Investing in human capital and stronger institutions remains central to sustainable development and the Sawiris Foundation’s recent collaboration with Harvard Business School reflects that goal. Through the FIELD Global Capstone program, students worked directly with the Foundation in Cairo to explore practical ideas that could strengthen organizational effectiveness and improve development outcomes.
On 24 May, the Sawiris Foundation hosted six students from Harvard Business School in Cairo as part of the FIELD Global Capstone program, an international course designed to strengthen students’ ability to manage and work effectively in different business environments. The Sawiris Foundation was one of 156 project partners across 14 countries selected to host students, joining organizations that together welcomed more than 900 Harvard Business School students globally.
The one-week engagement in Cairo gave students the opportunity to work directly with the Foundation while gaining practical experience in solving real-world challenges. Before arriving in Egypt, the students worked remotely with the Sawiris Foundation’s capacity building team over several months to better understand the organization’s work and local context.
While in Cairo, the students spent time at the Foundation’s head office where they pitched ideas to leadership, carried out field research with beneficiaries around the city and later presented final recommendations to management. The Foundation’s Executive Director, Laila Hosny, and Deputy Executive Director, Mays Abou Hegab, took part in the final presentation stage and directly engaged with the recommendations.
The immersive nature of the program is designed to create value for both students and partner organizations. Through the FIELD Global Capstone model, students are encouraged to introduce a new product, service or customer experience while learning how to work effectively in unfamiliar business and social environments. For organizations such as the Sawiris Foundation, the process also creates opportunities to receive new ideas and practical recommendations informed by external perspectives.
Building Skills and Practical Solutions Through Collaboration
The collaboration forms part of the Sawiris Foundation’s wider effort to strengthen Egypt’s civil society institutions through knowledge exchange, institutional learning and long-term capacity building.
“We are pleased to collaborate with Harvard Business School through the FIELD Global Capstone program, which creates a meaningful space for knowledge exchange and shared learning between students and organizations working on the ground,” said Laila Hosny, Executive Director of the Sawiris Foundation.
Hosny said the partnership goes beyond academic engagement by encouraging practical discussions around local development challenges and how workable solutions can be introduced.
“For us, the value of this experience extends beyond the academic aspect, as it also opens a broader dialogue around local development challenges and how they can be addressed through practical and applicable solutions,” she said.
According to Hosny, strengthening people and institutions remains critical to ensuring sustainable development and stronger long-term outcomes.
“This collaboration reflects Sawiris Foundation’s strong belief in the importance of investing in human capital and strengthening the capacities of civil society organizations, as both are essential pillars for achieving sustainable development and maximizing long-term development impact,” she added.
The program also highlights how partnerships between global academic institutions and local organizations can help bridge theory and practice, exposing students to real challenges while giving institutions access to fresh thinking and outside expertise.
Supporting Long-Term Development in Egypt
The Harvard collaboration builds on the Sawiris Foundation’s broader work under its Capacity Building of Egyptian Non-Governmental Organizations Project, an initiative aimed at strengthening technical skills and institutional effectiveness across Egypt’s development sector.
One of the project’s milestones was the First Egyptian Civil Society Forum, held last April under the auspices of the Ministry of Social Solidarity. The Foundation has also established five civic training centers and trained 2,203 development workers, approximately 62 percent of whom are women. These efforts are focused on improving technical capacity and increasing participation in community development initiatives.
By connecting local organizations with global learning opportunities, the Foundation sees partnerships such as this as a way to strengthen resilience and create more sustainable approaches to development work.
Harvard Business School also highlighted the role of organizations such as the Sawiris Foundation in creating meaningful opportunities for practical learning.
“We are extremely grateful to Sawiris Foundation and all the FIELD Global Capstone Project Partner organizations for all they do on behalf of our students,” said Professor Joe Fuller, Faculty Chair for the FIELD Global Capstone.
“The students benefit immeasurably from this experience, and we hope the partner organizations do as well,” he added.
Engagements with institutions such as Harvard Business School form part of the Sawiris Foundation’s wider efforts to promote innovation, shared learning and cross-cultural collaboration in support of inclusive and sustainable development in Egypt. With more than 25 years of experience, the Foundation continues to support initiatives designed to strengthen resilience, inclusion and long-term social impact across communities.
