Ashraf AboArafe
Today, the Governor of Giza and representatives of the Ministry of Housing, the German Embassy and the Delegation of the European Union to Egypt celebrated the inauguration of the newly constructed infrastructure complex that will house Egypt’s local fish market in El Mounib, south of Giza.
The successful refurbishment of the market is more than just the construction of a new building: it is part of the German-Egyptian Participation Infrastructure Project (PIP), a German-Egyptian project focused on integrating local communities into the planning and implementation of infrastructure. The total funding for the project amounts to 33.5 million euros, provided by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union (EU) in cooperation with our Egyptian partners from the Ministry of Housing and the concerned governorates.
It is worth noting that thanks to the support from Germany and the European Union and thanks to the close cooperation based on mutual trust with the Egyptian partners and the local community, the fish market in Munib was provided with a new steel structure, in addition to a sewage system and new division areas for sellers with all the required facilities such as water, electricity and sanitation. .
GIZ played a vital role in building capacity and guiding the selection process, which ensured that local voices had a say in the project.
Involving local communities in the planning and implementation process, allows for solutions tailored to each case and helps create a better sense of ownership. This leads to added social value and greater sustainability.
The new fish market is not just an infrastructure improvement but also a place of exchange and social gathering for the residents of the area. The market consists of an administrative building and a restaurant and helps create job opportunities. Last but not least, it is a timely measure that immediately improves food security as well as the capacity of local supply chains in the current economic situation.
