Sawiris Foundation made its first-ever participation in United Nations General Assembly Week (UNGA81) in New York, marking a significant milestone in its 25-year journey of supporting development in Egypt.
The Foundation participated in three high-level international sessions that brought together leaders from philanthropic and development organizations, the private sector, research institutions, and international organizations. Through these discussions, Sawiris Foundation presented an Egyptian perspective on the evolving role of philanthropy in development finance, while exploring how global knowledge, partnerships, and innovative approaches can strengthen development programs and partnerships in Egypt.
Across the three sessions, one central question emerged: How can philanthropy move beyond financing individual projects to play a more strategic role in testing solutions, generating evidence, taking early-stage risks, mobilizing capital and partnerships, and connecting global knowledge with local institutions and communities?
Laila Hosny, Executive Director of Sawiris Foundation, said:
“Our first participation in United Nations General Assembly Week comes at a time when development financing is facing increasing pressure, as needs continue to grow while some traditional funding sources decline. We are participating in these discussions as an Egyptian foundation with 25 years of experience working directly with communities, institutions, and partners across Egypt.”
Hosny emphasized that the value of philanthropic capital extends beyond direct funding, noting that philanthropy can create space for innovation, support early-stage risk-taking, generate evidence, and help inform more effective financing and scaling decisions.
She also highlighted the importance of developing sustainable solutions in partnership with local communities and institutions, ensuring that they have a meaningful role in defining priorities and making decisions.
Sawiris Foundation Highlights the Power of Local Partnerships
The Foundation began its participation with the session “From Partnership to Platform,” organized in partnership with the Arab Foundations Forum.
The session examined how local philanthropic organizations can move beyond their traditional role as funders or implementers of individual projects and become strategic partners in building collaborative platforms that bring together funding, expertise, and knowledge to scale effective solutions.
During the session, Sawiris Foundation presented three opportunities for international collaboration:
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Contributing to a national pooled fund managed without administrative fees.
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Supporting the expansion of the Bab Amal program, with the goal of reaching 100,000 families by 2030.
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Expanding the network of international partners and expertise supporting this approach.
The discussion also emphasized the importance of empowering trusted local institutions to help define development priorities and direct resources, rather than limiting their role to implementation.
The Foundation stressed that localization in development is not simply about transferring activities to local communities. It also involves strengthening local voices, decision-making, financing capabilities, and leadership.
Philanthropy and the Future of Education Finance
Sawiris Foundation also participated in “Strengthening the Catalytic Role of Philanthropy in Education Finance,” held in collaboration with OECD netFWD at Education House.
The session focused on the growing education financing gap and examined how philanthropic capital can move beyond traditional grant-making models toward more catalytic forms of financing.
These approaches include risk-taking, blended finance, and outcomes-based financing, all of which can help attract additional resources to the education sector.
Drawing on its experience in Egypt, Sawiris Foundation highlighted an approach that connects financing decisions with a clear understanding of development challenges, the quality of available evidence, results measurement, and continuous learning before moving toward large-scale implementation.
The Foundation also shared its experience in developing partnerships between philanthropic organizations, government entities, private-sector companies, and development institutions.
The discussion emphasized that simply increasing financial resources is not enough. Sustainable development requires the capacity to learn, adapt, measure results, and scale solutions that demonstrate proven effectiveness.
Sawiris Foundation Explores the Future of AI in Emerging Markets
The Foundation concluded its UNGA81 participation with the session “The Role of Philanthropy in Shaping the Future of AI in Global Growth Markets,” organized in collaboration with the MIT Kuo Sharper Center and DLA Piper.
The discussion moved beyond the adoption of artificial intelligence tools to address broader questions surrounding local ownership, decision-making, and the role of institutions in shaping technology.
Drawing on its experience as a development foundation operating in a growth market, Sawiris Foundation stressed that local institutions should not simply adopt ready-made AI solutions. Instead, they should have a meaningful role in determining how technology is developed and applied to address local needs and priorities.
The Foundation also emphasized the importance of strengthening local capabilities in areas including talent development, data, digital infrastructure, and technology entrepreneurship.
At the same time, global expertise can play an important role when it is used to strengthen local ownership and capabilities rather than increasing dependence on external technology models and platforms.
From Egypt to the Global Development Conversation
The three sessions represented a two-way exchange of knowledge and experience.
Sawiris Foundation brought 25 years of development experience in Egypt to New York, including expertise in program design, partnership development, evidence-based decision-making, and continuous learning.
At the same time, the Foundation used its participation at UNGA81 to engage with international experiences, tools, and partnerships that could potentially be adapted to the Egyptian context.
This exchange reflects the Foundation’s belief that development knowledge should not move exclusively from the Global North to the Global South. Experiences and locally developed solutions from Egypt and the wider region can also contribute to shaping international development practices and global discussions.
A Strategic Role for Local Development Organizations
Sawiris Foundation’s participation at UNGA81 also highlighted the growing role that local development organizations can play beyond program implementation.
Local institutions can contribute to:
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Setting development priorities.
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Testing innovative solutions.
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Generating evidence and knowledge.
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Mobilizing funding and strategic partners.
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Scaling approaches that have demonstrated measurable impact.
Building on this vision, Sawiris Foundation aims to use the knowledge and insights gained through international platforms to strengthen its programs and partnerships in Egypt, while bringing its local experience and development models into the global conversation on philanthropy and development finance.
Sawiris Foundation Marks 25 Years of Development Impact
The Foundation’s first participation in United Nations General Assembly Week coincides with its 25th anniversary.
Since its establishment, Sawiris Foundation has worked to address multidimensional poverty in Egypt and expand opportunities for underserved individuals and communities through initiatives spanning education, economic and social empowerment, and quality of life.
The Foundation also supports Egypt’s cultural and artistic landscape, recognizing the role of culture in advancing human development.
Over the past 25 years, Sawiris Foundation has developed extensive institutional expertise in designing, financing, and scaling development models in partnership with government entities, the private sector, civil society organizations, and international institutions.
Its work places particular emphasis on underserved communities, especially those in Upper Egypt, while relying on evidence, continuous learning, effective partnerships, and scalable interventions designed to deliver sustainable impact.
About Sawiris Foundation
Sawiris Foundation is one of Egypt’s earliest grant-making development foundations. Established in 2001 with funding from the Sawiris family, the Foundation supports innovative development solutions aimed at addressing multidimensional poverty and expanding opportunities for underserved individuals and communities.
Its areas of work include education, economic and social empowerment, quality of life, and support for Egypt’s cultural and artistic landscape, reflecting its commitment to advancing human development.
Over 25 years, the Foundation has built extensive experience in designing, financing, and scaling development models through partnerships with government institutions, the private sector, civil society, and international organizations.
Its approach is centered on evidence-based decision-making, continuous learning, strategic partnerships, and the development of scalable interventions capable of delivering sustainable impact.
