OECD praises Egyptian reforms in latest report

Egypt Today

11-05-2025

Cairo – May 11, 2025: A recent OECD report has lauded Egypt's strides in reforming its public sector, highlighting progress made under the revamped Egypt Vision 2030 and the updated Public Administration Reform Plan (PARP).
The assessment points to major institutional improvements, particularly in digitizing government services, modernizing the civil service, and advancing gender and youth inclusion in policymaking.
Despite these achievements, the OECD emphasized the importance of adopting a unified, government-wide strategy to strengthen coordination and ensure that decisions are guided by robust data and analysis.
These frameworks, it noted, offer a strong foundation for long-term institutional transformation, but continued momentum and improved coordination across government are essential.
Despite clear progress, the OECD emphasized that further work is needed to ensure these ambitious reforms meet citizens' needs and translate into tangible outcomes.
On implementation challenges, the OECD stressed the importance of empowering the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation (MPEDIC) to better coordinate across sectors.
It noted, 'With the present transition to a new planning system, it will be necessary to enhance and formalize co-ordination arrangements with relevant sectors to strengthen the alignment of mid-term programs and sectoral strategies with the strategic objectives outlined in Egypt Vision 2030.'
The Central Agency for Organization and Administration (CAOA), which leads implementation of the PARP, was recognized for spearheading reforms.
The OECD stated, 'Egypt has made progress towards a more modernized and fit-for-purpose public administration through various priority initiatives targeting the effectiveness of public institutions, digitalization, civil service and public services.'
Still, the report urged CAOA to 'translate its strategic objectives into action plans, enhance co-ordination mechanisms and bolster capabilities to steer, co-ordinate, implement and monitor reforms across sectors and levels of government.'
The report also highlighted Egypt's digitalization efforts through the Digital Egypt strategy, describing them as 'significant strides using digital solutions to improve the efficiency, accessibility and transparency of public services and procedures.'
Yet, it cautioned that 'these strategic frameworks should provide details on how objectives within Digital Egypt can be operationalized.'
On transparency and citizen engagement, the OECD noted that Egypt's constitution enshrines the right to access information, but progress remains incomplete: 'More efforts are needed to promote transparency, notably by proactively disclosing information in a systematic manner through a more coordinated and institutionalized approach, until a law on the right of access to information is adopted.'
The report also encouraged broader public participation, urging Egypt to 'enhance citizen and stakeholder participation by establishing more impactful councils, conferences and advisory boards at the national and local levels; and exploring innovative participatory processes, including digital participation.'
In terms of inclusion, the OECD acknowledged advances in gender and youth policies but recommended bolder steps. It advised the government to 'further integrate gender and youth mainstreaming in sectoral policy planning and in the PARP, as well as to promote women's and youth representation in the public sector.' Additionally, the report called for a dual strategy to 'target specific gender gaps while integrating gender equality across all policies.'
The OECD concluded by affirming Egypt's potential to lead effective and inclusive governance reform: 'The OECD Public Governance Review of Egypt aims to help the Government translate its ambitious reforms into more effective, coordinated, evidence-based and citizen-driven policy outcomes.'