Egypt will launch a comprehensive national strategy covering the period 2026–2030 aimed at the full integration and empowerment of around 11 million people with disabilities, the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) announced.
The strategy, prepared by the NCPD in cooperation with the cabinet’s Information and Decision Support Centre (IDSC), is the result of nearly a year of consultations with government ministries, public institutions, civil society groups and representatives of the disability community. Final discussions concluded this week, with stakeholders reaching consensus on the strategy’s core pillars and implementation framework.
Officials said the plan seeks to move beyond fragmented interventions by establishing an integrated national approach to disability rights, aligned with constitutional guarantees and international commitments.
“This strategy aims to build an inclusive society that ensures equal opportunities and full empowerment for persons with disabilities,” said Eman Karim, general supervisor of the NCPD. She said the plan focuses on improving access to services, developing supportive legislation and embedding disability inclusion across national development policies.
Karim said the strategy reflects the political leadership’s emphasis on social justice within Egypt’s “New Republic” framework, which seeks to broaden participation and reduce exclusion across society. She added that people with disabilities were directly involved in shaping the plan, alongside civil society organisations, international experts and private sector representatives.
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According to the NCPD, the strategy will address multiple dimensions of inclusion, including education, healthcare, employment, social protection, accessibility and political participation. It also aims to strengthen institutional coordination and improve data collection to better track progress and outcomes.
Osama el-Gohary, assistant to the prime minister and head of the IDSC, said the strategy was designed to align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Egypt Vision 2030, and Law No. 10 of 2018, which guarantees the rights of persons with disabilities.
“The success of this strategy depends on effective partnership and coordination between government bodies, civil society and the private sector,” el-Gohary said, adding that technical support provided by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) would be presented to the prime minister as part of the final review process.
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ESCWA played an advisory role during the drafting phase, conducting technical assessments and field visits to evaluate how proposed policies respond to real needs on the ground.
Alaa Sebei, ESCWA’s regional adviser for disability affairs, said the participatory approach adopted by Egypt demonstrated a clear political commitment to disability rights. He said the technical review ensured that the strategy goes beyond declarations to address practical challenges faced by people with disabilities in daily life.
Field visits to several provinces, Sebei added, showed tangible efforts by the state to improve integration, while also highlighting persistent gaps in accessibility, service delivery and awareness.
The strategy was developed under Prime Ministerial Decree No. 4265 of 2024, which mandated the formulation of a unified national framework for disability inclusion. According to Heba Abdel Monem, head of the IDSC’s central administration for monitoring and evaluating national strategies, the current round of meetings marks the largest consultative process held ahead of the official launch.
She said the plan is built around a “prevention for a better life” approach, combining policy reform with early intervention, awareness campaigns and improved monitoring mechanisms. Extensive field research and direct consultations with people with disabilities were used to assess existing conditions and priorities.
Egypt estimates that people with disabilities account for roughly 10 percent of its population, making inclusion a significant social and economic issue. Advocates have long called for stronger enforcement of existing laws, improved access to education and employment, and better physical accessibility in public spaces.
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The government says the 2026–2030 strategy will serve as a roadmap for addressing these challenges in a coordinated manner, with clear responsibilities assigned to ministries and measurable targets to track progress.
The strategy is expected to be formally launched in the coming months, after final endorsement by the cabinet, marking what officials describe as a shift toward a more rights-based and inclusive development model.
