Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assistance has been provided by the Department for International Development to Egypt in each of the last five years; and what is planned for the current year and two following years.

Since 2011 DFID has provided assistance to Egypt through the regional £125 million Arab Partnership Economic Facility (APEF), which supports economic reform and development in Egypt, Tunisia, Jordan, Morocco and Libya. Examples of DFID support in Egypt include technical assistance for the passing of a new micro-finance law and the development of a new poverty database; the provision of capacity building support and access to finance for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises; and a rights and skills programme for female-headed households.

Many of the regional APEF projects will continue in 2015/16 and support will also be provided through the cross-government Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF). The programme of CSSF assistance for Egypt in 2015/16 is currently being developed; future funding is still to be considered.