Top global development employers in Egypt: A primer

Egypt is not only one of the political and cultural lynchpins of the Arab world. With its abundance of homegrown aid groups, the country also serves as the region’s leading international development hub. Cairo, Africa’s largest city, hosts a great number of these organizations, including some of the biggest and oldest Arab engineering consultancies; many of them have a long history of working with bilateral and multilateral donors on projects in Africa and the Middle East. The Egyptian capital is also the birthplace and home of the League of Arab States, one of the most influential political and cultural organizations in the Arab world. Here’s a list of some of the largest Egyptian institutions engaged in foreign aid projects, based on total staff size. Check the Devex jobs board for opportunities with these organizations and more. AAW Consulting Engineers Type: consultancyFounded: 1957Headquarters: CairoStaff size: 1,000+ A leading engineering consultancy in the Middle East and Africa, AAW provides a range of services including technical assistance, project management, site supervision and training. By the end of 2010, it had completed more than 1,300 projects worth $35 billion in 22 countries. Among its major clients are the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, African Development Bank, Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, or AFESD, European Commission, Islamic Development Bank, Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, Saudi Fund for Development, U.S. Agency for International Development and World Bank. ACE Consulting Engineers Type: consultancyFounded: 1950Headquarters: CairoStaff size: nearly 1,000 A multidisciplinary engineering and design consultancy, ACE has completed projects in more than 30 countries in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East, including assignments funded by the World Bank. It relies on experienced engineers and professionals in the fields of architecture, planning, structural design, management, surveying, and electro-mechanical installations, among others. ACE runs a paid internship program for undergraduates, preferably in their final year, with opportunities offered in most departments. Alexandria Business Association Type:NGOFounded: 1983Headquarters: AlexandriaStaff size: 913 (2010) Aside from supplying credit to small and medium-sized enterprises, ABA renders business training, marketing and technical assistance services. Its collaboration with international donors started in 1989, with USAID’s sponsorship of the nonprofit’s flagship microlending project catering to Alexandria’s SMEs. According to UNESCO, ABA serves as an “excellent model of a practice that can be effectively sustained.” ABA has also participated in a project commissioned by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (now Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, or GIZ) to create a practical guide for improving internal control of microfinance institutions, and with the United Nations Development Program as an international technical service provider in Bahrain and Yemen under the agency’s MicroStart program, an initiative extending direct support to MFIs in countries where the practice of microfinance is at its very early stage. Arab Contractors Type: consultancyFounded: 1955Headquarters: CairoStaff size: 77,000 Arab Contractors is one of the leading construction companies in Africa and the Middle East, with a presence in 29 countries. This government-owned corporation is experienced in constructing airports, bridges, public buildings, tunnels and other megainfrastructure. It has implemented projects funded by AfDB, the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, IsDB, Japan Bank for International Cooperation, Millennium Challenge Corp. and World Bank. Chemonics Egypt Type: consultancyFounded: 1992Headquarters: CairoStaff size: at least 250 consultants This independent engineering and management consulting firm specializes in water and wastewater systems, urban infrastructure, solid waste management, industrial pollution prevention and control, water resources protection and management, and urban and rural development. It has been contracted by donors such as the Danish International Development Agency, United Nations Environment Program, UNICEF and USAID to render capacity-building services and feasibility studies for projects in Iraq, the Palestinian territories and Syria. Economic Research Forum for the Arab Countries, Iran and Turkey Type: regional research networkFounded: 1993Headquarters: CairoStaff size: 265 affiliated researchers (2010) and 17 employees ERF encourages independent, high-quality research that helps advance sustainable development in Arab countries, Iran and Turkey. It mobilizes funds for well-conceived proposals, manages selected regional research initiatives, trains and mentors junior researchers, as well as organizes events and produces publications to disseminate research outcomes. It has the backing of AFESD, the Ford Foundation, Global Development Network, International Development Research Center, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, UNDP, USAID and World Bank. Engineering Consultants Group Type: consultancyFounded: 1969Headquarters: CairoStaff size: 2,000 ECG provides a wide array of engineering consultancy services such as studies and master planning, construction supervision, engineering and architecture design, and project management. Its project portfolio amounts to $70 billion, covering the building, industrial and oil and gas, power, transport, urban development, water and wastewater sectors in the Middle East and North Africa. This ISO 9001:2008 company has worked with UNICEF, USAID and World Bank. Environmental Quality International Type: consultancyFounded: 1981Headquarters: CairoStaff size: 185 full-time employees What started as a public-private partnership delivering environmental consulting services is now a full-service company specialized in environment and natural resources management, enterprise development and governance in Africa and the Middle East. Its service offerings include socio-economic and market research, environmental management and design, management advisory services, agricultural resource management, media and communication campaigns design and implementation, and administrative and logistical support. It has been involved in projects funded by the Canadian International Development Agency, Danida, the Dutch government, European Commission, European Investment Bank, Finnish International Development Agency, Ford Foundation, GIZ, International Labor Organization, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, SDC, UNDP, United Nations Center for Human Settlements, USAID, World Bank and World Health Organization. Hydraulics Research Institute Type: research instituteFounded: 1975Headquarters: DamiettaStaff size: 300+ Attached to the Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation’s National Water Research Center, HRI is one of the oldest research institutes focused on hydraulics in Africa and the Middle East. It shares technical and scientific experience and advice with decision-makers and managers at the ministry, performs studies for other government bodies, NGOs and consulting firms, and provides training on hydraulic and river engineering to water professionals in the region. HRI is a registered with AfDB, IsDB and World Bank as a consultancy. League of Arab States Type: regional organizationFounded: 1945Headquarters: CairoStaff size: 500+ The Arab League comprises 22 member countries in the Middle East and North Africa. It seeks to strengthen ties, coordinate political activities and promote common interests among members. The league agreed in 1968 to form AFESD, a Kuwait-based institution that finances economic and social development projects in the Arab world. It also has a specialized agency for Arab education and culture, called the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization. The Tunis-headquartered agency has made international cooperation a pillar of its operations and has partnerships with global organizations such as GIZ, UNEP, UNESCO and WHO. Other notable global development employers in Egypt: Consultancies - Center for Development Services - CID Consulting - Dar Al Handasah - EcoConServ Environmental Solutions - Engineering Research and Consulting Co. - Entrust - Finance & Banking Consultants International - HC Securities and Investment - Health Care International - ICB Egypt - Integrated Development Consultants - LADIS - North South Consultants Exchange - Office for Studies and Finance - Pacer Consultants - Prodev Group - Social Planning, Analysis and Administration Consultants Funding agencies - African Export-Import Bank - WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean Goods suppliers and service providers - African Market Co. - Cairomatic - El Sewedy Electrometer Egypt - Elsewedy Electric - International Printing House Egypt - Surveying Systems - Unatrac International Institutes - Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies - Cairo Demographic Center - Center for Social, Judicial and Economic Documentation and Study - Center for Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe - Egypt Banking Institute - Ibn Khaldoun Center for Democratic Studies - International Center for Future and Strategic Studies - John D. Gerhart Center for Philanthropy and Civic Engagement, American University in Cairo - Social Research Center, American University in Cairo NGOs - Afro-Asian Peoples’ Solidarity Organization - Alliance For Arab Women - Arab Administrative Development Organization - Arab Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession - Arab Council for Childhood and Development - Arab Foundation for Civil Society and Human Rights Support - Arab Media Forum for Environment and Development - Arab Organization for Human Rights - Arab Program for Human Rights Activists - Arab Women Solidarity Association - ArabDev - Arabic Network for Human Rights Information - Ashoka Arab World - Association for the Development and Enhancement of Women - Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies - Development and Institutionalization Support Center - Egyptian Center for Women’s Rights - Global Development Network - Habitat International Coalition-MENA - INTACT Network - Sanabel Did we forget any major global development institution in Egypt? Let us know by placing your comment below. Lorenzo Piccio contributed to this report. Check our lists of top aid groups in other global development hubs such as London, New York, Paris and Washington. Read more development aid news online, and subscribe to The Development Newswire to receive top international development headlines from the world’s leading donors, news sources and opinion leaders — emailed to you FREE every business day.