CAIRO, May 11 (MENA) - Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli on Sunday said that President Abdel Fattah El Sisi made the social protection the backbone of the new state structure, making "Takaful and Karama" (Solidarity and Dignity) program one of the world's most prominent and successful cash support programs.

Madbouli was addressing a ceremony held to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the launch of the “Takaful and Karama” program, under the theme “Social protection: Lessons from the past guiding the future.”

The event was attended by a host of ministers, governors, lawmakers, the head of the National Council for Human Rights, Lebanon's minister of social affairs, the EU Ambassador to Egypt, a number of European ambassadors in Cairo, representatives of the World Bank, UN agency officials, a host of university presidents, and partners of the program.

“In a moment of pride and honor, I am pleased to welcome you all to this occasion where we celebrate ten years since the launch of one of the greatest social protection programs in modern Egyptian history: the Takaful and Karama program. This initiative embodies the Egyptian state’s approach to achieving social protection for its citizens and reflects its vision of supporting the most vulnerable groups,” the premier said in his speech.

“Over these ten years, the Egyptian state has kept its promise of solidarity, dignity, and of leaving no one behind," Madbouli said, adding that since June 30, 2013, Egypt has spared no effort in protecting its people from poverty and deprivation.

The Takaful and Karama program was launched at a pivotal moment when the country was rebuilding its institutions and embarking on a highly challenging economic reform process, he said.

“Today, we are not only celebrating a cash support program, but also a new philosophy in state governance," Madbouli said.

"The program has expanded in an unprecedented way, from less than two million beneficiaries and a budget of no more than EGP five billion, allocations for the program reached about EGP 41 billion in the 2024-2025 fiscal yea, up from EGP 24 billion in the previous year 2023-2024," the premier said. (MENA)

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