Egypt Seeks Expanded European Funding for Water and Irrigation Projects

Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hani Sewilam, has urged European financial institutions to broaden their funding scope to support local farmers, contractors, and suppliers of modern irrigation technology. The request came during the EU-Egypt FLOW Initiative roundtable at the 9th Cairo Water Week, where officials discussed financing long-term water infrastructure projects.

Key Takeaways

• Expanded financial scope: Minister Sewilam called for European funding to reach beyond state projects to include private farmers and small-scale suppliers.
• Technical assistance needed: The ministry is requesting support from European institutions to help develop bankable, executable water projects.
• Critical resource dependence: Egypt relies on the Nile for 98% of its freshwater, with annual rainfall measuring less than 20 millimeters.
• Strategic modernization: The government’s Water Resources Strategy 2050 focuses on digital transformation and agricultural drainage reuse.
• Private sector partnerships: The ministry is working with the Ministry of Finance to create regulatory guidelines that encourage private investment.

Addressing Water Scarcity

Minister Sewilam emphasized that investments in the water sector are essential for maintaining national food security, public health, and climate resilience. With over 95% of Egypt classified as desert, the government is prioritizing the modernization of its water infrastructure. Current initiatives, such as the Second Generation Water System 2.0, aim to integrate digital monitoring and preventive maintenance across 33,000 kilometers of canals and 600 pumping stations.

Public-Private Collaboration

The ministry is actively pursuing private sector involvement to ensure project sustainability. Collaborations are underway with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to conduct feasibility studies on pumping station partnerships. Furthermore, the ministry is coordinating with Egyptian banks and local water user associations to facilitate access to capital for small and medium-sized enterprises involved in irrigation.