Dr. Rasha Saad Sharaf, the Secretary-General of Egypt's Education Development Fund (EDF), which is part of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, recently welcomed a high-level delegation from Cisco. This meeting was all about strengthening their strategic partnership to support Egypt's efforts in building human capabilities, growing digital skills, and getting young people ready for future jobs. During the meeting, Dr. Sharaf highlighted EDF's work in bringing Egypt's vision for human development to life. This includes expanding programs for digital and foreign language skills, making sure training outcomes match the needs of both local and international job markets, and launching special initiatives to help youth, women, and people of determination get accredited international training and qualification opportunities. She emphasized that the partnership with global tech leader Cisco is a fantastic example of successful collaboration between government bodies and top international companies. Dr. Sharaf noted that EDF is working with a comprehensive vision to prepare future generations to compete in the global digital economy. They're doing this by offering advanced educational and vocational paths that align with the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Artificial Intelligence technologies. She also explained that EDF is continuously developing its programs and initiatives to reach more people with accredited international licenses and certifications. This supports the country's efforts to boost employment and enhance the competitiveness of Egyptian talent both regionally and globally. Dr. Sharaf stressed that investing in human capital is the cornerstone of achieving sustainable development. On Cisco's side, Francine Katsoudas, Executive Vice President, Chief People, Policy & Purpose Officer, and Executive Sponsor for Africa, praised EDF's efforts and its impressive results in supporting and developing digital skills for Egyptian youth. She affirmed Cisco's full support for EDF's future plan to provide one million international licenses to Egyptian youth. This initiative will help meet the economic and social development needs of Egypt and the African continent. Katsoudas added that, in her role as Executive Sponsor for Africa, she views the Egyptian experience as a leading model in building digital capabilities. She particularly commended EDF's foreign language qualification programs, which effectively complement digital skills to create international job opportunities for Egyptian youth and boost their ability to compete in global markets. She also expressed appreciation for EDF's efforts in empowering women and people of determination to obtain accredited international licenses and certifications. This ensures equal opportunities and promotes fairness in access to digital opportunities, reflecting a comprehensive development movement that places people at the heart of the development process. Francine Katsoudas pointed out that Cisco's efforts in Africa focus on empowering youth and developing digital infrastructure through several strategic pillars. These include building a specialized workforce in AI technologies, enhancing cybersecurity capabilities, accelerating digital transformation, and supporting financial inclusion and innovation. All these contribute to achieving sustainable development and creating new economic opportunities for youth across the continent. Shane Heraty, Vice President for the Middle East, Africa, Turkey, and CIS region, also highlighted the importance of the long-standing partnership between Cisco and EDF, noting that Egypt is a pivotal hub for Cisco's efforts in the region. He explained that investing in building digital skills and technological capabilities for youth has become a strategic necessity to keep pace with the rapid changes in the global job market. He praised EDF's integrated approach to linking training with employment and achieving a sustainable developmental impact. Missy Andrews, Vice President of Human Resources, emphasized that human capital development has become the most influential factor in enhancing the competitiveness of modern economies, given the growing global demand for qualified labor. She noted that the programs implemented by EDF are a practical model for preparing youth for future jobs, highlighting the importance of combining technical, linguistic, and personal skills to build a workforce capable of operating in diverse international environments. Andrews also mentioned the significant support provided by Cisco Academies in the field of Artificial Intelligence, which offers a real opportunity to empower youth to seize future jobs. This is especially relevant given the indicators from the International Labor Market Observatory on EDF's platform, which confirm the rapid growth of jobs related to advanced digital technologies. She affirmed that the Egyptian experience represents an inspiring global success story in utilizing digital skills to improve quality of life and enable youth from all backgrounds to achieve their career aspirations. At the end of the meeting, Dr. Rasha Sharaf honored Francine Katsoudas in recognition of Cisco's global efforts and its prominent role in supporting digital capacity-building programs. This partnership between the two parties stands as a successful model for fruitful cooperation in serving sustainable development goals and empowering youth in Egypt and the African continent.
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