Dr. Manal Awad Mikhail recently assumed the position of Minister of Local Development in Dr. Mostafa Madbouly’s new government after taking the constitutional oath before Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. Throughout her distinguished career, Dr. Manal has held several leadership roles, including Governor of Damietta from September 2018 to July of this year and Deputy Governor of Giza for Community Affairs and Environmental Development for 3 and a half years prior to that.
During her time as Governor of Damietta, Dr. Manal managed important files such as civil society organizations, slum development, and women’s affairs, and her work contributed to the city obtaining membership in the UNESCO “Learning Cities” program in 2016. She also implemented the first safe city free of violence against women and girls, known as “SafeCity,” in Giza Governorate in partnership with the National Council for Women and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women, a success that she later replicated in Damietta Governorate.
Dr. Manal Awad 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. Her contributions to the field have not gone unnoticed, as she has been recognized with various scientific awards, including the State Encouragement Award in Agricultural Sciences in 2007 and the UNESCO Learning Cities Award in 2017. In addition to her scientific accolades, Dr. Manal has also been recognized as one of the most prominent inspiring women in the Arab world by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme.
Under Dr. Manal’s leadership, Damietta Governorate was awarded the UNESCO Learning Cities Award for 2021, making it one of only ten cities worldwide to receive this honor. Her dedication to promoting education
