Overview of the Activities of the Social and Cultural Planning Center

The Social and Cultural Planning Center is one of the core scientific centers of the National Planning Institute. Its activities focus on social and cultural issues and topics within the framework of comprehensive development efforts in Egypt, in a manner that supports and complements the State’s development plan, in cooperation with all governmental and non-governmental bodies and institutions in Egypt.

The Center positively engaged with the Institute’s previous strategic plan for the period 2015/2016–2019/2020 by formulating a clear vision, mission, and strategic objectives for the Center. It also adopted a set of specialized activities that supported the vision, mission, and objectives of the aforementioned strategic plan, while utilizing multiple indicators to measure and evaluate the performance of the Center, its academic staff, and assistant staff. In addition, the Center worked on extracting lessons learned and best practices from the Institute’s previous strategic planning experience.

In the same context, the Center actively and effectively participated in planning and quality assurance efforts in cooperation with the Strategic Planning and Quality Assurance Committee and the Institute’s senior management in all activities related to the preparation and review of the new strategic plan of the National Planning Institute for the period 2020/2021–2024/2025. This plan presents a new vision and new strategic objectives that align with the emerging developments of the Institute’s future work.

In light of the aforementioned activities, and within the framework of the Institute’s new strategic plan, the Social and Cultural Planning Center developed its own strategic plan for the period 2020/2021–2024/2025, which is based on the following key principles:

1. Translating and adopting the Institute’s vision, mission, and values in the Center’s activities and operations.
2. Formulating strategic objectives for the Center in line with the Institute’s overall strategic objectives.
3. Strengthening cooperation and coordination with the Center’s partners inside and outside Egypt.
4. Highlighting the uniqueness and distinctiveness of the Center’s specialized activities within the Institute’s fields of work and its scientific centers.
5. Ensuring greater participation of academic staff and assistant staff in formulating and achieving the objectives of the Center and the Institute, contributing to the realization of Egypt’s Vision 2030.

Accordingly, the Social and Cultural Planning Center seeks to enhance the Institute’s vital role in supporting the process of sustainable social development in Egypt, and to exert the necessary efforts in this regard through the Center’s distinguished activities, expertise, and constructive positive contributions.

Fields of Work of the Social and Cultural Planning Center

The Center’s work focuses on conducting research and studying various social, cultural, and administrative topics and issues, as well as developing human resources related to comprehensive and sustainable development in Egypt. It also aims to formulate a vision for Egypt’s future in social development, enabling it to become one of the advanced countries with high human development.

The Center provides consultancy services in the fields of social and cultural planning and supports decision-makers with regard to current and future social and cultural policies. It also participates in the preparation of training programs aimed at building the capacities of various employees and leaders in social development sectors.

In addition, the Center addresses women’s and family-related issues through activities, research, and seminars conducted by the Women and Family Forum Unit. The Center includes a distinguished group of professors who contribute to delivering academic and professional courses related to social and cultural planning issues. Furthermore, the Center plays a role in activating and supporting partnerships to implement social responsibility activities that align with its main areas of work.

The Center also contributes to community service by organizing awareness-raising and educational programs for various segments of society, including university students, civil society organizations, and public sector employees.

Strategic Objectives

The Center’s strategic objectives are derived from the Institute’s strategic objectives as well as the Center’s vision and mission. These objectives are pursued through the Center’s research, academic, applied, professional, training, and consultancy activities in social and cultural fields and issues. In addition, the Center supports the Institute’s administrative systems and processes, particularly those related to human resource development, social and cultural planning, and the activation of governance principles and social responsibility, through the regular and systematic provision of community service programs.

Detailed Objectives

These objectives are achieved through the following:

1. Adopting a scientific approach to social and cultural development topics, discourses, and issues in their various dimensions, including economic, political, administrative, human resource management, media, and demographic aspects, as well as all matters related to human development.
2. Developing research, analytical, consultancy, training, and academic methodologies to achieve sustainable social and cultural development.
3. Expanding the use of qualitative and quantitative analytical tools and methods in social and cultural research through the Center’s scientific activities.
4. Utilizing and developing modern planning methodologies, tools, and techniques in social and cultural fields to support sustainable development through the Center’s scientific activities.
5. Strengthening mechanisms for sustainable social development.
6. Participating in the effective promotion of the Institute’s activities, services, and outputs, measuring and evaluating their impacts, and enhancing the Institute’s image at the local and international levels.
7. Building effective relationships with social and cultural planning and development partners in peer research and community institutions at the local, regional, and global levels.