The 9th conference of the National Democratic Party (NDP) scheduled to be held during the period from 2 to 6 November represents an opportunity for evaluation and thinking after 5 years of the great development witnessed by the party. The conference will review the account statement on many levels including evaluation of NDP performance following the internal elections, performance of NDP leaders and implementation of targets specified in President Mubarak's electoral program.

The NDP launched a number of initiatives related to the general policies of education, health and services and acquired vast experiences in the formulation of said policies through dialogue and discussion among politicians, experts and executive personnel. The party opened critical files, discussed hot issues and offered a group of policies to the public opinion.
The party's government has implemented said policies which led to major transfers in economy and politics and achieved a great leap in growth rates and economic indicators. It means that deepening the economic reform policy will guarantee distribution of revenues of development among all social brackets and categories.

Evaluation of results of reform policies raises four issues:
First: Any general policy, especially in early stages, does not serve all categories at the same level and there is no policy which serves all people at the same time. Therefore, it is necessary to review the indirect and unintended negative effects due to the adoption of said policy and take the measures necessary for dealing with and minimizing said effects. It is important to confirm that the main target of reform policies is to achieve higher rates of growth and distribute said rates among all citizens on fair bases.

Second: The concept of targeting in the general policies making. For example, speech about fighting poverty and combating corruption in general is no longer standing, but the matter requires a planned and intended targeting for specific places and individuals as the general policy aims at changing their positions. Today, we have a clear map for the social positions in Egypt's villages and districts in need of services.

Third: The above-mentioned resulted in the development of policies formulation from the stage of specifying targets and overall trends to offering specific obligations based on available finance, executive programs, specific time plans. This matter is reflected by the papers to be submitted to the conference concerning education, health, drinking water, sewage, urban planning of villages, insurance and pensions system.

Fourth: The general policies of education, health, job opportunities and social guarantees must be integrated in order to achieve the aspired change in the social reality of individuals and families in need.

These four factors represent the intellectual base for the policies papers scheduled to be discussed by the NDP 9th conference. They aim at dealing with interests and needs of citizens through deepening policies of reform which achieved high rates of economic growth and with the aim of realizing the social justice which is the base of political stability for Egypt.

By: Dr. Ali-el-din Helal
Al Ahram
27/10/2007