Egypt's informal economic sector from which over 80% of Egypt's population derives most of its livelihood. The prospects for success under this new SO are good, with the GOE increasingly committed to liberalizing the economy. The current GOE economic team seems even more committed to economic reform than its predecessors, which may result in dramatic improvements in Egypt's policy regime. Possible Adjustment to Plans: None. Other Donor Programs: Other major donors involved in economic growth in Egypt include the European Union, the World Bank, and the United Nations. USAID coordinates its policy reform efforts closely with the IMF (present in Egypt in an advisory capacity), the World Bank, the European Union and the other donors. With the GOE, the European Union has set up the Public Enterprise Reform and Privatization Program (PERPP), a five-year program budgeted at 43.0 million Euro dollars. This project complements USAID privatization activities. The World Bank's current portfolio consists of 19 projects with loans of over $1.2 billion. Of these, eight are in agriculture ($534 million, much of which is in irrigation); seven are in the social sectors ($415 million); and, four are in infrastructure and the environment ($251 million). Other donors, including the Japanese, Canadians, and the Germans, are working in agriculture, textiles, exports and trade, small and micro-enterprise lending, education and health. In total, Egypt receives $2-3 billion in foreign grants and loans each year. Principal Contractors, Grantees or Agencies: Contractors and grantees supporting activities to ensure the achievement of results under this SO include: Nathan Associates, working on trade and regulatory reform; Chemonics International working on economic reform generally and capital market reform specifically; the International Executive Service Corps working to strengthen private sector market institutions; Carana and IBTCI providing assistance for privatization; the National Cooperative Business Association, Agricultural Cooperative Development International and Environmental Quality International assisting small business programs; and RONCO and the Universities of Florida and California (Davis) supporting horticulture technology transfer. Selected Performance Measures: Baseline (1999) Target (2000) Target (2001) Economic Freedom Index 3.35 3.30 3.25 Elements of Economic Freedom Index for Trade 3.70 3.65 3.55 Real Output per Worker in Industry and Productive Services (in Egyptian pounds) 25,710 (1998) 27,000 27,600 Elements of Economic Freedom Index for Regulation 3.25 3.20 3.15 * Baseline is 1999 unless otherwise shown. U.S. Finance Table (Microsoft Excel) ACTIVITY DATA SHEET PROGRAM: Egypt TITLE AND NUMBER: Skills for Competitiveness Developed, 263-017 PLANNED FY 2000 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $10,000,000 ESF PROPOSED FY 2001 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $15,000,000 ESF STATUS: New INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 2000 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2009 Summary: One of the most critical constraints to the competitiveness of Egyptian companies is the lack of an appropriately skilled workforce. Egyptian managers and workers do not have the skills required for modern competitiveness and new entrants do not come into the workforce with critical thinking and practical skills. One cause of this problem is the educational system's (basic, secondary, vocational, and university) inability to produce the workforce entrants with the necessary minimum skills. Long-term solutions require fundamental reforms to upgrade the quality of instruction, teacher skills, and curricula. However, such reforms will take time to put in place and more time to produce results. President Mubarak, during his July 1999 meeting with Vice President Gore, cited human capacity development as one of Egypt's most pressing needs and asked for U.S. help in this area. Through this new SO, USAID will target the 50% of Egyptian workers who are literate and workers who are in management or who have management potential. Activities will focus on strengthening both Egyptian private sector management and private sector training providers; encouraging the private sector to budget for training as an investment and not an expense; and ensuring that training institutions provide training based on demand and in growth areas. The intention is to change management attitudes and create an effective dialogue among the private sector firms and between the firms and the training providers to build a cadre of trained personnel who better meet the demands of a globally competitive economy. USAID, with the Egyptian private sector, will also investigate the feasibility of establishing a business school in Egypt that meets standards similar to those of the top 20 business schools in the United States. USAID will work closely with key Egyptian private sector leaders, NGOs and other institutions that have demonstrated an interest in improving the quality of Egypt's workforce and a commitment to using private sector resources to effect change. This SO is a private sector, demand-driven initiative. The SO seeks to leverage Egyptian private sector co-financing whenever possible. Key Results: This SO will improve the quality of the Egyptian workforce, allowing Egypt to compete successfully in the global marketplace. At the end of the strategy period, USAID anticipates that this SO will have effected a change in management culture, resulting in Egyptian business leaders and public policy makers employing best business practices in their operations and the development of responsive private sector human resources development initiatives. Egyptian managers will see modern business skills as key to improving productivity and will understand the need both to invest in training for employees and to pay competitive salaries to retain good employees. The current centralized management style found in the majority of Egyptian firms will become outmoded as chief executive officers empower lower-level managers, invest in human resources development at the firm level, and increase the use of knowledge management to effect international competitiveness. Egyptian private sector training providers will be able to provide market responsive training. As a result of USAID support to three industrial clusters (tourism, information technology and agribusiness), selected for their projected creation of jobs, growth potential and past growth record, linkages will be in place that will improve both the capacity of the training providers and the skills of the workforce in these sectors. Performance and Prospects: USAID will embark on the design of activities under the new SO starting in FY 2000 and FY 2001. These activities will include (1) training to improve the basic business skills of new university graduates, (2) senior executive training for high level private sector and GOE managers, (3) collaboration with business associations in key industrial clusters to improve training in those sectors, (4) Master of Business Administration (MBA) training, and (5) collaboration with the Egyptian private sector to investigate the establishment of an international quality business school in Egypt. Performance measures are likely to be refined during activity design. The prospects for successful achievement of results under this new SO are good. The GOE, beginning with the President, identifies human capacity development as one of its highest priorities. Members of the Egyptian Presidents' Council (private sector) have also expressed their support and willingness to co-fund activities in this sector. Given that human capacity development is so widely regarded as an imperative in the next stages of Egyptian economic development and given the continued liberalization of the economy and trade regimes, USAID believes that the timing is right to pursue results in this sector. Possible Adjustments to Plans: None. Other Donor Programs: Other donors active in workforce development are the European Union (skills training), Germany (school-to-work, Mubarak-Kohl Initiative), and the World Bank (loans for basic education and secondary education, with technical training and school-to-work training components). Principal Contractors, Grantees or Agencies: Start-up activities that contributed to the design of this SO have been implemented by Price Waterhouse Coopers for industrial cluster activities and PalTech (an 8-a firm) for management development and management seminar activities. Selected Performance Measures: Baseline (1999) Target (2000) Target (2001) Rank/Value of management component of competitiveness index compiled by the World Economic Forum Value=3.29 Rank=43 0 change index/ranking +3% +3 Number of international-quality MBAs attained and employed by the Egyptian Private Sector (students selected for training will not return until CY 2002) 0 0 0 Number of training institutions engaged in establishing and implementing a certificate standards review process 0 0 2 Percentage of annual wage bill spent on training and human resource development in selected clusters 0% 2% 5% U.S. Finance Table (Microsoft Excel) ACTIVITY DATA SHEET PROGRAM: Egypt TITLE AND NUMBER: Access to Sustainable Utility Service in Selected Areas Increased, 263-018 PLANNED FY 2000 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $86,079,000 ESF PROPOSED FY 2001 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $44,626,000 ESF STATUS: New INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 2000 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2004 Summary: Reliable power, telecommunications and water and wastewater services are required for increased trade and investment as well as meeting the needs of Egyptian citizens. For Egypt's growing economy, utilities must make needed capital investments, be able to recover costs, and operate efficiently. To secure needed financing, the GOE is promoting increased private sector participation in these sectors by establishing legal and regulatory frameworks that provide a more stable and transparent investment environment. Under its 25-year urban infrastructure program, USAID has invested over $5 billion in urban infrastructure ($2.6 billion to water and wastewater, $1.8 billion electric power, and $700 million telecommunications) to enhance the lives of millions of Egyptians through improvements to urban public utilities. Water and wastewater programs have reached 22 million people; power sector programs have increased and improved 35% of Egypt's generating capacity and telecommunications programs have financed expansion and improvements in the quality of services reaching several million customers. Through this infrastructure strategic objective (SO), USAID will phase out of direct financing of infrastructure construction and will place increased emphasis on supporting legal and regulatory reform in the sectors in order to create an enabling environment for private sector participation and to improve services for customers. Key Results: Expanded and better managed infrastructure services, including enhanced wastewater collection/treatment facilities and efficiency improvements in electricity infrastructure, will improve urban environmental quality and the health of millions of Egyptians. Achieving the SO requires successfully improving service delivery, addressing the need for utilities to operate as businesses, and promoting a legal and regulatory framework conducive for increased investments. In the power sector, completion of the Alexandria Regional Control Center in FY 2000 will improve electricity service for nearly one million Alexandria residents. The Cairo Regional Control Center will be nearly complete by the end of FY 2001 and will improve the supply of electric power to approximately one million Cairo residents. In the telecommunications sector, installation of digital switching technology during FY 2000 will expand telephone services to about 450,000 Egyptians. By the end of 2001, an additional 900,000 Egyptians will benefit from expanded service. Power and telecommunications sector reform activities will focus on institutional strengthening of the utilities, facilitating implementation of the existing regulatory legislation and establishing new efficiency mechanisms such as power pooling. Water and wastewater infrastructure construction activities began in the Daqaliya and Aswan governorates during FY 1999. During FY 2000 construction will be initiated in the Alexandria, South Sinai, Fayoum, Beni Suef, and Minia governorates. Construction will start in Luxor in FY 2001. Over half a million residents of Mansoura, in the Daqaliya governorate, will receive new or upgraded water service by the end of FY 2001. Water and wastewater service improvements in the other governorates will come on line during 2002 - 2004. Meanwhile, as a result of comprehensive ongoing USAID-financed institutional support during 2000 and 2001, targeted utilities will continue to make consistent gains in operating efficiency and recovery of operation and maintenance costs through improved metering and billing systems, stricter fiscal controls and improved accounting procedures. USAID assistance is supporting a shift away from central government responsibility for planning, constructing, and financing basic services towards local utility autonomy and responsibility for operating on a commercial basis responsive to consumer needs. To that end, significant progress has been achieved towards comprehensive legal and regulatory reform, aimed at increasing autonomy and promoting commercial management of local utilities, as well as encouraging private financing and management of services. During FY 1999, USAID technical assistance coupled with extensive policy dialogue directly supported the GOE in preparing a comprehensive package of legal and regulatory reform instruments for the water and wastewater sector. The new legislation should be promulgated during FY 2000. Performance and Prospects: This new SO encompasses activities carried over from SOs 6 and 1, which end in FY 2000. In FY 2000 and FY 2001, USAID assistance will continue to focus on improvements in efficiency, reliability and increased access to utility services, putting into place critical infrastructure needed to support increased private investment in the power and telecom sectors. Assistance will be provided to help the power regulatory board initiate its basic oversight functions. USAID will also assist Telecom Egypt to become a quality provider of customer-driven services and position itself for additional privatization in the medium term. In water and wastewater, USAID is pursuing a two-pronged approach. In FY 2001, support is being provided to create an independent regulatory agency, enhance the GOE's capacity to manage private sector investment transactions, and institute measures to enable/encourage local utilities to operate along business lines. Concurrently, institutional development efforts aimed at greater cost recovery and operating efficiency complement capital assistance investments to enhance the delivery of services to customers. The SO will help our partners establish the conditions for mobilizing private sector financing of infrastructure, while enhancing utility management and customer services and protecting USAID's capital investments to date. This is a logical graduation strategy for a program that has matured to the point where public entities are ready to change their roles from service delivery to facilitator and regulator. Possible Adjustments to Plans: None. Other Donor Programs: USAID is the largest donor in the water/wastewater sector. Other donors include the European Union, Great Britain and Italy in Cairo; Denmark in Aswan and Qena Governorates; and the Netherlands in Fayoum. In the power and telecommunications sectors, USAID's focus on policy and regulatory reforms to promote private sector participation, is also supported by the European Union and the World Bank. Principal Contractors, Grantees or Agencies: USAID works closely with the Ministry of Housing, Public Utilities and New Communities, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Ministry of Electricity and Energy and a number of local utilities to implement the program. U.S. firms such as ABB SUSA, Morrison Knudsen, Morganti, Black & Veatch International, Camp Dresser & McKee, CH2M Hill, Harza Engineering, Metcalf & Eddy, PADCO, Hagler Bailly, Chemonics International, Advanced Engineering Associates, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, Duke Engineering Services, Pennsylvania Power and Light, Gilbert Commonwealth International, General Dynamics, Nortel Networks, Raytheon, Macro Corporation, Kuljian, and K&M Engineering help implement the programs. Selected Performance Measures: Baseline (1999) Target (2000) Target (2001) Change in the number of customers with new or upgraded utility service:       Power Telecommunications Water Wastewater (0) (0) (0) (0) 900,000 450,000 0 0 1,900,000 1,350,000 525,000 0 Percent of system operations and maintenance costs recovered:       Power Telecommunications Water/Wastewater 80% 90% 45% 82% 91% 92% 84% 92% 50% U.S. Finance Table (Microsoft Excel) ACTIVITY DATA SHEET PROGRAM: Egypt TITLE AND NUMBER: Management of the Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) in Targeted Sectors Improved, 263-019 PROPOSED FY 2000 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $66,481,000 ESF PROPOSED FY 2001 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $51,560,000 ESF STATUS: New INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 2000 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2009 Summary: Preserving Egypt's environment and natural resource base--in particular water, air and coastal ecological area resources--is key to economic growth, improving competitiveness and creating a healthier environment that benefits all Egyptians. The challenges facing stabilization of the natural resource base are considerable. The quality and efficiency in use of Nile water must be improved in order to meet both the growing population and the increasing demand for water by the agricultural and industrial sectors. Sustaining the growing levels of tourism, and the subsequent rapid development along the Red Sea coast, requires protection of fragile coastal ecosystems and proactive steps to preserve its coral reefs. Air pollutant levels in Cairo are among the highest in the world, contributing to respiratory ailments and lost productivity. A growing economy requires both increasing amounts of energy and increased efficiency. Nascent efforts to address these and other challenges to Egypt's resource base are hampered by a poor enabling environment and weak implementing institutions. To address these challenges and build upon its successes, USAID intends to implement its ENR program in two phases. During phase one, USAID will assist the GOE in developing and implementing improved policies and regulatory standards as well as improving institutional capacity for monitoring, enforcement and encouraging public awareness. Working with the public and private sectors, USAID also will promote adoption of best practices and modern technologies, market incentives, and privatization of ENR services. Phase two activities under this SO will focus on interventions that more directly result in the actual improvement of the environment. Permanent solutions for environmental problems can only be accomplished and sustained once an underlying framework and management capacity are in place. Four areas are targeted: Nile water resources management, Red Sea natural resources, urban/industrial pollution, and energy efficiency (global climate change). Key Results: Two results are key to achieving this strategic objective: 1) fostering public-private partnerships and 2) increasing investment in ENR best practices and technology. In order to leverage resources and rely more on voluntary compliance instead of enforcement, GOE environmental regulatory agencies need to develop linkages and partnerships with the private sector and with local government. A collaborative relationship that promotes private sector investment in the environmental sector and ensures that public sector investment attracts private investment is also required. Achievements expected in FY 2000 - FY 2001 for the targeted areas follow. For Nile water management: in accord with ENR sector policy benchmarks, the GOE will transfer operational and management responsibility for selected sections of the irrigation systems along the Nile to water users and private associations of water users; draft legislation to update and revitalize the irrigation and drainage law will be presented to the People's Assembly; transfer of canal operation and maintenance to stakeholders will begin; and regulations governing the use and reuse of wastewater for agricultural purposes will be improved. For the Red Sea coastal area: the GOE is expected to formalize the expansion of the Red Sea Marine Park from its current size of 100 square kilometers to more than 22,000 square kilometers, while continued improvement in the health of offshore coral reefs is also expected. For urban and industrial pollution: three lead smelters, including the largest private lead smelter, will complete their relocation to an industrial zone outside of Cairo in FY 2001, and infrastructure in the zone will be completed to permit relocation of other lead smelters. The first city to adopt an environmental management system, 10th of Ramadan City, Egypt, will be declared an environmentally friendly city in CY 2000. A national energy efficiency strategy to mitigate greenhouse gas emission, should be approved by relevant public and private sector entities by FY 2001. The vehicle emissions testing and certification program will expand throughout Greater Cairo. Municipal bus companies in Cairo and Alexandria will increase the number of compressed natural gas fueled buses in operation. Performance and Prospects: A mix of cash transfer, technology transfer, technical assistance, capacity building and policy reform element is being used to help Egypt improve environmental management and, eventually, to improve environmental conditions. As of FY 2000, this SO incorporates the activities and results included in the old strategy under SO 7 and SO 8, bringing operational efficiencies and strengthening the inter-linkages among all partners and activities. For Nile water resources management, USAID-financed activities are designed to strengthen public sector institutional capability while integrating the private sector, particularly water user associations, into improved and sustainable water management. Sector policy reform cash transfers, technical assistance, training, and studies focus on building water resource analysis capacity within the Ministry of Water Resources and identifying policy constraints and how to remove them. The Minister actively participates in planning activities, providing a high level of support to the program. Activities are designed to foster linkages with other key ministries in the water sector. Public awareness campaigns, policy dialogue and training supported by USAID, in parallel with enforcement of regulations related to visitors, aim at improving the health of offshore coral reefs in protected areas. For example, to help sustain efforts to improve the coral, assistance has helped to develop a visitor fee structure for the area. In another example, the three largest lead smelters are now in the process of relocating from a residential area to an industrial zone, with technical assistance to be provided to complete a management plan for landfill and utilities needed for additional smelters to relocate. The private sector commodity import program has incentives for the import of American environmental technology of which at least one of the firms is taking advantage. USAID will also provide technical expertise to assist city managers and private firms in the 10th of Ramadan City implement an improved environmental management system to address critical environmental challenges facing the city. The Egyptian Environmental Policy Program will assist in developing and implementing the Energy Council Action Plan that will implement an energy efficiency strategy. U.S. experts will assist the Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs, the governorates, and private companies in establishing necessary procedures and training for the vehicle emissions testing program. USAID is assisting municipal bus companies to expand use of CNG buses by providing technical assistance in procurement planning and maintenance. USAID will also investigate the feasibility of continuing its work in supporting the preservation of Egypt's cultural heritage. Possible Adjustments to Plans: None. Other Donor Programs: USAID is the largest donor focusing on management of the environment and natural resources. Two separate donor groups, specifically focused on activities and approaches to environment/energy and water-related programs, are active and meet regularly to coordinate resources and efforts to avoid program duplication. Donor initiatives which complement the USAID program include: the United Nations Development Program's (UNDP) new energy efficiency program; the European Union's regional solid waste landfill activities; Denmark's environmental finance and environmental quality monitoring activities; Canada's industrial pollution and capacity building projects; World Bank's rehabilitation of drainage systems program; Netherlands and Italy's water management activities; and the World Bank, UNDP, and Canada's joint Nile River Basin initiatives. Principal Contractors, Grantees, or Agencies: USAID implements ENR activities through contracts with Chemonics International, Hagler Bailly, Bechtel, Winrock International, the International Resources Group, Inc., and grants to the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). Selected Performance Measures: Baseline Target (2000) Target (2001) Real value of agriculture production per unit of water for agriculture use Egyptian pounds (LE) 522 (1998) 549 562 Percentage of Cairo's 1.2 million vehicle fleet that meets vehicle emission environmental standards 0% (1999) 0% 3% Coral Reef Management Index (% of Red Sea dive sites that do not suffer coral degradation) 80% (1997) 88% 90% U.S. Finance Table (Microsoft Excel) ACTIVITY DATA SHEET PROGRAM: Egypt TITLE AND NUMBER: Healthier, Planned Families, 263-020 PROPOSED FY 2000 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $52,422,000 ESF PROPOSED FY 2001 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $48,107,000 ESF STATUS: New/Continuing INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 2000 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2009 Summary: This strategic objective reflects a major redirection of the health and population program. It shifts the priority to capacity strengthening and sustainability and focuses on families rather than simply women of reproductive age and their children, an integrated perspective consistent with the Government's vision. With USAID assistance, Egypt has substantially reduced child mortality and fertility and has made considerable progress in establishing a firm foundation for sustainable, effective health and family planning services. Remaining problems in the population and health sector include: stark differences in health status between Upper Egypt and the rest of the country, population momentum which will add nearly 2 million people annually to Egypt's population, low knowledge and awareness of health risks and behavior, and structural deficiencies in the health sector which lessen efficiency and impact. Key Results: This SO will achieve the following results: a) increased use of basic services by the poor and vulnerable; b) adoption of healthy behaviors; and, c) basic services sustained when USAID assistance is phased-out. In the next two years, the focus will be on improving equity of access to basic health services; equipping Egyptian families with the knowledge and skills needed to maintain health and productivity; and strengthening the Egyptian family planning and maternal and child health (MCH) program to meet the growing demand for quality services. Continued reductions in infant mortality and fertility are expected to result from increased use of maternal and child health services and family planning. Performance and Prospects: Previously separate health and population programs are merged under a unified Strategic Objective (SO) to maximize efficiencies and impact. USAID will continue to support a full-range of activities including training of health workers, technical and management assistance, applied research, public health commodities, equipment and supplies, health facility renovation, operational costs of service delivery, and policy analysis and implementation (with sector policy cash transfers). Prospects are good for the achievement of significant results by the end of FY2001. A new, improved package of maternal and child health services will be available in 60 under-served districts in Upper Egypt. The range of contraceptive options available will be broadened. Immunization coverage levels of over 90% will be maintained, and Egypt will be on the threshold of eradicating polio. Services will be improved through: (1) an expansion of the "Gold Star" family planning quality assurance program; (2) the launching of a new quality assurance program for maternal and child health services; and, (3) the implementation of a new accreditation program for family health clinics. Over the next two years, emerging and endemic infectious disease prevention will be improved through: (1) the completion of a program of research on hepatitis C to determine how it is transmitted, and the launching of a national prevention program based on this research; (2) the establishment of a virology lab to meet national training and research needs; (3) completion of the first steps towards the development of a vaccine against schistosomiasis; (4) improvement of the quality and safety of the national blood transfusion service; (5) strengthening the national infectious disease surveillance and control program to more effectively prevent and respond to infectious disease threats. By the end of FY 2001, sustainability of family planning and maternal and child health services will be enhanced through support based on the achievement of benchmarks under USAID's health sector reform program. These include: (1) an increase in Ministry of Health and Population expenditures on primary and preventive health care by 10% annually; (2) development of a "Family Health" service model and a fund to pay providers for services based on quality and efficiency; and (3) the establishment of a public-private sector partnership to allow the public sector to accredit and contract private and NGO providers to deliver family health services. Prospects are good for the accomplishment of other activities important for sustainability such as: (1) the identification of an NGO to receive a local currency endowment; (2) the launching of a new national initiative to promote health, prevent communicable and non-communicable disease, and lower the unsustainable costs of curative care; and (3) the assumption by the Ministry of Health of some of the costs of contraceptive commodities currently borne by USAID; The participation of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) will increase in this same period through a new NGO program in the population and health sector to develop NGO capacity to deliver family planning and maternal and child health services and promote health; and the award of 100 grants to NGOs to focus on the health needs of Upper Egypt. Human and institutional capacity will be strengthened by the end of 2001 through: (1) implementation of a comprehensive management training program; (2) graduate training for "Young Leaders"; (3) a new "Family Doctor" training initiative; (4) improved family planning/reproductive health and maternal and child health training in Egypt's medical and nursing schools; and (5) improved support systems (e.g. planning, health information, logistics). The high level of GOE commitment to population and maternal and child health strongly suggests that further progress is feasible over the next ten years. The Ministry of Health and Population has a clear mandate to provide public health services to the poor and vulnerable, a good service delivery track record, and the infrastructure for widespread impact (over 4,000 service sites). Stabilizing Egypt's population growth and improving maternal and child health are top GOE priorities for which there is long-standing and strong political commitment. President Mubarak often emphasizes the grave implications of population growth for Egypt's economic development. GOE commitment to fundamental reform in the health sector is uncertain. USAID is supporting the first phase of the Government's long-term health sector reform initiative and progress under the program has been encouraging. By the end of FY 2001, USAID will assess whether to continue to support health sector reform if the GOE is prepared to implement further, more politically difficult reforms, particularly reforms which broaden the participation of the private sector. If results of the assessment are encouraging, USAID will develop a new health policy reform agenda to broaden private sector and NGO participation and improve efficiency, equity, and sustainability of basic health services (see SO 16). Possible Adjustments to Plans: USAID plans to phase-out bilateral assistance to the population and health program in FY2009, at the conclusion of the new strategy. In FY 2001, USAID will develop a plan for an orderly phase-out. Other Donor Programs: Collaboration between USAID and the following donors will be especially close: with World Health Organization (WHO) on our mutual goal of strengthening Egypt's infectious disease surveillance and control capacity; with UNICEF to assist Egypt to achieve it's maternal and child health goals; with the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) to assist Egypt achieve its goal of replacement level fertility by 2015; and with the European Union and the World Bank to coordinate support for Egypt's health sector reform initiative. Principal Contractors, Grantees or Agencies: U.S. implementing organizations include John Snow Inc., Maximus, Abt Associates, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, University of Maryland, Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU-3), Program Appropriate Technology and Health (PATH), and Wellstart International. UNICEF is also an implementing agency. Activities under SO 4 and SO 5 will be extended as necessary to ensure a smooth and timely start-up of SpO 20. The MOHP will continue to be a principal partner; USAID will also work in close cooperation with other government ministries, notably the Ministry of Information (on health education and promotion) and the Ministry of Higher Education (on medical and nursing education). The participation of the NGO community and the private health sector will be significantly increased through the life of the SO. Selected Performance Measures: Baseline (1999) Target (2000) Target (2001) Total Fertility Rate (TFR) 3.4 (1998) 3.1 3.0 Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) 45.5 (1998) 44 42 Percent of births whose mothers received four or more antenatal visits 33% 37% 40% Percent children 0-23 months with diarrhea in the past two weeks who received oral rehydration therapy (ORT) 39% 40% 40% MOHP expenditures for primary/preventive health care per capita LE 19 (1998) LE 20 LE 21 U.S. Finance Table (Microsoft Excel) ACTIVITY DATA SHEET PROGRAM: Egypt TITLE AND NUMBER: Egyptian Initiatives in Governance and Participation Strengthened, 263-021 PLANNED FY 2000 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $14,042,000 ESF PROPOSED FY 2001 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $18,650,000 ESF STATUS: New INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 2000 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2009 Summary: This new special objective (SpO) builds on past USAID/Cairo experience, and has been tailored to match the pace and scope of political change in Egypt and to support the Mission's achievement of its other objectives. An environment that encourages private sector job creation and a more sustainable resource base depends upon transparent and accountable governance, which in turn is founded on widespread citizen participation and the ability of institutions to respond. In Egypt today, there are two main forces pressing for reform: private sector actors empowered by economic reforms (who are most interested in improved governance of the economy) and NGOs and other elements of civil society (who are calling for improved and more responsive services). During the 1990s, the GOE became increasingly responsive to the private sector, resulting in numerous improvements to economic governance. Recently the GOE has begun to raise the profile of social development, particularly increased participation for improved services and poverty reduction. This SpO will support changes in economic governance and service delivery--changes for which there is significant governmental and non-governmental support, and which have the potential to expand into broader reforms. In this regard, USAID will continue to support a stronger role for civil society; will introduce the application of innovative models of service delivery, initially in selected "new communities," and will continue to support improvements in the administration of justice. This SpO is explicitly formulated to respond to Egyptian initiatives and therefore its overall contribution to governance and participation depends on the quantity and quality of those initiatives. If there is no further change in the broader political environment, progress will still be made. If there is significant change, USAID will expand activities to strengthen more diverse elements of civil society, and to further extend and institutionalize participation in public decision making and to improve the administration of justice. Key Results: Key results to be achieved are: (1) improved capacity of civil society organizations to participate in development; (2) increased stakeholder collaboration for community level services; and (3) improvements in selected areas of administration of justice. Participation will improve by strengthening the relevant capacities of civil society organizations and by facilitating more stakeholder collaboration in making and implementing policies for community level services. Governance will be favorably impacted through improvements in the administration of justice and by increasing interaction between governmental and non-governmental stakeholders for the provision of services. By the end of FY 2001, both the North Cairo and Ismailia Pilot Court activities improvements will be completed, with substantial progress in the rate of commercial law case resolution, knowledge of commercial law by judges in the two courts measurably improved, business lawyers perception of the pilot court operation improved, The National Center for Judicial Studies training capabilities upgraded and the MOJ committed to nationwide replication of the pilot court model. Results in FY 2000 and FY 2001 focus on strengthening civic action and the service delivery capacity of civil society organizations, launching a new stakeholder participation initiative, and continuing the strengthening of pilot court administration. Performance and Prospects: Three sets of activities are currently planned under the SpO. USAID will establish an NGO Service Center to help civil society organizations become full partners in the development process. The Center will give NGO grants in selected areas, strengthen organizational capacity, and support civil society networking. The activity will also support NGO activities in other sectors supported by USAID. Planned activities under the NGO Service Center activity include: provision of training and technical assistance to strengthen the participation of the Egyptian NGO Advisory Committee; establishing the Center's facilities in Cairo; holding of a series of outreach meetings in upper and lower Egypt; and providing technical assistance and training to 100 civil society organizations. Ninety sub-grants will be provided to a wide range of civil society organizations for increasing both their civic action and service delivery. USAID will also continue to track the implementation of the new non-governmental organization law and its Executive regulations. Egyptian citizens are increasingly demanding public services, which the GOE can not fully satisfy. This has created a receptive climate for new models of local governance emphasizing the link between broader local participation and improved service delivery. In FY 2000, USAID will develop a new activity to improve selected public services through enhanced participation and resource mobilization at the local level, particularly in Egypt's rapidly growing and economically vital new communities. The activity seeks to have a major impact upon citizen-government relations, manifested initially by increased participation in local decision making and improvements in selected local services in pilot communities. Working with governmental and non-governmental stakeholders in these communities, and with the cooperation of relevant central GOE authorities, USAID intends to demonstrate models of participatory local governance which can be widely replicated. A novel feature of the activity is that it will develop markets for local services to be supplied by small and medium enterprises assisted by other USAID strategic objectives and other donors. The Administration of Justice Support Project will be subsumed under this SpO. Planned activities include: validation and replication of North Cairo Court management procedures in the Ismailia Court; testing and validation of software and human re-engineering procedures; continuing expatriate system analysis technical assistance until the automation solutions are robust and suitable to be recommended for adoption nationally; and ensuring that adequate personnel training and staff development have been completed at the pilot courts to assure their sustainability. In the future, USAID expects to significantly expand support to the administration of justice. Further improvements to the adjudication of commercial law as well as possibly engaging with lawyer associations and commerce-related associations are being considered. In addition, USAID is ready to respond to a range of GOE initiatives to increase transparency and promote anti-corruption, including those with implications for the protection of human rights and the improvement of the criminal justice system. USAID will also consider working with the Court of Cassation (Egypt's supreme court) in improving its capability for case management and administration. Public discussion of governance obstacles to Egypt's effective globalization and the provision of services has intensified recently. Transparency, accountability, decentralization, combating corruption-all have been signaled as areas for GOE action under the new cabinet. If the GOE wishes to expand its partnership with USAID by addressing some or all of these areas, the scope of the SpO could be broadened and activities expanded. Possible Adjustments to Plans: None. Other Donor Programs: USAID is the lead donor in the area of governance and participation. Multilateral donors working with civil society organizations include the United Nations Children and Education Fund, the European Union, and the World Bank. Other donors working in rural participation activities include the United Nations Development Program, the World Health Organization, the Netherlands, Canada, Britain, Italy, Denmark and Switzerland. USAID is the only donor working with the Ministry of Justice in support of its procedural reform program. Principal Contractors, Grantees, or Agencies: USAID implements activities through three U.S. Private and Voluntary Organizations (PVOs): The National Council of Negro Women (PVO Development Activity), Save the Children (NGO Service Center), and America-Mideast Educational and Training Services, Inc., Associates for Rural Development, Development Associates, and the Department of State Public Affairs Bureau (Administration of Justice activities) are also partners. Selected Performance Measures: Baseline (1999/2000) Target (2000) Target (2001) Expert assessment of the capacity of civil society organizations to participate in development 15 20 25 Perceived improvement delivery of public services in selected communities as a result of private and public sector collaboration (provisional for one year) 0 10% 20% Selected court systems tested and accepted for replication by the Ministry of Justice 0 0 1 U.S. Finance Table (Microsoft Excel) ACTIVITY DATA SHEET PROGRAM: Egypt TITLE AND NUMBER: Basic Education Improved to Meet Market Demands, 263-022 PLANNED FY 2000 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $14,000,000 ESF PROPOSED FY 2001 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $15,500,000 ESF STATUS: New INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 2000 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2003 Summary: From FY 1997 - FY 1999, USAID provided support to NGOs to develop pilot programs that modeled quality basic education and expanded access for girls and young women. Under this new strategy, the program builds on these efforts and supports quality NGO models (emphasizing girls), improves basic education in under-served areas, increases community participation in school management, and builds English language and job skills. Access to education by girls remains an acute problem in Egypt. It is an impediment to longer-term social and economic growth. Only 69.8% of rural girls in Upper Egypt attend school and the literacy rate of 40.5% for women compared to 64.7% for men illustrates the disparity between female and male access to education [1999 Demographic Health Survey and Human Development Report]. An estimated 1.6 million school-aged girls are not enrolled. Yet an educated, skilled workforce is necessary for Egypt to successfully compete in the global economy. Studies show that national competitiveness tracks closely with average number of years spent in school and adult literacy rates. Egypt's literacy rate lags behind regional competitors. While literacy and universal primary education are necessary, they are not sufficient for a competitive workforce. Skills in English language and information technology are also critical for competitiveness. Therefore, quality English language training and improved school-to-work programs are integral components of the SpO. The SpO is intended to improve basic education in key areas in order to prepare young Egyptians with the skills and problem-solving abilities to meet the quickly changing market demands of the 21st Century. Key Results: Three key results are necessary to achieve this objective: (1) demonstrated models of improved basic education (emphasizing girls and young women); (2) strengthened English language skills and teacher training; and (3) increased capacity of secondary education to meet market demand. By the end of FY 2003, USAID anticipates that the following will be achieved: increased primary school enrollment by at least 28,800 girls annually; improved learner pass rates of 5% per year in targeted areas; improved health, literacy and life skills of adolescent women in rural areas; completed construction or renovation of approximately 814 classrooms in under-served areas of Upper Egypt; increased parent and community participation in education and school management; improved knowledge of English by teachers and students to increase access to the information highway and build job skills; institutionalized systems whereby the private sector (profit and not-for-profit) and parents influence decision-making at the local school and national levels; introduced an Egyptian "Sesame Street" to help reduce Egypt's high primary school drop-out rate and to better prepare millions of Egyptian children for primary school; initiated entry-level employment requirements reflected in secondary education electives and vocational training; and expanded school-to-work options through increased linkages between prospective employers and employees. Performance and Prospects: In FY 2000 and FY 2001, USAID will be assisting the New Schools Program in school construction and renovation in Minya Governorate in Upper Egypt (which includes the greatest number of non-enrolled girls). Technical assistance for the New Schools Program will be used to train parents and community leaders to effectively participate in and manage the schools, to train teachers in new methodologies, and to begin to equip the new schools and teachers with modern and innovative materials and training. A core group of Master Teachers will be trained in Egypt and the United States to support the New Schools Program and to build capacity within Faculties of Education (strengthening both pre-service and in-service training). Successful NGO models of formal and non-formal basic education begun under SO 2, and subsumed into SpO 22, will continue to expand in targeted areas. For example, the "New Horizons" programs will be expanded in other parts of Egypt--working in collaboration with the Ministry of Education--to provide continued health, literacy and life-skills training for adolescent young women and men who are not enrolled in school. Under the Integrated English Language Training-II program, continued training of teachers, supervisors and Ministry of Education officials will occur, building toward an eventual impact on 50,000 teachers and 722,000 learners. This program improves English language training in the public and private sectors to help Egyptians to successfully compete in the global economy. The program builds on existing systems within the Egyptian Government system to improve pre- and in-service teacher training and is being integrated into the Ministry of Education for longer-term sustainability. This will also bring about a required reform in school testing. It also supports private-sector-oriented training as "English for Occupational Purposes" to improve language skills. In FY 2000, USAID will initiate a secondary education electives activity that links private sector job requirements with public sector secondary education. The purpose is to improve school-to-work skills and the capacity of secondary education to meet market demand for workforce knowledge and skills. Collaboration with the World Bank and the Ministry of Education in support of the Secondary Education Enhancement Program will be important to activity success. Technical assistance will help establish linkages between employers, job seekers and students, and allow the private sector to provide input to the secondary education electives curriculum. It will also be provided to partner private sector firms with local schools and parent committees. Workforce development services that promote accurate labor market information will be supported and the educational system assisted to design market responsive programs and curricula. Planned activities include teacher and management training, the development of an evaluation methodology to measure teacher and student performance, and the documentation of the process for replication in other areas of Egypt. Subcommittee IV (Education and Human Resources) of the U.S.-Egypt Partnership for Economic Growth and Development promotes a public-private partnership between the Ministry of Education and the private sector to increase access to technology for both schools and communities. Possible Adjustments to Plans: None. Other Donor Programs: Donor coordination in education is strong, with regular donor meetings to discuss programs and priorities. USAID is the third largest donor in basic education. The World Bank and the European Union have initiated a complementary $200 million Basic Education program including teacher training, educational technology and selected activities to increase access to primary schools. The third element of USAID's strategy involves public-private partnerships and cooperation with the European Union and the World Bank to provide technical assistance support for relevant elements of a World Bank secondary education development program (school-to-work sector). The World Bank, the German Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the multi-donor supported Social Development Fund are financing school construction. Canada and the United Nations Children and Education Fund are collaborating on an innovative, community small school program in geographic regions complementary to USAID's. The Government of Egypt contribution is approximately $16 million over six years to complement USAID activities. Principal Contractors, Grantees or Agencies: CARE International (New Schools Program); Save the Children (girls' scholarships); Centre for Development and Population Activities (adolescent life skills activities); Plan International (urban community school pilot); Academy for Educational Development (curriculum and teacher training); and Children's Television Workshop (Egyptian "Sesame Street"). Selected Performance Measures: Baseline (1999) Target (2000) Target (2001) Previously not enrolled girls participating in education through the New Schools Program in Upper Egypt 0 1,435 10,520 Girls' pass rate in third year exams in USAID supported schools (Baseline: 65% is pass rate for Ministry schools) 65% 70% 75% Number of Egyptian NGOs, community development associations, parent/teacher councils participating in delivery of girls' education in target areas 0 8 99 Increased number of teachers and teacher trainers using modern, communicative teaching methods 6,560 12,060 16,560 Number of business/industry and school-to-work program linkages 0 0 8 U.S. Finance Table (Microsoft Excel) ACTIVITY DATA SHEET PROGRAM: Egypt TITLE AND NUMBER: Accelerated Private Sector-led, Export-oriented Economic Growth, 263-001 STATUS: Strategy revised in FY 2000; see new SO 16, SpO 18 and SO 19 INITIAL OBLIGATON: FY 1996 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2000 Summary: The greatest threat to Egypt's stability and, thus, its leadership in the Middle East is the continued high level of poverty among its people. Increased employment, necessary to reduce poverty, requires accelerated economic growth. The result this strategic objective's (SO) seeks is to double the rate of broad-based economic growth from 2.9% in 1994 to 6% by 2001. Direct beneficiaries include private sector businesses and employees who produce goods and services for export and domestic markets. Other significant beneficiaries are from the country's poorest--the four million small farmers, landless laborers and women who produce and process horticultural and agricultural commodities, and the three million non-agricultural informal sector micro-entrepreneurs. Key Results: To achieve the SO, five key results are necessary. One, a policy environment must exist which creates the conditions for the private sector investment climate to change from being "mostly unfree" to "mostly free." Two, increased agricultural productivity as measured by the value of agricultural production per 1,000 cubic meters of water needs to increase to the equivalent of $138. Three, exports must increase by $297 million per year in targeted sectors--fresh and processed agricultural products, spinning/weaving, leather products, furniture and software. Four, financial markets need to be strengthened and privatization accelerated. And, five, access to reliable power and telecommunications services must continue to expand, increasing annual energy sales to the business sector to 4,539 million kilowatt hours and the cumulative number of telephone lines available to businesses to 900,000. Performance and Prospects: The broadest measure of Egypt's progress is the real gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate, which hit 6% for the last fiscal year, two years earlier than expected. The acceleration is due, in part, to rapid growth of the private sector's share of the economy. In 1996, the private sector contributed only 63% of GDP. In calendar year (CY) 1999, the private sector share will be more than 70%. This is partially due to the Government of Egypt's (GOE's) successful privatization program, which privatized over 30 firms in 1999, representing more than 10% of all state-owned enterprises. Private sector non-petroleum exports rose to $2.8 billion in 1999, up from $1.69 billion in 1998. These gains were somewhat subdued when, Egypt's currency being tied to the U.S. dollar, the dollar appreciated nearly 15% compared to the Euro dollar. As a result, Egypt may have an increasingly difficult time exporting to its major overseas market. Total non-petroleum exports rose only 1%. In 1999, the Sector Policy Reform program (SPR), a cash transfer policy reform program, met the following benchmarks: (1) provision of port services liberalized; (2) accounting standards for insurance companies in line with international standards established; (3) law allowing property to be secured modernized; and (4) the use of the private sector to build and operate infrastructure such as power plants accelerated. SPR had large pipelines in the past but, based on the current pace of reform, USAID expects that the pipeline will be fully disbursed by June 2000. The Agricultural Policy Reform Program (APRP) emphasizes reforms in five categories important for increasing agricultural sector productivity and liberalizing the agricultural sector: 1) prices, markets and trade; 2) private investment and privatization; 3) efficiency of agricultural land and water resources utilization and investment; 4) agricultural support services; and 5) food security. In 1999, this program's greatest achievement was the continued liberalization of cotton. For the first time since the 1960s, the GOE did not set a floor price or target planting areas for the cotton-marketing season. Nor was there a minimum export price set on cotton lint. The result was that cotton exports exceeded 100 million kilograms. Furthermore, private sector participation in spinning and weaving continued to increase and accounted for 30% and 61% of the market, respectively. USAID expects these trends to continue. Through coordinated activities, USAID aids the private sector to increase exports of high-value horticulture commodities and to enhance the competitiveness of sector-specific Egyptian firms by meeting the stringent standards required in world markets. The combination of faster adoption of new technologies, technical assistance, and more availability of market information resulted in excellent growth in the sectors where USAID is concentrating its efforts. Grape exports, for example, increased 40% and strawberry exports doubled in the past year. USAID's Private Sector Commodity Import Program (PRCIP), privatization, small and micro-enterprise, and capital market development activities also performed well in 1999. Since 1986, the PRCIP has stimulated productive investments through financing the importation of approximately $2.3 billion worth of products from the United States. During FY 1999, the program financed 627 commercial transactions totaling $233 million. USAID also provided necessary technical assistance to support the GOE's privatization program and, since 1991, over 100 state-owned enterprises (SOEs) have been privatized through sale to investors, employees, public offerings or sales to anchor investors. In the first year of implementation of assistance to the Egyptian capital market, USAID assistance has helped improve capital market efficiency and transparency through a series of new reforms, including executive decrees authorizing bond dealers and a settlement guarantee fund to protect the financial integrity of the capital market system. Since 1990, USAID has supported activities expanding credit for small and micro-enterprises (SMEs), and created six sustainable NGOs and one private commercial bank program. Collectively, these entities have made over 500,000 SME loans, with a repayment rate of 98%, valued at approximately $410 million to over 200,000 borrowers that otherwise had no access to credit. In addition, the USAID-assisted Credit Guarantee Corporation extended approximately 15,000 guarantees valued at $235 million to support $457 million in new credit to small business in the same time period. In the first three quarters of 1999, 96,164 new loans valued at $167 million were made to 34,389 SMEs through USAID-supported entities. More than 90% of these borrowers had no prior access to credit from formal financial institutions. USAID estimates that approximately 167,000 new jobs have been created over the life of the program. The power sector program and earlier successful USAID initiatives have financed the installation and rehabilitation of over 40% of Egypt's total power generating capacity. As a result, more than 97% of the Egyptian population now has electricity. The Egyptian Electricity Authority has started to export a small amount of power to Jordan. Through its telecommunications activities, USAID has helped provide reliable telephone service to over six million Egyptians. USAID is helping re-engineer Egypt's telecommunications services provider to allow the partial privatization of local telephone service during CY 2000. Adjustment to Plans: This SO terminated with the approval of the new strategy in FY 2000. On-going activities have been subsumed under the new strategy's SOs 16, 18 and 19. Remaining implementation and any additional obligations in FY 2000 will be under SO 16, Environment for Trade and Investment Strengthened, SpO 18, Access to Sustainable Utility Services in Selected Areas Increased, or in SO 19, Management of the Environment and Natural Resources in Targeted Sectors Improved. Selected Performance Measures: Baseline (1994) Actual (1999) Target (2000) Real GDP Growth 2.9% 6.0% 5.5% Private Sector Share of GDP 61.7% 74.0% 67.2% Value of Non-Petroleum Exports ($ billions) 1.5 3.4 4.4 U.S. Finance Table (Microsoft Excel) ACTIVITY DATA SHEET PROGRAM: Egypt TITLE AND NUMBER: Increased Participation of Girls in Quality Basic Education, 263-002 STATUS: Strategy revised in FY 2000; see new SpO 22 INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1996 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2000 Summary: Girls' access to education remains an acute problem in Egypt. Program implementation began in early FY 1997, building on an earlier USAID Basic Education project that constructed almost 2,000 schools. From FY 1997 - FY 1999, USAID supported NGOs who developed pilot programs to expand girls' participation in quality basic education, largely through innovative programs that developed quality models and built community-based school support and management. Key Results: To date, USAID has improved the lives of 41,489 Egyptian girls and young women through the provision of critical health information, life skills and basic education opportunities. USAID has also supported strengthened advocacy skills among leadership at national, governorate and community levels, contributing to an increase in girls' enrollments. USAID has (1) provided a total of 14,400 full scholarships for 4,800 girls over three school years and financial assistance to another 9,845 children (80% for girls); (2) mobilized leadership at the national, governorate and community levels by training 2,052 community leaders and 291 youth leaders, leading to increased enrollments in girls' education; (3) provided adolescent life skills, health information and literacy training for 14,955 girls and young women in rural communities; (4) provided educational support to 15,036 children and youth to build skills; (5) improved general and reproductive health knowledge for 5,785 girls and young women; (6) strengthened the capacity of local institutions to plan and implement sustainable programs through 24 technical workshops and 810 training support visits; and (7) piloted five urban schools for disadvantaged areas in Cairo which now serve in part as quality community-based models for the New Schools Program (to be implemented in targeted areas of Upper Egypt under SpO 22). Performance and Prospects: To achieve these results, USAID addressed three necessary conditions: (1) appropriate supply of facilities or classrooms for pilot activities in underserved areas; (2) an increased demand for girls' and quality educational service, including mobilizing community involvement in the development, construction and operation of community-based pilot schools; and (3) improved quality of teaching and learning practices, based on new learner-centered methodologies and innovative materials to enhance the standard curriculum. The NGO-run alternative models have had good success in expanding access and quality of basic education to girls and young women. Under the new strategy, USAID will work with the World Bank and other donors to explore replication possibilities. Expansion of community-based new schools has strong support from the GOE, governors and local communities. Although progress in improving teaching and learning practices has been constrained to a small sub-set of the curriculum, the new strategy proposes a more focused, if modest, activity related to the quality of instruction. USAID will be coordinating policy dialogue with other donors, and through a multi-focal approach. Adjustments to Plans: USAID has amended its previous community school strategy to better match solutions to local needs and Government of Egypt priorities. This process began in 1997 and was completed with the November 1999 selection of CARE International for the award of a Cooperative Agreement to implement the New Schools Program. A new strategy was approved in January 2000. The new strategy (SpO22) includes many of the activities previously funded under this SO and builds on these successful models. Selected Performance Measures: Baseline Actual (1999) Percentage of girls (aged 6-10) in rural Upper Egypt enrolled in school (Source: 1999 Egypt Demographic Health Survey) 54.5% (1995) 69.8% Girls receiving quality basic education through USAID interventions 600 (1997) 41,489 Girls receiving literacy and life skills training 0 (1997) 27,064 Preschool children better prepared for school by Egyptian "Sesame Street" 0 (1998) 0* (1999) * Broadcast premiere March 2000 Target: 2 million children in 2000 U.S. Finance Table (Microsoft Excel) ACTIVITY DATA SHEET PROGRAM: Egypt TITLE AND NUMBER: Increased Citizen Participation in Public Decision-Making, 263-003 STATUS: Strategy revised in FY 2000; see new SpO 21 INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1996 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2000 Summary: To sustain Egypt's economic and social development, it is vital that citizens are able to participate effectively with the government in the national development process. This results in a development process that is responsive to public needs and priorities. The purpose of this Strategic Objective (SO) is to increase citizens' participation in the decision-making process. Thus, USAID assistance has focused on increasing the effectiveness of civil society organizations, one of the means through which citizens can participate in public decision-making. USAID-supported technical assistance, training and sub-grants reach local civil society organizations representing millions of citizens. In addition, recognizing that civil society organizations (CSO) are not be able to participate effectively without an enabling legal and regulatory environment, USAID is encouraging Government of Egypt efforts to improve the legal and regulatory framework for the operation of civil society organizations. Key Results: SO performance overall has been mixed. Two key results are necessary for progress in increasing citizen participation in public decision-making: (1) increased CSO participation in public decision making; and (2) reduced restrictions on CSOs. Progress on increasing CSO's participation in public decision-making continues, as does, to some extent, the reduction of restrictions on non-governmental organizations. SO activities promoting the devolution of authority at the local level have had disappointing results and, therefore, USAID has terminated its support in this area. USAID's civil society support efforts have proven effective in strengthening the organizational, managerial and technical capabilities of CSOs, allowing for more effective and wider participation in various development activities. Measured in terms of number of significant, well-planned actions taken by CSOs to influence public decision-making (e.g., public information and education campaigns, media events, community awareness programs), in 1999, performance exceeded the set target of 20 documented actions and reached 36 such actions. Performance and Prospects: As mentioned above, the result pertaining to devolution of authority has been disappointing. On the other hand, performance with regard to the principle two results continues to show progress. To increase civil society organization participation in public decision-making, the Private Voluntary Organization (PVO) Development activity and the new Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Service Center program provided training, technical assistance, and grants to strengthen CSO capabilities and finance CSO development activities. To date, grants to CSOs have already benefited over 35,000 direct beneficiaries, 48% of whom are females. For the past two years, the PVO Development activity, which ends in January 2000, focused on civil society organization advocacy as well as continued support to development initiatives. It provided grants to U.S. PVOs and Egyptian CSOs to implement initiatives with a greater focus on advocacy in sectors such as credit for micro-enterprises, community development, environment, health and population. According to the activity's final impact evaluation, conducted in December 1999, "the Project has been successful in achieving its purpose of strengthening Egyptian non-governmental organizations' capabilities, and has contributed to its goal of improving the quality of life for the poor with the recent emphasis on increased citizen participation in public decision making." During 1999, 11 advocacy-related activity grants were awarded to U.S. PVOs and Egyptian NGOs, bringing the total number of grant awards under the program since its start in 1992 to 92 totaling $20 million. These 11 awards focused on increasing the awareness, integration and participation in their communities of different groups of the society. The activities under the grants resulted in (1) increased women's awareness of their legal rights, health and environmental problems; (2) increased women's political participation; (3) increased community awareness of the problem of street children; (3) integrated disadvantaged groups in the community; and (4) enhanced community participation and mobilization in solving community issues. To promote networking among NGOs and further increase awareness of their roles and significant contributions to civil society, a second symposium on Citizen Participation in Public Decision-Making was held in October 1999. The symposium was widely attended by representatives from Egyptian civil society, U.S. PVOs, and representatives of donor organizations, government institutions, the media and interested individuals. A "Best Practices" competition was held among the Egyptian private voluntary organizations to recognize their contributions in the area of promoting citizen participation. Awards were given to a select number of Egyptian NGOs that had a significant impact in their communities through the implementation of development or advocacy-based activities. In May 1999, Parliament passed a new non-governmental organization law. Concerns were expressed by various elements of Egyptian civil society and by many donors about a number of its provisions, especially those dealing with permissible activities and foreign funding. The Executive Regulations, which detail how the law should be applied, were issued in November 1999. They appear to have positively addressed many of those concerns. USAID will track the actual application of the new law and its Executive Regulations. Adjustments to Plans: A new strategy was approved in January 2000. The new SpO 21 continues on-going previously funded under this Strategic Objective and any remaining obligations for those activities. Selected Performance Measures: Baseline (1998) Target (1999) Target (2000) Significant, well-planned actions taken by civil society organizations to influence public decision-making e.g., public information and education campaigns, media event, community awareness programs. 0 36 66 U.S. Finance Table (Microsoft Excel) ACTIVITY DATA SHEET PROGRAM: Egypt TITLE AND NUMBER: Reduced Fertility, 263-004 STATUS: Strategy revised in FY 2000; see new SpO 20 INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1997 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2000 Summary: The objective of this program is to reduce the total fertility rate from 3.9 in FY 1992 to 3.0 in FY 2001 in support of the GOE's goal of reaching replacement fertility by the year 2015. Egypt has made substantial progress in reproductive health and family planning services with USAID technical and financial assistance. As a result of increasing contraceptive prevalence and declining fertility, the population growth rate has decreased from 2.8% to 2.1% over the past ten years. Improved birth spacing resulting from family planning has also helped reduce infant, child and maternal mortality. Key Results: Survey results indicate an increased use of family planning services--contraceptive prevalence rate increased to 52% in 1998, up from 38% in 1988, while the total fertility rate declined from 5.2 children per family in 1980 to 3.4 in 1998. The USAID program has also strengthened the capacity of Egyptian family planning systems. Sustainability has improved as the GOE contribution to the total cost of the Egyptian family planning program has increased both in real terms and, as a percentile share, reached 49% in 1997. Performance and Prospects: The USAID population program is meeting its objectives and performance is generally on track, as indicated above. More effective longer-term contraceptive methods continue to increase their share of the overall method mix. Contraceptive usage is growing fastest in rural areas, in Upper Egypt, and among poorly educated women, showing that the program's strategic emphasis on reaching the poorest, least-served segments of the population-where the needs are the greatest--is succeeding in closing the historically large gaps among socioeconomic strata and geographic regions. Public and private providers have vastly increased their coverage of the population in the past ten years, but the institutional capacity for management and service provision in both the public and the non-governmental and commercial private sectors has not grown as fast. Information activities have produced near universal awareness and approval of family planning among married women of reproductive age. The policy environment strongly supports voluntary family planning and fertility reduction. An increased role for non-government organizations and more effective partnership with the private sector are the main emphases of USAID policy dialogue with the GOE and its partners. Adjustments to Plans: A new strategy was approved in January 2000. The new SpO 20 subsumes on-going activities previously funded under this SO and any remaining obligations. Selected Performance Measures: Baseline (1992) Target (1998) Total Fertility Rate 3.9 3.4* Contraceptive Prevalence Rate 47 52* GOE Contribution as a % of total budget of the Egyptian family planning program 39.7 49.1** *1999 figures not available. 1998 interim DHS figures shown above. **1998 figure not available, therefore 1997 figure used. U.S. Finance Table (Microsoft Excel) ACTIVITY DATA SHEET PROGRAM: Egypt TITLE AND NUMBER: Sustainable Improvements in the Health of Women and Children, 263-005 STATUS: Strategy revised in FY 2000; see new SpO 20 INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1996 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2000 Summary: The strategic objective is to reduce maternal, infant and young child deaths. Egypt has made impressive gains in reducing morbidity and mortality nationwide. While progress is heartening, important challenges remain: the maternal mortality rate remains unacceptably high; emerging infectious diseases as well as non-communicable diseases contribute to a growing proportion of death, disability, and rising health care costs; and there are marked regional disparities in health status between Upper and Lower Egypt and rural and urban areas. To help Egypt overcome these problems, USAID assistance aims to improve the quality and availability of maternal and child health services (especially in Upper Egypt), control emerging infectious diseases, and ensure the sustainability of critical services through health sector policy reform. Key Results: The child survival program has successfully improved the health of young children, preventing more than 80,000 child deaths annually. The immunization program has raised child immunization coverage rates above 90%. Diarrhea is no longer the principal cause of child deaths in Egypt because of widespread knowledge and use of oral rehydration therapy. The quality of essential obstetric and child health care services available in high-risk areas of Upper Egypt has improved. Infant and under five mortality rates declined by 52% and 61% respectively from 1985 to 1998. Prenatal coverage has improved from 28% in 1995 to 33% in 1998. To strengthen the national surveillance and infectious disease reporting system, six fever hospitals have been upgraded and staff trained in both surveillance and reporting procedures. Baseline data for hepatitis C infection levels have been determined (prevalence in Egypt ranges is in the 15-20% range, the highest in the world). Modes of transmission, magnitude and health care cost for hepatitis C have been assessed to pave the way for effective interventions. Work is proceeding on development of a schistosomiasis vaccine with two vaccine candidates selected and protocols for animal experiments and Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP) fieldwork on human subjects approved. The MOHP met the conditionality for the disbursement of the $15 million Tranche One of the Health Policy Support Program (HPSP). Significant progress has been realized in the articulation and adoption of policy and institutional reforms. A comprehensive Egyptian Health Sector Reform Program, including a revised strategy for the provision of primary health care, has been formally adopted and disseminated. Universal social health insurance coverage for a basic package of services is a key tenet of the reform program. Performance and Prospects: The USAID maternal and child health program continued to exceed expectations. Healthy Mother/Healthy Child activities specifically targeted high-risk areas of Upper Egypt. A basic package of essential reproductive care and child health services has been developed, including activities to prevent female genital mutilation. As the primary providers of health for themselves and their families, mothers are the focal point of these efforts to increase knowledge and improve health behavior in vulnerable households. Strengthening the curricula in medical and nursing schools, combined with practical pre-service and in-service training, is further improving the quality of essential child and reproductive health care. Ensuring that safe delivery care is available to all is the top priority and will save the lives of hundreds of mothers and newborns each year. Efforts to eradicate polio by CY 2003 have reduced reported confirmed cases from 584 in 1992 to 7 in 1999. Reported cases of tetanus among newborns dropped from 1,823 in 1992 to 471 in 1998. Applied research has helped reduce the prevalence of schistosomiasis from 40% to 10% at a sentinel site in a formerly high prevalence area in rural Egypt. However, child survival gains cannot be sustained without a national policy environment that prioritizes resources for these programs. The World Bank and the European Union have joined the collaborative health policy reform initiative. Having successfully met Tranche One benchmarks, Tranche Two benchmarks focus upon further implementation of the reform areas. As a result, the Ministry has now embarked upon a more comprehensive health sector policy reform program. Adjustment to Plans: Activities under this SO will be incorporated into the new strategy under Strategic Objective 20. Other Donor Programs: Collaboration between USAID and the following donors has been especially close: with the World Health Organization (WHO) on our mutual goal of strengthening Egypt's infectious disease surveillance and control capacity; with UNICEF to assist Egypt to achieve it's maternal and child health goals; with the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) to assist Egypt achieve its goal of replacement level fertility by 2015; and with the European Union and the World Bank to coordinate support for Egypt's health sector reform initiative. Principal Contractors, Grantees or Agencies: U.S. implementing organizations include John Snow Inc., Maximus, Abt Associates, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, University of Maryland, Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU-3), Program Appropriate Technology and Health (PATH), and Wellstart International. UNICEF is also an implementing agency. Activities under SO 4 and SO 5 will be extended as necessary to ensure a smooth and timely start-up of SpO 20. The MOHP will continue to be a principal partner; USAID will also work in close cooperation with other government ministries, notably the Ministry of Information (on health education and promotion) and the Ministry of Higher Education (on medical and nursing education). Selected Performance Measures: Baseline (1999) Actual (1999) Target (2000) Infant mortality rate 97.4 (1985) 45.5 49 Under-five child mortality rate 130.1 (1985) 58.0 62 U.S. Finance Table (Microsoft Excel) ACTIVITY DATA SHEET PROGRAM: Egypt TITLE AND NUMBER: Increased Access to Sustainable Water and Wastewater Services, 263-006 STATUS: Strategy revised in FY 2000; see new SpO 18 INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1996 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2000 Summary: Egypt has made significant progress in increasing the numbers of urban dwellers with access to piped water (90%) and wastewater services (56%), with sewerage networks serving 50% of urban areas. USAID's investment of approximately $2.5 billion for the water and wastewater sector over the past 20 years has contributed significantly to the provision of new or enhanced water and wastewater services for about one in three Egyptians. However, the GOE's inability to raise financial resources to meet growing demand is now critical since only one-fifth of the investment requirements can be covered by the GOE's budget. Nor does the GOE have the resources to assure that funds will be available to continue operating and maintaining systems as planned, as well as finance expansion to meet unmet demand and keep pace with urban growth. Thus, since 1996, USAID's assistance has focused on expanding sustainable water and wastewater services in urban centers of economic growth where the maximum number of people can benefit and encouraging private sector participation where possible. The purpose was twofold: to increase Egyptians' access to improved and sustainable potable water from 22.3 million in 1995 to 26.7 million in FY 2004 and to increase access to wastewater services in selected urban areas from 18.6 million in 1995 to 24.1 million by FY 2004. In parallel with its efforts to increase the number of Egyptians enjoying improved water and wastewater services through new or upgraded infrastructure, USAID is placing increased emphasis on supporting legal and regulatory reform in the sector in order to create an enabling environment for private sector participation and to improve services for customers. Key Results: Three key intermediate results are necessary to achieve the strategic objective: (1) improved sustainability for selected water and wastewater utilities through the coverage of full operations and maintenance costs by generated revenues; (2) improved decentralized utility management, measured by the increases in independent decision-making on personnel policy, budget and revenue retention; and (3) improved capacity to deliver utility services through improved systems and qualified staff. USAID assistance is supporting a shift away from central government responsibility for planning, constructing, and financing basic services towards local utility autonomy and responsibility for operating on a commercial basis responsive to consumer needs. Performance and Prospects: Steady progress continued over the past year in support of expanded service coverage, improved operations and maintenance, increased cost recovery, and legal and regulatory reform of the municipal water/wastewater sector. New infrastructure activities are being initiated in Alexandria, Luxor, Mansoura, Aswan, Fayoum, Beni Suef, Minia, and South Sinai governorates. Meanwhile, as a result of comprehensive USAID-financed institutional support, targeted utilities have made impressive and consistent gains in recovery of operation and maintenance costs through improved metering and billing systems, stricter fiscal controls and improved accounting procedures. At the water/wastewater sector level, significant progress has been made towards comprehensive legal and regulatory reform aimed at increasing autonomy and promoting commercial management of local utilities, as well as encouraging private financing and management of services. Regulatory reform will establish incentives for local utilities to evolve from subsidized service providers towards public enterprises capable of managerial autonomy and financial self-sufficiency, and will encourage private investment by providing investors and lenders with confidence that capital investments will yield reasonable returns. USAID is also assisting the GOE to formalize the process for managing the competitive award of private concessions. USAID technical assistance helps the GOE mobilize private investment by building GOE capacity in assuring the transparency of the award process and in structuring financially feasible projects. Possible Adjustments to Plans: In FY 2000, as part of the Mission's new strategic plan, this SO will be replaced by SpO 18, a new infrastructure special objective covering the water, wastewater, power and telecommunications sectors. On-going activities will be migrated as of the end of FY 1999, with remaining obligations made under SpO 18. Other Donor Programs: USAID is the largest donor in the sector. Other donors include the European Union, Great Britain and Italy in Cairo; Denmark in Aswan and Qena Governorates; and the Netherlands in Fayoum. Several donors in Upper Egypt provide institutional strengthening support that complements USAID activities. Principal Contractors, Grantees or Agencies: USAID implements the program through eleven major U.S. firms: ABB SUSA, Morrison-Knudsen Co., Morganti Inc., Black & Veatch International, Camp Dresser & McKee, CH2M-Hill, Harza Engineering Co., Metcalf & Eddy Inc., PADCO Inc., Hagler Bailly Inc. and Chemonics International. Subcontracts with other U.S. firms and private Egyptian firms help strengthen service delivery and improve the management, design and construction supervision capabilities in the sector. USAID implements activities in close cooperation with nine local economic utility organizations, 12 local governments and the Ministry of Housing, New Communities and Utilities. Major Results Indicators: Baseline (1995) Target (1998) Target (2000) Estimated population connected to improved sewerage systems (in millions) 18.6 20.4 21.1 Estimated population with access to improved water supply (in millions) 22.6 22.8 23.1 U.S. Finance Table (Microsoft Excel) ACTIVITY DATA SHEET PROGRAM: Egypt TITLE AND NUMBER: Reduced Generation of Air Pollution, 263-007 STATUS: Strategy revised in FY 2000; see new SO 19 INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1996 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2000 Summary: Preliminary data show that levels of particulate, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and lead in selected urban and industrial areas (especially Greater Cairo and Alexandria) generally exceed international ambient standards. Industrial pollution is the central threat to Egypt's urban environment, and fossil fuel combustion is a primary contributor to air pollution problems. Open burning of trash contributes to high levels of particulate matter in the air, and inadequate collection of solid waste is often reported by Egyptians to be the primary environmental concern. Serious health problems resulting from air pollution include respiratory illnesses, birth defects, neurological damage and blood lead poisoning. Collaborating with the GOE and the private sector, USAID has implemented activities related to air pollution reduction for several years. USAID assistance has helped improve energy use efficiency and encouraged widespread pollution prevention in industry, including introducing a model of industrial self-compliance in one large industrial city. USAID support aims to achieve a sustainable reduction in the generation of air pollution through policy, regulatory and institutional reform, underpinned by successful pilot activities and new technology applications. Pollutants targeted include airborne lead and total suspended particulates. Improved environmental management is helping to enhance the health of Egyptians, especially urban dwellers. Individuals most vulnerable to the negative health effects of air pollution, such as the very old and very young, women, asthmatics and those with unusual occupational exposure, will enjoy special benefits. Egyptians in general stand to gain long-term economic, social and health benefits from the reduced generation of air pollution Key Results: USAID focuses on reducing airborne lead and particulates through the introduction of new technologies, public awareness campaigns and technical training. The Cairo Air Improvement Project directly addresses air pollution issues by demonstrating technologically and economically viable environmental solutions. As a result of activities under this SO, Egypt is increasingly using compressed natural gas (CNG) as an alternative fuel to gasoline. To date, 12,000 cars, including taxis, have been converted to CNG. The Cairo Governor has issued a decree requiring all mini-buses to be CNG-fueled in order to renew licenses and registration, and the Governor of Alexandria is promoting CNG use in that city. Vehicle Emissions Testing (VET) has been introduced and 25,000 vehicles have been tested. 85% of gasoline in Egypt is now unleaded. Cairo's lead smelters, major sources of air pollution, will be relocated outside Cairo and away from densely populated areas. These activities will have a measurable impact on air quality in Cairo and should reduce the incidence of air pollution related diseases. Performance and Prospects: Activities within this SO include (1) the introduction of compressed natural gas fuel technology for Cairo's municipal bus fleet; (2) implementation of a lead smelter action plan to reduce lead emissions; (3) a city-wide vehicle tune-up, emission inspection and certification program; (4) air quality monitoring and analysis; (5) public awareness and communications campaigns; and (6) dialogue on other urban air pollution problems. Greater Cairo's first vehicle emission testing station has been constructed and a massive on-road testing program to promote public awareness of emissions issues and to establish a baseline for the VET program has tested the emissions of 25,000 vehicles. The GOE has also recently issued a decree requiring that all imported vehicles have catalytic converters. Five Egyptian ministries along with the Federation of Egyptian Industries and the Egyptian Chambers of Commerce approved the issuance of new vehicle emission standards. Five CNG demonstration buses are operating and 24 of the 50 CNG rolling chassis procured through the Cairo Air Improvement Project (CAIP) have arrived. The mounting of the Egyptian bus bodies (financed by the GOE) has started. Cairo's largest private lead smelter owner and two smaller smelter owners signed a contract with the GOE to relocate their smelters outside of central Cairo where they will operate with state-of-the-art emission reduction technology. Steady progress is being made by the GOE to completely shift to unleaded gasoline, with 85% of gasoline now unleaded. Based on data from the 36 air quality monitoring stations, "environmental hot spots" have been identified. The implementation of the Egypt Environmental Policy Program (EEPP) has been initiated. The EEPP encourages and supports jointly agreed-to policy and institutional reforms aimed at removing obstacles to sound environmental management. This effort builds on USAID past experience in areas such as energy efficiency, industrial pollution, public awareness, private sector and non-governmental organizational cooperation and environmentally sustainable tourism. It reflects the increasing commitment and capability of the GOE to undertake needed and difficult reforms. The program supports policy reform initiatives, technical support, institutional strengthening, selected pilot activities and a comprehensive public awareness program to inform and motivate stakeholder target audiences and customers to support environmental reform. The U.S.-Egypt Partnership for Economic Growth and Development serves as a forum for the setting of jointly agreed-to GOE and USAID environmental agenda. The December 1999 meeting in Cairo of the Partnership's subcommittee on the environment reconfirmed the agreement to focus efforts on public-private partnerships for compliance with the new Egyptian environment law, a strategy for increasing the level of investment in the environment sector, global climate change and improved air quality in Cairo. Adjustments to Plans: A new strategy was approved in January 2000. The new strategy (SO 19) includes many of the activities previously funded under this SO for the management of the environment and natural resources (ENR) in targeted sectors. Any remaining obligations will be made under SO 19. Selected Performance Measures: Baseline (1997) Target (1999) Target (2000) Annual metric tons of lead emissions averted 519 649 675 Cleaner and more efficient energy use: Number of Cairo buses using CNG 0 12 65 Reduced industrial pollution: Industries with Law #4 compliance action plans submitted to EEAA 1 5,000 7,500 U.S. Finance Table (Microsoft Excel) ACTIVITY DATA SHEET PROGRAM: Egypt TITLE AND NUMBER: Natural Resources Managed for Environmental Sustainability, 263-008 STATUS: Strategy revised in FY 2000; see new SO 19 INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1998 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2000 Summary: Egypt has one of the fastest growing tourism industries in the world, based largely upon two key assets: its rich cultural heritage and the spectacular coral reefs of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba. However, rapid tourism growth contributes to uncontrolled, accelerated development along the Red Sea coast and to increased diving and fishing that threaten the extensive coastal reef ecosystem. The purpose of the strategic objective is to foster sustainable management of coastal and marine resources by addressing the policy and institutional weaknesses that allow uncontrolled, non-sustainable tourism growth to threaten the natural resources base. The Egyptian public and private sectors stand to gain long-term economic benefits from sustainable tourism development. Key Results: In collaboration with the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) and the Tourism Development Authority (TDA), USAID has supported a pilot program to help preserve and protect the natural and cultural environment along the Red Sea coast through promoting environmentally appropriate tourism. Key results of the SO include: (1) measurable stabilization and improvement of the condition of the reefs and coastal habitats due to improved and expanded management of coral reef dive sites in the Red Sea; (2) a significant increase in the use of environmentally sensitive construction and management practices for coastal area hotel developments; and (3) a four-fold increase in the GOE contribution to funding the operation and maintenance costs for the Red Sea Park over the past 2 years. Performance and Prospects: A Policy Framework for Environmentally Sustainable Tourism Development in the Egyptian Red Sea was formally signed by the Ministers of Environment, Tourism and Governor of the Red Sea. The Policy Framework is built around three themes: protection and management of natural and cultural resources; facilitation of public/private sector cooperation for environmental sustainability; and private sector environmental management initiatives. It is the product of a highly participatory review process within the Egyptian Government and private investment community. Implementation of the Framework is well underway and includes: (1) preservation of all currently protected coral reef areas through the installation and maintenance of 450 mooring buoys by the local NGO, Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association (HEPCA); (2) installation of an additional 50 moorings in the Northern Islands region of the Red Sea by HEPCA, financed by the private sector; (3) the reopening of five islands in the southern Red Sea to divers; (4) two Red Sea Marine Protectorate rangers stations opened in the Red Sea ports of Hurghada and Quseir; (5) 20 fully trained and equipped rangers assigned to the Red Sea Marine Protectorate; (6) an environmental training and awareness campaign by TDA, which is designed to encourage tourism developers to follow Environmental Impact Analysis (EIA) regulations and to employ construction "Best Practices" at their facilities; (7) the establishment of a Policy Implementation Unit at the TDA which organizes training workshops for hotel developers in EIA requirements and coordinates environmental policies within the TDA and with other agencies; and (8) the start of a new NGO aimed at improving environmental awareness among Tourism Investors. EEAA has approved a draft declaration of the expanded Red Sea Protectorate. The Red Sea Mooring Buoy program is now the largest protected system in the world. Maintaining such a large number of moorings over a 700 kilometer stretch of coastline is challenging but definitely beneficial. Data collected over the last three years on the health of coral reefs in the most heavily dived areas of the Red Sea coast (Hurghada and Safaga) show that previously damaged coral is now re-growing and new damage has been significantly reduced. The Southern Red Sea Islands have been opened to tourism and EEAA has established a visitor's fee collection system. EEAA now collects approximately LE 30,000 per month in user fees for the Southern Islands. This is an important first step to making the Red Sea Protectorate financially sustainable. Adjustments to Plans: A new strategy was approved in January 2000. The new SO 19 includes many of the activities previously funded under this SO for the management of the environment and natural resources (ENR) in targeted sectors (SO 19). Any remaining obligations will be made under SO 19. Selected Performance Measures: Baseline (1997) Target (1999) Target (2000) Percentage of sites where Coral Reef Index does not degenerate 80% 85% 88% Percentage of sites where environmental safeguards are undertaken to eliminate coastal alteration practices which threaten reefs and mangroves 5% 20% 40% The % of the annual O&M costs paid by EEAA's fixed budget will be used. 5% 20% 50% U.S. Finance Table (Microsoft Excel) ACTIVITY DATA SHEET PROGRAM: Egypt TITLE AND NUMBER: Increased Use of Egyptian Universities in Quality, Demand-driven Applied Research, 263-009 STATUS: Terminating INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1996; ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2001 Summary: The valuable resources of Egyptian universities are not properly utilized in finding solutions to Egyptian development problems due to the absence of a relationship between applied research end-users and the universities. The purpose of this special objective is to improve and increase the utilization of Egyptian universities in solving key developmental and technological problems, through joint, demand-driven applied research activities with counterparts from U.S. universities. The beneficiaries are the different end-users whose problems will be addressed by the applied-research activities. These include ultimate beneficiaries such as individuals in a health or education research activity or intermediate beneficiaries, who disseminate the results and recommendations of research. Secondary beneficiaries include the implementing agency of the grant system whose capacity to implement a research grant system will be enhanced. The Egyptian researchers participating in applied research are also secondary beneficiaries, as their research capacity will be enhanced through joint applied research activities. Key Results: Achievements to date include the award of 53 linkage grants funded at $10.5 million to nine Egyptian universities and 43 U.S. universities. Eighteen of these grants are with eleven historically black colleges and universities. A recent sample of 41 of the grants indicated that 100% met the requirement for cost sharing, some by as much as 133%, greatly exceeding the target of 50%. Furthermore, 87.5% of the grants showed economic returns on investments in research of greater than 30%, which exceeds the activity target of 25%. Performance and Prospects: An external assessment indicated that the project has responded to end-users' needs and has also resulted in new respect for, and confidence in, the ability of Egyptian university scholars to solve "real world" end-user problems. The project has strengthened and institutionalized the process of utilizing university researchers and encouraged long-term relationships between participating Egyptian and U.S. universities. It has also developed and sustained a strong relationship between Egyptian universities and end-users by a demand-driven research process, actively involving these end-users in each stage of the applied research process. The project has emphasized assistance to private sector end-users and solving problems related to private sector growth and development. USAID has provided technical assistance in project and financial management, technical assistance from U.S. universities to help Egyptian counterpart universities with the design and conduct of applied research addressing Egyptian end-user problems in various sectors, and procurement of needed laboratory equipment. Adjustments to Plans: This activity will terminate in 2001 and will not be incorporated into the new mission strategy. Other Donor Programs: No other foreign or international donors are involved in this area. The Government of Egypt (GOE) and Egyptian end-users benefiting from the research are contributing an average of 40% of the local currency costs of the activity. Principal Contractors, Grantees or Agencies: The main contractor providing technical assistance is Mendez-England and Associates, which provides assistance in financial and project management to the principal implementing agency and the Foreign Relations Coordination Unit of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Universities. The grantees are the Egyptian and U.S. universities receiving applied research grants. One third of the grants are devoted to linkages with historically black colleges and universities. Selected Performance Measures: The selected indicators below measure success of research activities and will be measurable only after these grants are implemented in 2000. An assessment measuring these indicators will be conducted in the second half of 2000.   Baseline (1996) Actual (1998) Target (1999) Target (2000) Full Grants 0 41 50 60 Percent of implemented research grants with significant end-user cost sharing 0 100 50 50 Percent of completed grants having an internal rate of return greater than 30%, based on a sample 0 87 25 25 U.S. Finance Table (Microsoft Excel) ACTIVITY DATA SHEET PROGRAM: Egypt TITLE AND NUMBER: Decision Support Services Project, 263-010 STATUS: Strategy revised in FY 2000; see new SpO 21 INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1996 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2001 Summary: Members of the legislature need relevant and reliable information for use in legislative, advisory and oversight functions. Without improved library and information services and the skills to use these services, members cannot effectively represent popular opinion in public decision making. The purpose of this special objective (SpO) is to enhance the quality and impact of legislative, advisory and oversight functions carried out by the legislature by providing relevant and reliable information services and expanding the use of information. While the ultimate beneficiaries of this SpO are all the citizens of Egypt, the direct beneficiaries are the 454 elected members of the People's Assembly (PA), the 264 members of the Shoura Assembly (SA) and 450 staff of the PA/SA information services and administrative infrastructure. Key Results: The purpose of this SpO is to increase the use of information services by Egyptian legislators as they make decisions. To measure achievements under this activity, USAID has tracked PA/SA actions that indicate that more information is being used in the decision-making process. In FY 1999 both Assemblies, PA and SA, failed to meet the target of 4 and were rated at level 3. (See below for explanation of rating system.) Performance and Prospects: The Decision Support Services project (DSSP) includes the following components: Members' Activities: observational study tours to the U.S. Congress, and possibly other legislatures, to provide comparative insights for leadership for the use of information in the decision-making process and in-house training on the use of computers; Public Policy Information, Research, and Analysis: in-country training and internship opportunities for parliament staff, improved access to policy resources, provision of computer systems and resources to enable the committee and research staff to carry out research functions and training and technical assistance to the parliamentary library to help it transition to a more proactive, user friendly information source; and Institutional Development: training, technical assistance and computers for management and automation and on-the-job training to the training unit to help the parliament institutionalize its activities and functions and ensure sustainability of activity achievements. To date, 3,600 training opportunities in nearly 300 training programs have been delivered. Targeted staff (committee staffers, researchers, librarians and computer staff) have received in-country and overseas training in the areas of economics, political science, law, research methodology, public policy formulation, budgeting and financial analysis, data gathering, use of library and information services and organizational behavior. In addition, 33 orientation and training opportunities have been offered to members of parliament. This included an observational study tour to the U.S. Congress and in-country computer training programs. On March 1999, the PA requested DSSP assistance in developing an electronic documentation system for the Parliament. An initial assessment was made in April 1999, and a system integrator was identified to develop and install the system. The third and last Master of Public Administration student completed studies at SUNY/Albany and began work in the computer center of the Shoura Assembly. During the past year, DSSP has concentrated on upgrading and developing the Parliament's computer network. The initial focus was on upgrading the two central database servers, one in the PA, the other in the SA. The two new systems will enable the Assemblies to integrate their old mainframe applications with new client-server networks in the Parliament. Old data will be migrated to the new system in January 2000. During the remaining period of the project, network expansion will be completed, applications will be developed and staff will be trained in the use of the new system. Adjustments to Plans: In November 1997, some political and technical concerns were raised from within the Parliament. USAID responded positively by adjusting the activity's implementation approach rendering it more acceptable to the Parliament's concerns. The new approach focuses primarily on establishing an adequate campus-wide information network which entails upgrading the two existing mainframes. This will allow the Parliament to achieve the fullest use of the improved analytical and research skills which have already been built through the project; allow a better dissemination of information, and provide access of MPs and staff to a wider information base. As a result, the project was extended to March 31, 2001 with the original results framework unchanged. Activities will be completed under SpO 21 in the new strategy. Selected Performance Measures: Baseline (1996) Actual (1999) Target (2000) Target (2001) Parliament's actions indicate that more information is being used in the decision-making process Level 1 Level 3 Level 4 Level 4 *Rating scale: Level 1: Limited access to and impact of information on legislative actions; rhetoric predominates in legislative discourse; passive acceptance of executive initiatives and budget proposal predominates. Level 2: Discourse references: Reliable facts and figures on government performance (accountability, integrity) and on the budget (expenditure patterns, multi-year projections, and audits) are sought referenced, interpreted and debated. Level 3: Extensive public policy analysis and simulation modeling used by Members, particularly key committees; legislative discourse references public policy analysis, and analysis of implementation and evaluation. Level 4: Public policy analysis and modeling integrated into legislative process via committees and debates. Level 5: Information and analysis are used in all phases of the legislative process; lagged improvements effects are becoming measurable in the technical and substantive quality of legislative actions, in measurable impact on presentations and actions of the government, on final budget and future budget submissions, enhancement of government respect for the Parliament as a partner, and in external respect for the Parliament within the context of Egyptian expectations and functions. U.S. Finance Table (Microsoft Excel) ACTIVITY DATA SHEET PROGRAM: Egypt TITLE AND NUMBER: Improved Civil Legal System, 263-011 STATUS: Strategy revised in FY 2000; see new SpO 21 INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1996 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2000 Summary: The Egyptian judicial system is unable to support the expanding private sector because delivery of justice is slow and judicial personnel are not fully briefed on new laws and regulations affecting the private sector. It is set up to serve a centrally planned socialist economy and is burdened with delays and backlogs, making it susceptible to corruption. Litigation costs are unreasonably high, and commercial users have neither fair access nor extensive confidence in the system's quality. This SpO aims to improve the civil/commercial legal system by improving the efficiency of two pilot court systems and providing training to help judges become more knowledgeable of Egyptian civil law. Direct beneficiaries are staff of the two pilot court systems (comprising approximately 40 courts that cover 10 million Egyptians and about 40% of the business and commercial cases) and the approximately 3,000 judges who receive training under this activity. Indirect beneficiaries are the overall users of civil/commercial legal system as lessons learned in the pilot courts are adopted more broadly. Ultimately, the general public and businesses will benefit from improved rule of law in Egypt. Key Results: The activity has achieved the following results: a 41% reduction in case processing time in the pilot courts, implying more timely delivery of legal services; an 8% improvement in lawyers' perception toward pilot court operations indicating improved efficiency of the system and increased customers/users satisfaction; and a 15% increase in judges knowledge of Egyptian civil law, indicating a more accurate application of the law. Performance and Prospects: After a slow start-up, the activity is now making good progress and direct feedback from judges confirms the significance and effectiveness of the training courses and study tours that have been conducted. The training courses improved overall performance of the judicial system and improved its responsiveness to the private sector needs. To date, the following activities have been carried out: approximately 1500 judges, judicial trainers and 1200 court administrators received training in modern court management and use of computers; an automated typing pool is fully functional in one of the pilot courts which results in reduced case processing time and timely delivery of judicial services; a computer literacy lab is successfully providing training on the use of computers and electronic legal databases; legal research has been made easier and judges are able to review a larger number of cases and accurately apply the law by using improved legal references; a case initiation and receipting network has been installed in one pilot court to reduce the time required for case processing; judges at experimental courts are using the new computers and implementing new case management procedures; a court front counter reengineering manual has been completed; and facilitation and implementation of the new archiving procedures has also been completed. Remaining planned activities under the Administration of Justice Support Project include: validation and replication of North Cairo Court management procedures in the Ismailia Court; adequate testing and validation of software and human re-engineering procedures; extending the availability of expatriate system analysis technical assistance until the automation solutions are robust and suitable to be recommended for adoption nationally; and ensuring that adequate personnel training and staff development have been completed at the pilot courts to assure their sustainability. Possible Adjustments to Plans: As a result of initial delays implementing the activity and the current successful results, under the SpO 21, the activity will be extended by two years to complete the current activities and to replicate the approach fully in the second pilot court (Ismailia Court); and the funding level will be increased by $10 million, as the original estimated cost to implement the activity was low. Other Donor Programs: USAID is currently the only donor working in this area. The Egyptian Government contributes approximately $780,000 in local currency to fund training, technical assistance and commodities to complement USAID funding. Principal Contractors, Grantees or Agencies: USAID implements activities through a U.S. PVO, America-Mideast Educational and Training Services, Inc. (AmidEast), and the U.S. Information Agency. Selected Performance Measures: Baseline (1997) Actual (1999) Target (2000) Documented pilot court systems tested and accepted for replication by the Ministry of Justice. 0 0 1 Measurable improvement in lawyers perceptions toward court operations from less favorable to more favorable. 44% 50% 55% U.S. Finance Table (Microsoft Excel) ACTIVITY DATA SHEET PROGRAM: Egypt TITLE AND NUMBER: Approaches to Sustainable Tourism Demonstrated 263-012 STATUS: Strategy revised in FY 2000; see new SO 19 INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY1996 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2000 Summary: In 1996, USAID initiated a small experimental program designed to preserve and protect the natural and cultural resources of the Red Sea region through the promotion of six models for environmentally appropriate natural and cultural resource-based tourism activities. Four of the six models, all pertaining to natural resource management, were completed in FY 1998. The remaining two models were for: 1) the promotion of culturally sustainable tourism at the Monasteries of St. Anthony and St. Paul, the tomb of Seti I in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, and the Fort of Quseir on the Red Sea; and, 2) promotion of Adaptive Reuse of a historic building in Cairo. In FY 1999, USAID cancelled plans to demonstrate adaptive reuse of the historic building due to lack of interest on the part of the GOE. This SpO was extended from June to December 1999 in order to allow for the orderly completion of activities under the remaining model. Key Results: Despite the lack of success with the demonstration of adaptive reuse in Cairo, other activities under this SpO were successfully completed. At St. Anthony's Monastery, founded in the 4th century AD, the 13th century murals in the Church have been successfully restored. The electrical and lighting systems have been upgraded and a site management plan for tourists has been developed. A book describing the restoration work will be published in CY 2000 by Yale University Press. At St. Paul's Monastery, also founded in the 4th century AD, restoration of the mill room and refectory with displays of monastery artifacts has been completed and a new guidebook to the monastery has been published. The Ottoman Fort of Quseir built in the 16th century, has been renovated with restoration work on the cistern, central tower, and battlements completed. A visitor center with displays of artifacts from the site has been completed. The Tomb of Seti 1, completed around 1304 BC, has been successfully surveyed and recommendations for conservation of the paintings and reliefs have been presented to the Supreme Council for Antiquities. Performance and Prospects: The four activities under the cultural resources model were completed in December 1999. Since this activity is no longer active, there are no current plans to merge it into the new strategy. However, the activities to preserve Egypt's natural heritage, in particular, coral reefs, will be continued under the new strategy, under SO 19, beginning in FY 2000. Selected Performance Measures: Baseline (1996) Target (1999) Effective Models Demonstrated 0 5 Effective Models Created 5 6 ACTIVITY DATA SHEET PROGRAM: Egypt TITLE AND NUMBER: Improved Human Capacity Development System Linked to Strategic Priority Areas, 263-013 STATUS: Terminating. Strategy revised in FY 2000; see new SOs 16 - 19 INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY1995 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2000 Summary: The purpose of this activity is to improve the human capacity of Egyptian partner institutions in the economic growth, basic education, civil society, health and family planning, and environment sectors through: (1) the establishment of a strategically linked, centralized training system, and (2) a program for English language testing and training. Key Results: The overall performance of this activity met expectations. USAID support strengthened management and technical capabilities of Egyptian public and private sector entities, including universities, non-governmental and private voluntary organizations, and other key development institutions to promote sustainable development. As a result of USAID activities: 1) training facilities and technical/managerial curricula have been significantly expanded to support administrative reform and automation; 2) the capacity to design, develop and deliver training courses and materials of high quality has been institutionalized; and 3) specialized technical teams have conducted several training needs assessments and developed training plans, primarily in the areas of economic growth and environmental management. Performance and Prospects: In FY 1998 and 1999, USAID approved 17 training plans for activities in economic growth, environment, utilities, education, and civil society. Activities to sustain achievements to date will be continued in the new strategy under SO 16 - 19 beginning in FY 2000. Selected Performance Measures: Baseline (1998) Actual (1999) Number of training plans approved and human capacity indicators linked 15 7 Positive feedback on relevance and delivery of training interventions 85 91 U.S. Finance Table (Microsoft Excel)

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