Egypt's Acting Environment Minister Manal Awad called for institutional reform and a stronger focus on projects with measurable environmental, economic, and social impact at the 19th meeting of the CEDARE Board of Trustees. The meeting was chaired by Saudi Arabia's Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli, with attendance from CEDARE Executive Director Khaled Fahmy, ministers, and representatives. Awad stressed aligning the center with political and environmental challenges through structural reforms.
The 19th meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Centre for Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe (CEDARE) featured a call from Egypt's Acting Environment Minister Manal Awad, as vice chair, for institutional reforms to address profound regional transformations. She emphasized that CEDARE must take on new responsibilities aligned with political and environmental challenges, prioritizing concrete projects that support national development plans, especially those aiding vulnerable groups and improving quality of life.
Awad also highlighted the need to broaden regional cooperation between Arab countries and Europe, while ensuring African nations' participation for mutual benefits. She praised the contributions of former Egyptian Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad in strengthening CEDARE's role, the founding efforts of Nadia Makram Ebeid, and Khaled Fahmy's ongoing work to reposition the center's programs.
Al-Fadhli welcomed Awad's first participation and underscored the importance of empowering CEDARE to fulfill its mandate effectively. Fahmy described the session as exceptional, coinciding with an institutional transformation, with discussions reviewing statutes, governance mechanisms, and future plans, followed by additional consultations before the next meeting. This gathering reflects the region's commitment to advancing collaborative environmental initiatives.