Latest news with #YourVoiceisHeard
Egypt Today
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Egypt Today
98.6% of 138K complaints received by 'Your Voice is Heard' Initiative are resolved: Minister
Complaints - file CAIRO - 5 June 2025: Egyptian Minister of Local Development Dr. Manal Awad received a report Wednesday on the efforts made by the "Your Voice Is Heard" initiative during May 2025. The initiative was launched by the Ministry in October 2018 as a direct communication tool with citizens to receive and respond to complaints and suggestions quickly, enhancing trust between citizens and local government. This is part of the government's commitment to strengthening communication channels with citizens and meeting their daily needs. Dr. Manal Awad emphasized that the "Your Voice Is Heard" initiative continues to play its effective role as a link between citizens and the Ministry, by receiving complaints and inquiries and responding to them quickly and transparently. Since its launch, the initiative has successfully received approximately 881,423 messages from citizens via various communication channels, including more than 138,600 complaints. Of these, 136,700 have been resolved, representing a 98.6% completion rate. Work is underway to complete the remaining issues. The Minister of Local Development explained that May 2025 saw the receipt of 7,456 messages, including 1,345 complaints. Of these, 1,136 were resolved, representing 84.5% of the total, while the remaining 209 are currently being addressed. She noted that the initiative's services operate through multiple channels, including the WhatsApp number (01200353111), the "Your Voice is Heard" Facebook page, email, and the hotline (15330). Dr. Manal Awad added that the most prominent complaints received by the initiative during the past month were 364 complaints related to encroachments, followed by 317 complaints related to garbage, 312 complaints related to building violations, 303 complaints related to encroachments on agricultural land and state property, 14 complaints related to corruption, and 35 complaints related to ride fares and price increases, which were forwarded to the relevant authorities for necessary action. The Minister of Local Development indicated that the WhatsApp service received 3,640 messages, including 1,104 complaints, 938 of which were resolved (85%), and 166 complaints are being resolved. The Facebook page also received 2,910 messages, including 153 complaints, 132 of which were resolved (86.3%), and 21 complaints are being resolved. The number of followers of the page reached 98,784, while the email received 906 messages, including 88 complaints, 66 of which were resolved. The hotline received 1,096 phone calls, which included reports of citizens' suggestions, inquiries about submitted complaints, reports of illegal construction, and cases of encroachment on agricultural lands, and they were directed to the competent authorities in the governorates to take the necessary action.
Al-Ahram Weekly
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Communicating with people - Egypt - Al-Ahram Weekly
A new initiative to hear out and respond to public complaints is launched. Ola Chafik, a school employee, is a happy person. After months of complaining about a restaurant and coffee shop that opened illegally on the side street where she lives in the Zamalek neighbourhood, causing inconvenience to residents, the source of the disturbance was finally dealt with: the place was closed down. After filing several complaints with local authorities, what seems to have finally worked was reverting to the initiative 'Your Voice is Heard'. The initiative was launched by the Ministry of Local Development under the auspices of the prime minister in October 2018 to address citizen complaints and issues across the governorates. It aims to strengthen communication channels with the people and ensure a rapid response to their complaints, according to Khaled Qassem, spokesperson for the Ministry of Local Development. Minister of Local Development Manal Awad noted that 'Your Voice is Heard' has received close to 900,000 messages from its inception in 2018 to April 2025, including 137,000 complaints. Of these, 135,400 were replied to, representing a 98.7 per cent implementation rate. Another 1,812 complaints are currently being addressed in coordination with relevant authorities, according to a monthly report. MP Samira Al-Gazzar said she believes the project is important given the absence of an elected local council whose responsibility is solving complaints lodged by citizens about issues including sewage, electricity, and water. The plan is a form of communication between citizens and the state, Al-Gazzar said. However, she added, while the initiative 'is good', there is a need for locally elected councils. A law regulating municipal elections has been years in the making. According to Awad, the most complaints received in April related to building encroachments, followed by garbage piling up, then infringements on agricultural land and state property, then building violations, steep transportation fares, and price hikes. Complaints concerning corruption were directed to the relevant authorities. Awad said follow-up results showed that the bulk of complaints was received via WhatsApp, followed by Facebook, a hotline, and an email address. The ministry has 98,500 followers on its page. 'Healthy communication between citizens and officials creates a sense of belonging,' Jihan Al-Nomrosy, a psychology professor at Al-Azhar University, told Al-Ahram Weekly. Al-Nomrosy said community development refers to a set of organised efforts aimed at improving the economic, social, and cultural conditions of a community by empowering its members and enabling them to actively participate in identifying their needs and developing appropriate solutions. 'It is based on the principle of partnership between society, the state, or institutions, and seeks to achieve sustainable positive change that enhances people's quality of life and strengthens the spirit of solidarity and belonging among them,' she added. Al-Nomrosy noted that people strive to live in an environment that provides them with comfort and happiness, saying greater awareness enhances community participation. She said that where she lives, residents formed a group to manage the affairs of the district and elected a representative to communicate with the officials concerned. They collect monthly fees to pay for services including a private security company and putting up signs to identify building numbers. As for concerns related to cleanliness or paving roads, the group's representative communicates with officials. To ensure success, school employee Chafik recommends continued follow-up by officials with employees and the communication of citizens with officials through the initiative's platforms. 'Your voice is your weapon, preserve it for truth and justice,' Chafik said enthusiastically. Complaints can be sent via WhatsApp on 01200353111, the initiative's official Facebook page 'Your Voice is Heard'. The email address is [email protected], and the ministry's hotline is 15330. * A version of this article appears in print in the 15 May, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
