​Integrated sustainable development projects that help alleviate poverty across Egypt took centre stage during a joint forum held last Sunday by the Social Contract Center in collaboration with the EFG Hermes Foundation. “The success of integrated development depends on the efforts of the public, private and civil society sectors, which must cooperate to guarantee the success of the endeavours which they embark upon”, said Mona Zulficar, Chair of the Board of Directors of EFG Hermes and Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the EFG Hermes Foundation. EFG Hermes, the leading investment bank in the Arab world, established the EFG Hermes Foundation in 2007 to carry out its corporate social responsibilities towards its community, with a focus on alleviating poverty through the deployment of financial, educational and health-related tools. A year after its establishment, the EFG Hermes Foundation embarked on Ro’ya 2008, a grass roots major multi-faceted project in Upper Egypt, committing around EGP 25 million for the integrated development of Ezbet Yacoub in Beni Suef. Hanaa Helmy, Chief Executive Officer of EFG Hermes Foundation, explained that, “The project included the demolition and re-building of over 400 unsafe homes, and equipping them with all necessary infrastructure facilities such as running water, electricity and sewerage systems. The project also included building a bakery, a community centre and a waste-water treatment facility to service all the residents of the village, along with initiating and funding various income generating projects to help the residents of the village”. Mrs.Helmy then compared philanthropy work with integrated development projects. She said that although philanthropy work is commendable, its outcome is usually short lived and non-sustainable, whereas integrated development projects — which are sustainable — tend to be more beneficial to the recipients, and more rewarding to the donor organizations. The Social Contract Center — established in May 2007 by the UNDP and the Government of Egypt’s Information and Decision Support Center — is based on the principle that Egypt’s development hinges on reshaping the contract between government and citizens by spreading democracy, enhancing decentralization and allowing public participation in decision making.