- Upgrading 50 community water treatment and purification units, benefiting more than 25,000 households across Upper Egypt.
- Integrating clean energy and digital transformation solutions into seven community water stations.
- Supporting technical education and vocational training, social entrepreneurship, and incubation and acceleration initiatives to enhance learning outcomes and equip young people with the skills needed for the jobs of the future.
Sawiris Foundation and Schneider Electric have announced the launch of a strategic partnership aimed at implementing comprehensive and sustainable development initiatives for underserved communities across Upper Egypt. The partnership focuses on strengthening infrastructure, improving access to essential services across the water, energy, and food sectors, supporting sustainable livelihoods, enhancing learning outcomes by equipping youth with future-ready skills, and facilitating access to decent employment opportunities. The collaboration contributes to the achievement of Egypt Vision 2030 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The partnership agreement was signed by Sebastien Riez, Chief Executive Officer of Schneider Electric for North East Africa and the Levant, and Eng. Naguib Sawiris, Co-Founder and Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Sawiris Foundation, in the presence of H.E. Éric Chevallier, Ambassador of France to Egypt, Laila Hosny, Executive Director of Sawiris Foundation and Asmaa El Shimy, Sustainability Director for Africa at Schneider Electric.
The first initiative under this strategic partnership is the “Water is Life” Project, implemented in collaboration with Water is Life Foundation. The project aims to improve access to safe drinking water in underserved communities across Upper Egypt through an evidence-based, community-centered approach.
Building on the successful outcomes of the project’s pilot phase (2023–2025), the second phase (2026–2029) will significantly expand through Schneider Electric’s support. The new phase aims to rehabilitate 50 community water treatment and purification units, reaching more than 25,000 households across the governorates of Minya, Assiut, Sohag, and Qena. It will also introduce smart monitoring systems for real-time tracking of water quality and operational efficiency, while integrating renewable energy solutions to enhance service sustainability and reduce environmental impact.
Impact evaluations conducted in partnership with J-PAL MENA demonstrated that household adoption of filtered water reached 91% when barriers to access were removed. The findings also revealed that households were 61% more willing to pay for filtered water compared to alternative sources, underscoring the effectiveness, scalability, and long-term sustainability of the model.
The project also includes the installation of 84 kW of solar power capacity, with 12 kW allocated to each station, covering the upgrading of six existing stations and the establishment of one new station fully powered by solar energy. These interventions are expected to avoid approximately 69 tons of CO₂ equivalent emissions annually, while providing training programs for young people and local technicians to operate and maintain the systems.
As the technology partner, Schneider Electric Egypt will support the modernization of community water services through the integration of clean energy and digital transformation solutions. These include the Access to Energy Program, the EcoStruxure™ Platform, Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, and remote monitoring and control systems, enabling more efficient energy management, data-driven decision-making, and improved operational performance.
The project will also deploy a range of Schneider Electric technologies, including ATV320 Solar Drives, EcoStruxure™ Power Monitoring Expert (PME), smart meters, digital gateways, and electrical protection and control equipment. Together, these solutions will enable remote system management, environmental impact measurement, and seamless integration between water and energy services.
Commenting on the partnership, H.E. Éric Chevallier, Ambassador of France to Egypt, said: “The signing of this partnership between Schneider Electric and Sawiris Foundation to build a better future is a clear demonstration of the expertise of French companies and their strong commitment to supporting social and regional development efforts in Egypt, as a key partner in this journey.”
Sebastien Riez, Chief Executive Officer of Schneider Electric for North East Africa and the Levant, commented: “Sustainability lies at the very heart of everything we do at Schneider Electric. As Egypt continues to face the impacts of climate change and increasing pressure on its water resources, innovative solutions for underserved communities have become more critical than ever. Through our advanced technologies, we can monitor, measure, and remotely manage the sustainable impact of development projects, ensuring tangible environmental and social transformation for local communities.”
He added: “We are proud to partner with Sawiris Foundation and look forward to expanding this positive impact across Egypt by empowering young people to play an active role in the energy transition through education and entrepreneurship programs that aim to bridge the skills gap, address gender disparities, and ensure access to energy for all.”
Eng. Naguib Sawiris, Co-Founder and Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Sawiris Foundation, stated: “We take great pride in our long-standing partnership with the French Government and French institutions over the years, which has resulted in numerous development initiatives combining innovation, sustainability, and measurable impact. Today, we are delighted to welcome Schneider Electric as a new strategic partner, bringing world-class expertise in clean energy, technology, and sustainability. This partnership reflects our firm belief that addressing today’s most complex development challenges requires strong collaboration between development organizations, the private sector, and international partners to create more efficient, sustainable, and scalable solutions. We look forward to improving the quality of life and creating better opportunities for underserved communities across Upper Egypt.”
Laila Hosny, Executive Director of Sawiris Foundation, added, “The pilot phase of the ‘Water is Life’ Project demonstrated that evidence-based solutions, when designed around the needs of local communities, can generate sustainable and scalable impact. The accompanying research and evaluations enabled us to gain deeper insights into beneficiaries’ needs and develop a more effective model for delivering safe drinking water services. Today, this partnership represents another important step toward scaling that impact by combining the field expertise of Water is Life Foundation, the evidence-driven approach of Sawiris Foundation, and the advanced clean energy and digital transformation technologies provided by Schneider Electric, ultimately enhancing service sustainability and extending access to many more families in underserved communities.”
For more than 25 years, Sawiris Foundation has been one of Egypt’s pioneering grant-making development organizations, addressing some of the country’s most pressing social challenges, including poverty, unemployment, and limited access to quality education. Working in partnership with government entities, the private sector, civil society organizations, and international institutions, the Foundation has supported and implemented development programs across 24 governorates, with a particular focus on remote villages and underserved communities to improve livelihoods and expand development opportunities.
This partnership also marks a new chapter in Schneider Electric’s commitment to advancing an integrated sustainability model centered on knowledge transfer and the localization of green technologies within rural communities. Through this collaboration, the company aims to promote a future where energy efficiency, social equity, and environmental stewardship are seamlessly integrated, empowering local youth, strengthening community resilience, and contributing directly to Egypt’s sustainable development agenda.
About Schneider Electric:
Schneider Electric is a global leader in energy management and automation, driving efficiency and sustainability through electrification, automation, and digital transformation across industries, infrastructure, data centers, buildings, and homes. Its open, connected technologies enable smarter, more resilient, and more sustainable ecosystems. The company’s portfolio includes connected products, software-driven platforms, AI-enabled solutions, digital services, and expert consulting. Schneider Electric employs approximately 160,000 people, supported by a network of more than one million partners across 100+ countries, and is consistently recognized as one of the world’s most sustainable companies.
About Sawiris Foundation:
Sawiris Foundation for Social Development (SFSD) is one of Egypt’s first philanthropic development foundations. Established in 2001 and funded by the Sawiris family, the Foundation supports innovative solutions that advance inclusive and sustainable development by addressing the most pressing challenges facing marginalized communities, particularly multidimensional poverty, unemployment, limited access to quality education, and essential services. The Foundation also places strong emphasis on supporting Egypt’s arts and culture sector, recognizing its vital role in advancing human development.
