ILO joins launch of second phase of Egypt’s “Be Ready” initiative
Building on the success of its 2023 pilot phase, the second phase of Egypt’s 'Be Ready' initiative aims to prepare one million young people with the skills and opportunities needed to succeed in an increasingly dynamic labour market.
28 April 2025
Cairo, Egypt (ILO News)– Egypt’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR) has launched the second phase of the national “Be Ready” initiative under the theme "One Million Qualified Innovators (Be Ready – 1M)''. The initiative, supported by a broad coalition of international and regional partners aims to equip one million university students and recent graduates with the advanced skills required to navigate the rapidly changing labour market.
The “Be Ready” initiative builds on the success of its pilot phase, launched in 2023, which reached over 18,000 students across 20 public universities. The expanded phase introduces an integrated digital platform to facilitate diverse training tracks, career readiness modules, and real job-matching opportunities for youth.
In his keynote remarks, H.E. Dr Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, highlighted the government’s commitment to youth empowerment and innovation: “The initiative reflects the state’s belief in the role of youth as a key driver of development and seeks to build the capabilities and qualify one million university students and recent graduates. Through the launch of an integrated digital platform, we aim to provide multiple pathways for vocational and innovative qualification. Our goal is to support students with a comprehensive and inclusive system that equips them with the advanced skills and competencies required by today’s dynamic labour markets.”
From his side, Eric Oechslin, Director of the ILO Cairo Office, underscored the importance of partnerships in youth employability: “I am pleased to celebrate the launch of the Be Ready Presidential initiative, a milestone that reflects ILO and Ashour Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research shared commitment to preparing Egypt’s young people for the future of work. This collaboration is a model of how government, private sector, international organizations, and civil society can work together to create real, lasting change.”
Dr Ayman Farid, Assistant Minister for Strategic Planning, Training, and Labour Market Qualification, echoed the call for strengthened collaboration: “The initiative seeks to qualify one million innovators in partnership with international organisations and to bridge the gap between academic programmes and labour market demands.”
The launch event brought together key development partners and institutions, including the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF), the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), the Global Innovation Institute (GII), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Education Development Fund.
Panel discussions during the launch addressed key themes such as future skills, flexible career pathways, and the role of innovation in sustainable development.
The second phase of the “Be Ready” initiative forms part of the broader presidential initiative “Alliance and Development,” which seeks to build a skilled and future-ready workforce aligned with Egypt’s Vision 2030. It also aligns with the National Strategy for Higher Education and Scientific Research and the National Strategy for Sustainable Innovation.