Egypt Human Development Report 2010 Youth in Egypt: Building our Future Presented by Prof. Heba Handoussa and the

1. Egypt Human Development Report 2010 Youth in Egypt: Building our Future Presented by Prof. Heba Handoussa and the EHDR Youth Team

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3. Egypt’s Youth Bulge, Social Exclusion and Waithood 3

4. Message One: Overcoming Education System Failure Outputs of the education system need to be aligned with demand in the labour market Review balance across subjects, skills, and disciplines, upgrading of technical education. Education shall serve as a tool for inclusion, social empowerment and competitiveness. Empowering youth through education means it should instil values of citizenship to transform society in a democratic manner. The need is to focus on reform of vocational training and skill building. Private sector firms and local businesses should be encouraged via incentive schemes to absorb the youth bulge. Review curricula for each subject to instil problem-solving skills, entrepreneurship and management capacity, and the value of self-employment. More emphasis should be placed on entrance requirements that link up to market needs, specifically language and computer skills. 4

5. Equal access to quality education for all social segments 80% of illiteracy and early school attrition can be attributed to poverty and gender bias in rural areas. Research shows that the poor consistently perform poorly in education; 29% never enrolled in schools and 24% dropped out from schools before finishing basic education. Need for geographically targeted interventions and especially conditional cash transfers. Targeted programs provide cash or in-kind support that is conditional on children’s enrollement in schooling. As for higher education, grants, scholarships and vouchers should be directly made to students, with eligibility contingent on performance and merit. 5

6. Message Two: Breaking the Cycle of Poverty Poverty means deprivation from basic opportunities and choices such as living a long healthy and creative life, with a decent income, enjoying freedom, dignity, self-respect and respect of others. Cycle of Poverty: Unhealthy, poorly educated children can grow into young people with more limited capacity for learning and working. The poor of one generation are typically the children of the poor of the previous generation. Geography: The results show large regional disparities with Upper Rural Egypt being the most deprived (43.7% of its residents are income poor). According to SYPE, whereas rural youth account for 59% of Egypt’s total youth, they account for 85% of Egypt’s poor youth. What is obvious, therefore, is that being poor is very much a characteristic of residing in rural Egypt and thus having less access to public goods and services. 6

7. Seven Types of Deprivation: Health, education, shelter, nutrition, water, sanitation and information 33% (around 6 million youth) experience one or more deprivations (‘severe deprivation’). One out of four (around 4 million youth) suffer from only one severe deprivation. 43% of youth in the poorest quintile suffer from floor deprivation, as compared to only 0 among the richest quintile. Ashwaiyat There is a 50% greater chance of drug use amongst young residents in ashwaiyat versus the average in Egypt Youth in ashwaiyat do not suffer from the typical forms of deprivation. Only 10% of the residents belong to the lowest wealth quintile and another 12% to the second lowest quintile The prevalence of illiteracy, which stands at 17% of the total sample of youth, is mostly accounted for by rural Upper Egypt youth. Youth in ashwaiyat have above average representation among post-secondary and university graduates and only account for 6% for illiterate youth. 7

8. There is a Two-way interaction between poverty and its attributes. Lack of education and skills, and absence of decent jobs maintains poverty. Need geographic targeting of poor households with on-the-job training, literacy and income generation. 1000+ Villages should integrate schemes for employment-generating activities that are tailor-made for marketing in both local communities and outside the villages. Voice and equal access to decision making is a must for the poor. Key roles should be given to youth through volunteer activity. Several projects in Egypt’s Five Year Plan can use the human capital of Egypt’s youth. Project Land in rural and informal settlement areas can take the form of multi-story structures with workshops and are especially suited to Egypt’s geography given the shortage of available serviced land (and are also best-practices from international experience). 8

9. Message Three: Job Creation The informal sector currently represents the main source of employment for new labour market entrants. Therefore, the challenge is to improve the quality of jobs. Active labour market policies are needed: -enforcement of minimum wages -contribution to social security payments for new jobs for youth (EHDR 2005) -employment services -education and TVET reform to meet labour market demands. There are employment opportunities for achieving the MDGs in Egypt. Human resources are urgently needed in areas such as literacy campaigns, pre-school education, and social work in 1000 Villages and other poor areas.   Highly gendered labour market -Employment opportunities have diminished in the government sector. (6x more men than women are employed in the same age group) -Need for private sector incentives in support of women in the labour force. -Legislation can reduce the gender gap in wages and opportunity in private sector. 9

10. Technical and Vocational Education and Training Technical and Vocational Education and Training has become a cornerstone for development, yet the Egyptian labour market still lacks technical and skilled workers in terms of number and competence. Need to synchronize all government agencies currently working in isolation of each other, particularly through the formation of common grounds in training standards and certification requirements. Demand- rather than supply-driven TVET institutions, using upgraded curricula and equipment Need to improve working environment, salaries, and to introduce shorter working hours (WB Skills Development Project Survey) Cost-sharing for training and tax incentives for employers to encourage them to invest in their human capital Need to overcome young people’s reluctance and the social stigma labeling the technical route as a poor, second-chance option. Awareness campaigns can demonstrate career rewards & financial benefits of TVET. 10

11. Entrepreneurship Compared to 43 other countries in the 2008 Global Entrepreneurial Monitor, Egypt ranks 11th in early stage entrepreneurial activity. There are some 2 million youth under 30 years who have setup a business, however modest. As the age groups 18-24 and 25-34 have the highest entrepreneurial rates of 12% and 15% respectively, Egypt’s youth give it a strong “entrepreneurial advantage” which has the potential to create the majority of jobs and enterprises in the coming years. Efforts should be made to foster the development of entrepreneurial skills and to promote creativity, personal initiative and independent thinking among young people as part of the curricula and extra-curricular activities in the formal education system. Need to improve the business environment and reduce bureaucracy, facilitate access to funding and marketing services , as well as skills training through dedicated programmes to support young entrepreneurs in the start-up and early stage growth process. Introduction of SMEs and Franchising as more “flexible” business models , as well as Micro-enterprises for youth with simpler educational background through awareness campaigns to inspire and spread the culture of entrepreneurship among young people in Egypt. 11

12. Social Contract Center (UNDP/IDSC) Youth Outreach Programme SCC Soft Skills Program 12 The “New Social Contract” concept advocated in the EHDR 2005 argues that development challenges in Egypt cannot be overcome unless all citizens take part in the process. Accordingly, the Social Contract Center (established based on the recommendations of EHDR 2005) aims to promote the concepts of participation and active citizenship in Egypt, particularly among youth, while simultaneously contributing to building their capacities to better equip them for labour market entry through its youth outreach programme. This programme primarily introduces five key personal skills, namely communication, presentation, negotiation, team-building and leadership, with the main objective of raising the awareness of programme participants of the different applications of the introduced skills on all levels- professional, personal and social – and encouraging young people to translate their learning into simple but effective actions. As shown in the diagram, there are 2 versions of this programme targeting young people with differing social and educational backgrounds. However, both versions rely on the concept of establishing a “contract” with the programme participants, i.e. they are expected to fulfill certain tasks in return of the training opportunities they are offered by the Center. In case of public university students, graduates of the personal skills training are offered the chance to join the “SCC Youth Advisory Board”, where they receive advanced training on planning and managing small development projects serving their local communities, and thereby inspiring other young people to become social leaders. While the first version of the programme primarily focuses on promoting “social” entrepreneurship, the second version offers employment-generating capacity-building opportunities to literate young people aged 18-30 living in rural areas. In return of facilitating access to either vocational training opportunities or small and micro-project management trainings and loans, participants are required to teach a designated number of illiterates in their local communities, in addition to working in groups to plan and implement a local development initiative chosen by them during the course of the programme. The collaboration of all community stakeholders, namely the government, civil society, the private sector, and the youth themselves is crucial to the successful implementation of this programme. Beside the fact that all components of the programme promote self-employment, the programme in itself offers employment opportunities to its graduates once they are equipped with the knowledge and skills to take over its implementation throughout the country under the guidance and mentorship of the SCC.The “New Social Contract” concept advocated in the EHDR 2005 argues that development challenges in Egypt cannot be overcome unless all citizens take part in the process. Accordingly, the Social Contract Center (established based on the recommendations of EHDR 2005) aims to promote the concepts of participation and active citizenship in Egypt, particularly among youth, while simultaneously contributing to building their capacities to better equip them for labour market entry through its youth outreach programme. This programme primarily introduces five key personal skills, namely communication, presentation, negotiation, team-building and leadership, with the main objective of raising the awareness of programme participants of the different applications of the introduced skills on all levels- professional, personal and social – and encouraging young people to translate their learning into simple but effective actions. As shown in the diagram, there are 2 versions of this programme targeting young people with differing social and educational backgrounds. However, both versions rely on the concept of establishing a “contract” with the programme participants, i.e. they are expected to fulfill certain tasks in return of the training opportunities they are offered by the Center. In case of public university students, graduates of the personal skills training are offered the chance to join the “SCC Youth Advisory Board”, where they receive advanced training on planning and managing small development projects serving their local communities, and thereby inspiring other young people to become social leaders. While the first version of the programme primarily focuses on promoting “social” entrepreneurship, the second version offers employment-generating capacity-building opportunities to literate young people aged 18-30 living in rural areas. In return of facilitating access to either vocational training opportunities or small and micro-project management trainings and loans, participants are required to teach a designated number of illiterates in their local communities, in addition to working in groups to plan and implement a local development initiative chosen by them during the course of the programme. The collaboration of all community stakeholders, namely the government, civil society, the private sector, and the youth themselves is crucial to the successful implementation of this programme. Beside the fact that all components of the programme promote self-employment, the programme in itself offers employment opportunities to its graduates once they are equipped with the knowledge and skills to take over its implementation throughout the country under the guidance and mentorship of the SCC.

13. Message Four: Focus on Culture -Growing evidence of regression in attitudes of tolerance and respect of the other, whether directed at religious or gender affiliation. -NGO-led youth initiatives in areas of social concern could overcome the bias towards narrow group attachments. -Evidence also of teacher values and attitudes as well as constricted curriculum content responsible in part for this unfortunate trend. -Cultural and behavioral approaches should be integrated into the teaching of scientific subjects. -More emphasis on liberal educational material, and on music, theatre and the arts in general, would generate creative thinking and inventiveness. -Discrimination against women is common in the Egyptian society presented in violence against women, sexual harassment, gender discrimination at work and FGM -Create a  Suitable legislative environment that leads to the establishment and promotion and financing of institutions and organizations related to youth can meet the cultural needs of young men and women rather than focusing on the male as in youth centers -Alliances with global youth initiatives would promote the ideas of both children and young people who have the mindset and talent to overcome limited world views. 13

14. Message Five: Eliminate Gender Discrimination Gender & Freedoms: The role and participation of young men & women in Development Women and girls in particular are among the groups directly affected by deprivation in education, work, and enjoyment of natural rights enshrined in the Egyptian constitution and international treaties. In Egypt, social conditioning (by the family, the legal systems, and the market) creates the roles to be played by both boys and girls in their society, and defines their interaction in public and private spheres. The survey on Young People in Egypt (SYPE) indicates a considerable discrepancy between young men and women with regard to education, labor market participation, and participation in political life. There exist a number of negative practices and factors that impede the advancement of woman's role as an individual and citizen with rights and duties in the community, including the prevalence of sexual harassment in public places and at work, violence against women and female genital mutilation (FGM) still at a rate of 80%. Egypt is rated number 120 among 128 countries on gender gap measurement. Women participation in the labor market is among the lowest in the world, for example, young women (aged 18-29) represent 18.5% of the Egyptian workforce compared to more than 50% of men. Also according to the survey, only 1% of girls spend their time in voluntary activity compared to 3% of men, and only 11% of young women participated in the last election, compared with 20% of men.  14

15. Labour Market and Education: closing the gender gap in education has not been matched by an increase of women participation in the labor market. The unemployment rate for women under 30 is 2 to 4 times higher that of males in 2009. It is not marriage or preference not to work that are the reasons behind unemployment, but the lack of equal opportunities in the work place, in addition to the family culture, and employer bias in favor of males. It is clear also that a large proportion of unemployed women do not find work at all until the age of 29 and then move out of actively searching for work. Sexual harassment and violence: 50% of women samples have been subjected to some form of sexual harassment, and 43% said they experienced harassment in public transport and mostly did not inform the police. While the media has actively brought to the forefront the problem of sexual harassment, activists have called for greater application of Article (306) of the Penal Code. About 86% of young men and women believe that beating their wife is justified in certain circumstances, and under the pretext of the right of the husband to his wife. There is also the wife’s fear from the consequences of separation or divorce, which may result in her social exclusion and her economic dependency and that of her children and becoming a burden on her family. The prevalence of informal marriage (customary marriage) among young couples can be explained by the sexual desires at its peak in this phase, and the difficulty to overcome the economic and social requirement of formal/legitimate marriage. However, recourse to informal marriage means giving away a wide range of civil rights (especially for the girl).

16. Recommendations The principle of equality should be integrated into school curriculum from an early age of early, with an emphasis on the importance of the role of girls and their participation in decision-making and equal access to opportunities. The state has made progress with FGM legislation. However, more efforts are required to raise awareness on the destructive impact of FGM on the health, the psychology and well-being of the girl child, and intensifying efforts in groups and areas that still practice it. Provide the resources needed for teaching and the provision of reliable health and sexual education and information for teens and young women, to develop informed individuals, and avoid misleading information that result from sexual ignorance and frustration. Promote bridging the gender gap in wages, employment and promotion in public and private sectors, and reward the institutions that strive to achieve gender parity for young people between the sexes in pay and promotion. Mass Media needs to raise awareness on specific issues that affect young people, the importance of the values of participation and equality of opportunity and access to assets and resources for both sexes. It should help youth to address openly and freely their issues, and situate the debate at the national and decision making level to stimulate concrete actions. The role of NGOs should be strengthened in encouraging young girls to participate and engage in their communities, especially in the rural areas. National institutions such as NCW and NCCM should promote ratification and implementation by Egypt of commitments to gender equality, particularly the girl. Indicators should measure regular progress and achievement of young people at the sector level. 

17. Message Six: Youth Well-Being The Youth Well-Being Index was prepared as part of the present 2010 EHDR and assesses progress on youth indicators in access to services, income and deprivation, gender, employment, civic participation, family life, leisure, and security. Objectives: Provide a mapping of levels and severity of youth deprivation from basic rights and basic needs; situate Egypt’s youth in time to measure progress; situate Egypt’s youth to be able to compare their status with youth in other countries; and disseminate results and raise awareness among all social actors to encourage public debate. Sources of data: National representative surveys and official statistics: Ministries of Education, Health, Economic Development, Interior, Communication, Environment, Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIECS), Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), SYPE , CAPMAS, IDSC, Institute for National Planning (INP) and the Center for Sociological and Criminological Research. Other studies and research initiatives should be used to supplement the data base for the Index and serve to inform policy makers on youth areas needing special interventions. 17

20. Message Seven: Governance Is it about youth passiveness or the absence of an enabling environment for socio-political inclusion? Restrictions on freedom of expression and demonstration under the emergency law and the security interference in socio-political activities within educational institutions, above all universities, as well as the arrest of activist bloggers; Fraud in the electoral process, which has been repeatedly proven by judicial acts; Predominance of the culture of fear on youth as well as parents’ warning from engaging in any political activity, specially if it was in an opposing direction to the regime; The failure of secular state institutions - political parties, schools, universities, youth centers and sports clubs – in the socio-political inclusion of youth led to the withdrawal of young people to non-governmental institutions of a religious nature to engage in civic activities; Youth centers and clubs center on sports rather than on training youth in leadership and life skills, vocational and IT proficiency, and also at nurturing democratic practices. Rampant corruption, nepotism and cronyism and weak rule of law; Youth coping with problems of poverty, unemployment, inflation and family formation … etc. All of these factors highlight the absence of an enabling political, social and economic environment for the participation of youth. They deny youth charges of apathy and indifference. Furthermore, many of these factors explain why a number of negative community values currently prevail among youth: on top of these are extremism, intolerance to others’ opinions, absence of a sense of belonging and passiveness. 20

21. Message Seven: Governance Establishing the culture of participation among youth through educational institutions, civil society organizations and media; Expanding programs of political education and developing programs on leadership skills, which will enrich youth knowledge, enhance their participation in socio-political life and enable them to exercise the rights and duties of citizenship; Support early participation of youth – starting of the primary school - in the process decision making in order to create a generation capable of taking responsibility, independent thinking and decision-making; Encourage youth to express their opinions, instead of controlling them in the framework of a patriarchal system that undermines their abilities; Activating secular forums and platforms for the integration of youth in socio-political life so as to enhance their sense of belonging, loyalty and citizenship. This is meant to cope with the religious polarization of society resulted in part from youth tendency to participate in religious institutions, which eventually promotes religious loyalty at the expense of citizenship; Cease to intimidating youth to express their opinions or engage in political activity. Also, cease to exert surveillance on bloggers and arrest them. Reform of government performance in the framework of a rational system for human resources management based on efficiency, both in recruitment and promotion; Effective implementation of decentralization policies, particularly in its political dimension, which will open new platforms for socio-political participation at local levels. 21

22. Message Eight: Migration Migration broadens young people’s opportunities and offers them a way to earn higher income and gain skills. Therefore, the state should support migration under a holistic and institutionalized approach dictated by Egypt’s current human resource structure. Egypt’s education and skills formation programmes should cater for host countries’ labour market demands based on studies of future prospects, particularly those of Europe and the emerging oil economies. The state should also negotiate labour movements with host countries on the basis of temporary migration (4-5 years) and terms that are win-win for all concerned. A best practice is tailor-made programs for young trainees to acquire specific skills needed in Italy’s labor market. 22

23. Message Nine: Breaking the Land Constraint 23