The Environmental Hotline Project
The idea of the Environmental Hotline stemmed from Law No. 4 of 1994, which granted civil society organizations the right to report environmental violations. Trying to activate the role of NGOs and promote public participation, the Arab Office for Youth and Environment announced the launch of the Environmental Hotline Service on January 27, 1998, coinciding with the celebration of National Environment Day and the end of the grace period for the enforcement of the Environmental Law.
Overall Objective
To raise environmental awareness, particularly within Greater Cairo Governorate, by creating a model of partnership between stakeholders concerned with environmental issues in Egypt. The project aims to establish a communication channel between the public and decision-makers and to encourage public participation.
Specific Objectives
- Connect the community with environmental conditions.
- Encourage public participation in environmental protection.
- Facilitate dialogue and establish communication between decision-makers and the public through public hearings and popular conferences.
- Raise awareness about environmental laws, particularly Law No. 4 of 1994.
- Activate the critical role of NGOs in environmental protection.
- Create a sense of ownership in the community over its environmental challenges.
- Develop a database of environmental issues in Greater Cairo.
Project Location
Greater Cairo Governorates
Funds
The first phase was funded by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (Germany) and the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Cairo. The second phase (2000-2003) was funded by the Ford Foundation (USA), with continued support from the Friedrich Ebert Foundation.
Project Duration
From May 1998 to 2003
Project Outcomes
- A database of environmental issues in Greater Cairo was established, enabling the identification of key environmental challenges faced by the community. This database produces various reports and statistics on pollution sources and types.
- Increased public participation in addressing environmental problems and enforcing Law No. 4 of 1994.
- A model of partnership was developed among all stakeholders involved in resolving environmental issues in Egypt, which can be replicated in other regions.
- A successful youth volunteer program was implemented, highlighting the vital role of community involvement in environmental problem-solving.
- The project encouraged governmental and public institutions, as well as NGOs, to support environmental protection by reducing bureaucracy and inefficiency.
- The Environmental Hotline Service was evaluated as the best-performing project in citizen services by an external consultancy, leading to the training of the Environmental Affairs Agency’s Citizen Service Unit. Similar training was conducted in the agency’s branches in Dakahlia and Alexandria, with promising results.
- The project tackled high-profile issues such as the “Black Cloud” phenomenon, playing an active role in communicating public concerns to the authorities.
- The Environmental Hotline gained media attention, fostering collaboration between the project team and various media outlets, including newspapers, radio, and television. This exposure raised public awareness of the hotline and its services.
- An information committee was formed, involving media professionals from various sectors, with the aim of creating a comprehensive media plan to expand the hotline’s reach in target governorates.