Within the national environmental policy framework, an Egyptian Environmental Policy Program has been initiated in 1999 with support from the United States Agency for International Development. Through this program, the Government of Egypt seeks to implement its priority environmental policy objectives and measures, through institutional, and regulatory reforms, with a focus on a number of areas. These include economic and institutional constraints, cleaner and more efficient energy use, reduced air pollution, improved solid waste management, sustainable tourism, as well as nature conservation. In April 2001, the 18-month-long Tranche I of the program came to an end with the successful achievement of the planned policy measures by the MSEA and its executive agency the EEAA. The year 2001/2002 will witness the operationalization of Tranche II of the program, building onto the achievements of Tranche I, and further advancing the implementation of the priority environmental policies of the Government of Egypt.