IFPRI Egypt Seminar: Cluster-based development as an opportunity for job creation and poverty reduction in Egypt

September 6th, 2016

Time: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Location: Egyptian Center For Economic Studies (ECES) Conference Room, Nile City Towers North Tower, 8th Floor | 11221 Nile Corniche | Cairo, Egypt 

The Seminar Series provides a platform for all people striving to identify and implement evidence-based policy solutions that sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition. The series is part of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded project called “Evaluating Impact and Building Capacity” (EIBC) that is implemented by IFPRI. It features research-based presentations by top local and international experts on key development topics. Recording and publishing all the events online will create a knowledge repository to inform policy making in Egypt and beyond.

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 "Cluster-based development, as an opportunity for job creation and poverty reduction in Egypt"

 

The conventional thinking is to provide developing countries with what they lack, such as financial resources and sound institutions. However, it can be a daunting task to establish well-functioning financial system and institutions. A more viable approach often is to enhance existing strengths embedded in rural areas. One noted approach is the cluster-based development model. Egypt has a large number of clusters, however, unlike in many Asian and Latin American countries where cluster-based development was a driver of agricultural and rural development, most of these clusters remain small.

 

In collaboration with the Egyptian Center for Economic Studies (ECES) and under the USAID funded project Evaluating Impact and Building Capacity (EIBC), IFPRI will start a new research project on cluster based development. To inaugurate the research project, Xiaobo Zhang, Senior Research Fellow at IFPRI, will share his international experience on how clusters can support sustainable growth and poverty reduction and what are the barriers to their incubation and growth. Heba Handoussa, Director of the Egypt Network for Integrated Development (ENID) project will share her local experience bringing examples from the field. Finally, Abla Abdellatif, Executive Director at ECES, will outline the Egyptian Government current plans in terms of cluster based development. The objective of the seminar is to inform policy making in Egypt and to refine the research agenda on cluster-based development.