ICT Minister launches Wa3i.net platform and oversees MoU signing on child online protection

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye

Egypt’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Raafat Hendy, has witnessed the official launch of the Wa3i.net platform under the Digital Citizenship and Online Safety Initiative, coinciding with Safer Internet Day in February. The event also featured the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) and the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood (NCCM) to strengthen cooperation on child online protection.

Wa3i.net is among the first integrated Arabic platforms dedicated to digital citizenship and online safety. It provides age-classified content tailored to children, adolescents, youth, parents, educators and the elderly. The platform aims to promote safe and responsible use of technology, raise awareness of digital risks, build critical thinking skills, safeguard personal data and support families and educators with practical guidance and resources.

The launch event was attended by NCCM President Sahar El Sonbaty, UNICEF Representative in Egypt Natalia Winder Rossi, UNDP Egypt Resident Representative Chitose Noguchi, senior MCIT officials, NCCM board members and civil society representatives.

During the ceremony, Hendy and El Sonbaty oversaw the signing of the MoU, which was formalized by Hoda Dahroug, Advisor to the ICT Minister for Digital Community Development and Regional Director of the Digital Transformation for Sustainable Development in Egypt Project, and NCCM Secretary-General Wael Abdel-Razek.

In his remarks, Hendy said the launch of Wa3i.net and the signing of the MoU reflect the state’s commitment to protecting citizens, particularly children, amid accelerating digital transformation. He described child online protection as a matter of societal security and human development, citing risks such as digital addiction, cyberbullying, exposure to inappropriate content and online exploitation.

Hendy noted that the initiative aligns with directives from President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to ensure that digital infrastructure expansion is accompanied by enhanced public awareness, especially among children and adolescents.

He also said the MoU comes as the House of Representatives discusses a national legislative framework to regulate children’s internet use while safeguarding their access to online learning and creativity. MCIT has submitted a comprehensive plan built on five pillars, including the application of age-appropriate protection standards for games and websites, blocking harmful online games, and requiring platforms to adopt child-safe default settings.

The plan further предусматри cooperation with the Ministry of Social Solidarity and NCCM to raise family awareness of online safety tools, and collaboration with the Ministry of Education to integrate digital safety into school curricula and activities.

El Sonbaty described the cooperation protocol as a step toward stronger institutional coordination in child online protection. She said the partnership will focus on developing specialized awareness content, improving access to support services and building professional capacity in digital citizenship. She emphasized that digital safety is a national priority and an extension of children’s right to protection and development.

Under the agreement, MCIT will develop and provide interactive digital awareness content through Wa3i.net, ensure accessibility for children with disabilities and protect children’s data privacy. The ministry will also organize workshops and training sessions for children, parents and educators, and build specialist capacity in cooperation with NCCM and other national partners.

NCCM will lead national child protection awareness efforts, set policies and strategies, coordinate with relevant authorities and provide support services across governorates. The council will review digital content prior to publication to ensure its suitability and accuracy, contribute to child-focused content development and conduct nationwide awareness sessions on digital citizenship and online safety.

UNICEF and UNDP representatives affirmed their support for Egypt’s efforts to promote inclusive and responsible digital transformation. They highlighted the importance of safeguarding vulnerable groups, particularly children, as part of the country’s transition toward a knowledge-based society.

According to MCIT, the Digital Citizenship and Online Safety Initiative has so far delivered 38 training courses under its online protection programme, benefiting 1,727 teachers, and 13 training courses on essential digital citizenship skills for 658 participants. In total, 2,385 youth and teachers have benefited from training activities.

The initiative has also organized 40 online awareness sessions for 1,868 parents, guardians and youth, as well as 41 interactive workshops for 2,472 children and adolescents, implemented in cooperation with public libraries, schools, youth centers, governorates and civil society organizations.