ExxonMobil Egypt announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development (SFSD) to join its program “Bab Amal”, implemented by the Giving Without Limits Association in Assiut, aiming to empower participating families from the most deprived villages.

According to a statement, the cooperation stems from the company’s strategy and its commitment to investing in the community.

“The MoU signing aligns with ExxonMobil Egypt’s strategy and leadership in supporting the communities in which it operates,” stated Youssef Hafez, Board Member, Public & Government Affairs Manager of ExxonMobil Egypt. “Through this cooperation, the company is contributing towards strengthening the capabilities of participating families, in collaboration with Giving without Limits Association. The company’s efforts come in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.”

On the other hand, Noura Selim, Sawiris Foundation for Social Development’s Executive Director, elaborated saying, “Improving the Egyptian society’s quality of life is one the Foundation’s top priorities. We strive to empower the underprivileged citizens in Egypt and secure their basic needs, especially in marginalized villages of Upper Egypt governorates. Therefore, we are happy that ExxonMobil Egypt joined forces with Bab Amal program, in order to leave an enduringly positive impact and contribute to solving more urgent societal problems. We hope this partnership would encourage other entities in order to expand the program’s outreach and impact, the outcome of a series of carefully studied interventions aiming to overcome extreme poverty.”

ExxonMobil Egypt has been keen on collaborating with different entities, whether government or civil society organizations, such as Misr El-Kheir Foundation, Save the Children, Injaz Egypt, Enactus Egypt, Alwan wa Awtar, among many others, in addition to many universities, such as the American University in Cairo and Ain Shams University, in order to serve various sectors of Egyptian society.

It is noteworthy that “Bab Amal” program is an adaptation of the “Graduation from Ultra-Poverty” methodology, founded and developed by BRAC International, proving successful in more than 50 countries, having a significant impact on the lives of poor families from diverse societies.

In 2018, SFSD and its partners developed a carefully studied approach to the program’s interventions to fit the ultra-poverty situation in Egypt, to take place in the governorates of Assiut and Sohag, where 2,267 families from 35 different villages benefit from these interventions. The program is implemented in cooperation with development partners: Giving Without Limits Association in Assiut, and the Egyptian Human Development Association in Sohag. The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab in the MENA region is responsible for the monitoring and impact evaluation of the program.