KOICA and WFP Invest $6 Million to Support Refugees and Host Communities in Egypt

The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the World Food Programme (WFP) of the United Nations celebrated the successful completion of a joint initiative aimed at supporting refugees and host communities in Egypt. The program focuses on enhancing nutrition, boosting economic resilience, and fostering social cohesion.

With a contribution of $6 million from KOICA, WFP implemented a three-year program targeting the most vulnerable refugees from over eight nationalities, as well as members of local Egyptian communities in Greater Cairo, Alexandria, Damietta, and Matrouh.

Throughout the initiative, more than 14,000 refugees and host community members received training in market-relevant vocational skills. Additionally, small grants were provided to establish and grow small businesses. Within six months of launching the program, 39% of participants engaged in income-generating activities, resulting in over 5,600 individuals securing jobs and an average family income increase of 62%.

Rod Al-Halabi, WFP’s representative and country director in Egypt, stated: “For many vulnerable families, this program has restored hope and enhanced their sense of security for the future. Through strategic partnerships like our collaboration with KOICA, we are expanding access to skills and resources that empower individuals to strengthen their resilience and move steadily towards self-reliance.”.

Dr. Sooyoung Park, director of KOICA’s office in Egypt, remarked: “The program has enabled us to enhance the resilience of refugees and host communities at a time when the refugee crisis in Egypt has been exacerbated by developments in Sudan and Syria. Through our partnership with WFP, we have effectively responded by supporting sustainable livelihoods while mitigating impacts on host communities.” The initiative also promoted social cohesion and mental health through psychosocial support sessions; 99% of participants reported improvements in stress management and overall mental well-being.

Ahmed, a Sudanese refugee who received training through the program and is now a business owner, expressed: “I feel secure now that I have a stable source of income to support my family.” He added: “The project itself and the social connections it created made me feel a sense of belonging.”.

To improve nutrition among the most vulnerable women and children refugees, WFP provided monthly cash assistance to 9,500 pregnant and lactating women with children under two years old on the condition that they undergo regular medical check-ups. In partnership with Egypt’s National Nutrition Institute, WFP also conducted nutritional awareness sessions focusing on infant nutrition during the first thousand days of life. This effort led to an increase in dietary diversity among women from 18% at the project’s inception to 41% by its conclusion.