Egypt SDG Investor Map
About the Initiative
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Egypt has embarked on a collaborative effort in partnership with the Ministry of Finance and Economy, to develop its own SDG Investor Map. Built upon the established methodology developed by UNDP SDG Impact, the Egypt SDG Investor Map serves as an advanced market intelligence tool, bridging the gap between development needs and lucrative private sector investment opportunities. This map combines development impact analysis, business case analysis, sectoral and sub-regional research, and identifies Investment Opportunity Areas (IOAs) and Emerging Investment Opportunity Areas (EIOAs). These areas align with national development needs and policy priorities within sectors crucial for Egypt’s sustainable development progress.
Methodology
The development of SDG investor Maps involves identifying national priorities and translating them into "Investment Opportunity Areas (IOAs)." This process involves primary and secondary research methods.
Primary research includes stakeholder consultations conducted both in person and virtually. Secondary research involves an extensive literature review, compiling insights from national public policy documents, development partner reports, sectoral studies, and academic research.
Key Methodological Steps: these methods are structured around an eight-step methodology. The first six steps focus on formulating hypotheses about underfunded essential needs and their geographic locations. The final two steps identify scalable, investment-ready models to address these needs.
Key Criteria for IOA Identification:
The Egypt SDG Investor Map identifies 18 IOAs based on the following criteria:
Fundamentally marketable, i.e., investments within which a private actor could invest independently of government co-investment and where a private actor may be able to achieve a market- or above-market return, or viable with tailored arrangements while using blended finance solutions, concessional loan or public-private partnership.
Sufficiently specific to the realm of an ‘opportunity area’, i.e., a field within which diverse kinds of deals/ transactions could take place, but broad enough for an investor to decide what kind of financial vehicle is best suited to deploy.
Sufficiently at-scale for investments to be able to achieve depth and duration of potential impact.
Largely already proven in-market, i.e., by a transaction having taken place and return/impact established.
IOAs outline opportunities for private sector investments to enhance existing business models or establish new ones with significant impact potential in the country. Each IOA features five data categories spanning across the business and impact case and showcases 20 actional data points.
Summaries of the IOAs:
Business model,
User or beneficiary (e.g., impacted stakeholders),
Economic factors (e.g., market size, indicative returns, payback period),
Enabling factors (e.g., policy and financial environment, incentives),
Risk factors (e.g., market risks, scalability barriers).
Each summary also specifies the impact classification based on the ABC Impact Standards (developed by the Impact Management Project and adopted by Impact Frontiers):
Act to Avoid Harm (A): The enterprise or investment sets an objective to improve the conditions brought about by the harm caused to livelihoods and the environment due to their operations.
Benefit Stakeholders (B): The enterprise or investment not only acts to avoid harm but also generates various effects on positive outcomes for people’s well-being and the environment.
Contribute to Solutions (C): The enterprise or investment not only acts to avoid harm but also generates one or more significant effect(s) on positive outcomes for otherwise underserved people and the planet.
Emerging IOAs:
Smart City Developments
Modernization of Piped Sewage Systems
Biofuel Production
Green Hydrogen Development
Inland Water-Way Developments
E-Mobility Infrastructure
Domestic Medical Equipment Manufacturing
Priority Sectors:
The SDG Investor Map identifies priority sectors with strong SDG outcomes and policy alignment. The prioritization is based on information on national development needs and policy priorities centered around economic diversification, digital transformation & green growth, inclusive local development, and sustainable & circular infrastructure.
The sectoral analysis follows extensive desk research and a literature review, validated through stakeholder consultations with government representatives, development partners, and the private sector.
The Investor Map identifies investment opportunity areas under 6 sectors:
Infrastructure
Renewable Resources and Alternative Energy
Technology and Communications
Food and Beverage
Transportation
Healthcare
Contact and Further Information
For further information, inquiries, or assistance, please contact:
Private Sector Engagement Unit: Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation privatesector@moic.gov.eg
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