USAID wants to focus its partnership with Egypt over the next five years on initiatives promoting women’s inclusion in the workforce, USAID Director Leslie Reed told International Cooperation Minister Rania Al Mashat in a meeting yesterday, according to a cabinet statement. Al Mashat and Reed’s meeting comes as USAID’s five-year partnership framework with Egypt is in the works.

Meanwhile, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is looking at potential investments in Egypt’s water projects, with Irrigation Minister Mohamed Abdel Aty meeting yesterday with bank representatives to discuss the projects underway, according to a cabinet statement. Abdel Aty invited the EBRD to participate in Cairo Water Week 2021 which will focus on the impact of Egypt’s population increase on water resources.

Italy is giving Egypt a USD 7.5 mn grant to support the Roubiki Leather City under an agreement Al Mashat signed with Italy’s ambassador to Egypt Giampaolo Cantini earlier this week, according to a ministry statement.

On the diplomatic front: James Heappey, the UK’s Minister for the Armed Forces, met with Egyptian Army Chief of Staff Mohamed Farid to discuss the Libyan crisis, counterterrorism efforts, and the possibility of staging joint military exercises, according to a statement by the British Embassy in Cairo.