Dr. Manal Awad Mikhail was recently appointed as the new Minister of Local Development in Egypt’s new government, following her swearing-in ceremony before President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. Throughout her distinguished career, Dr. Manal has held a variety of leadership positions, including serving as Governor of Damietta from September 2018 to July 2021. Prior to that, she was Deputy Governor of Giza for Community Affairs and Environmental Development for three and a half years.
During her tenure as Deputy Governor, Dr. Manal handled a wide range of important issues such as civil society organizations, slum development, needy village development, women’s affairs, literacy, childhood and motherhood. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Medical Sciences from Benha University in 1989, followed by a Master’s degree and a PhD from Alexandria University in 1995 and 1999 respectively. Dr. Manal has been recognized with numerous scientific awards throughout her career including the State Encouragement Award in Agricultural Sciences in 2007 and the UNESCO Learning Cities Award in 2017 for her work in promoting sustainable growth and empowerment in local communities.
Under Dr. Manal’s leadership, Giza became the first city in Egypt to gain membership in the UNESCO “Learning Cities” program in 2016 and also played a key role in establishing the first Safe City free of violence against women and girls in Giza Governorate. Following this success, she replicated the initiative in Damietta Governorate where she was awarded the UNESCO Learning Cities Award for 2021 ranking among the top ten cities worldwide selected by the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning. Her commitment to education, gender equality and community development has been pivotal throughout her government roles shaping policies and programs that promote sustainable growth and empowerment
