The Center for Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe (CEDARE) was established in1992 as an international inter-governmental Organization with diplomatic status.This was in response to the convention adopted by the Council of Arab Ministers Responsible For the Environment (CAMRE) , in 1991 and upon the initiative of the Arab Republic of Egypt, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Arab fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD).
SRI & GEF/UNDP Projects codify Efforts in Favor of Supporting Sustainable E-Waste Management
On June 6, 2017, CEDARE as the implementing agency of the Sustainable Recycling Industries (SRI) and the UNDP/GEF Medical and Electronic Waste Management Project signed MOU, whereby collaborating efforts in support of a sustainable and sound electronic waste management system in Egypt. Sharing objectives, mandates, and visions, the two projects decided to join forces and integrate efforts to best mobilize resources and optimize impacts boosting the e-waste sector in Egypt. The MOU defines multiple areas of cooperation where each party is committed to in its full capacity.
Egyptian Minister of Environment Launches the “National Initiative of Reduction of Plastic Bags Consumption”
In memory of the World 
Environment Day on 5 June, 2017, H. E. Dr. Khaled Fahmy, Minister of Environment, launched the Reduction of Plastic Bags Consumption National Initiative. Tuning in with the international trend of reducing plastic bags and under the slogan “NO MORE PLASTIC BAGS”, the Ministry- together with its partners- are playing a major role in the mobilization and awareness raising of the Egyptian community to contribute in sparing Mother Nature the dangers of plastic bags. The launching event was attended by a wide range of media representatives, civil society entities, CEDARE, and the ministry’s top management and executives.
CEDARE .. in Support of its SRI E-Khorda Recycling Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurs receiving the E-Khorda incubation programme were invited to CEDARE premises on May 31st, 2017, where they met the project management unit of the Sustainable Recycling Industries (SRI) and the technical consultants as well. As the pitching is in progress and the incubation phase is approaching its final phase, a friendly meeting was intended with the promising entrepreneurs to express CEDARE team’s full support to them in their upcoming career life and to urge them build on each and every experience gained from the incubation programme. CEDARE wished them all the best of luck and
reassured their satisfactory performance, whether they succeed in their pitch or not. In the meantime, their opinion about different obstacles and the training as a whole was assessed; possible solutions, which would help in conducting a comprehensive needs analysis, were brainstormed.
EXPERT CONSULTATION FOR THE REGIONAL PLAN OF ACTION ON HEALTH IMPACTS OF INDOOR AND OUTDOOR AIR POLLUTANTS, AMMAN
On May 24-25, 2017, CEDARE participated in the expert consultation to finalize the regional plan of action for regional implementation of the global roadmap to address the health impacts of indoor and out
door air pollution 2017-2020, covering the 22 countries of the East Mediterranean (EM) region of the World Health Organization (WHO).
REGIONAL EXPERT MEETING FOR THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA ON SHORT-LIVED CLIMATE POLLUTANTS (SLCPS)
On May 22-24, 2017, the regional expert meeting for the Middle East and North Africa on Climate and Air Pollution
was held in Amman. The event gathered experts and representatives from the various MENA countries as well as the private sector and NGOs. The aim of the meeting was to explore opportunities to improve air quality, health and climate in the Arab countries of the Middle East and North Africa through the reduction of emissions resulting from actions on Short‐Lived Climate Pollutants(SLCPs): Black Carbon, Methane, Tropospheric Ozone, and Hydrofluorocarbons.
“Mainstreaming Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP)” explored with the Governmental Sector
CEDARE, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, held a roundtable meeting with the governmen
t’s officials responsible for procurement and quality on 24 May, 2017. The meeting was intended to discuss the challenges facing sustainable public procurement (SPP) and the mechanisms required to integrate it in Egypt’s governmental procurement system and further pave the way for it as a norm. Being the main buyer, the government is expected to include the green and sustainable products in the rules and regulations of governmental procurement system according to SwitchMed Demo Project implemented in cooperation with the UN Environment under the umbrella of the SwitchMed Programme & the European Commission.
The Second Steering Committee Meeting of SwitchMed Demo Project
On May 22nd, 2017, the second meeting of the steering committee of the SwitchMed Demo project was held back
-to-back with the consultation session with the government officials. Follow up on the performance of the project throughout the past six months took place. Future activities and implementation plan were verified and agreed upon. This included the National Initiative for the Reduction of Plastic Bags Consumption, scheduled to be launched in June, 2017.