Dr. Manal Awad Mikhail recently took the constitutional oath before Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi as she assumed the position of Minister of Local Development in Dr. Mostafa Madbouly’s new government. 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.
Dr. Manal 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 dedication to scientific research has been recognized with numerous awards, including the State Encouragement Award in Agricultural Sciences in 2007 and the UNESCO Learning Cities Award in 2017.
Under her leadership in Giza Governorate, the city was able to obtain membership in the UNESCO “Learning Cities” program in 2016. Dr. Manal implemented the first safe city free of violence against women and girls, known as “SafeCity,” in partnership with the National Council for Women and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women. She later replicated this success in Damietta Governorate, where she was awarded the UNESCO Learning Cities Award for 2021, making it one of only ten cities worldwide to receive this honor.
Dr. Manal Awad has been recognized as one of the most prominent inspiring women in the Arab world by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme for her dedication to promoting education, women’s rights, and community development throughout her distinguished career.