Women’s economic empowerment for inclusive and sustainable growth in Egypt

This project aims to support women’s economic empowerment in Egypt where women's unemployment is more than 3 times that of men. Women in Egypt face significant barriers to securing decent work and limited access to financial and non-financial services discriminatory social norms and lack of access to social protection or support services. The project works to help create jobs by improving the business-enabling environment and promoting a culture of entrepreneurship for Egyptian women in high growth sectors such as agribusiness and energy. This project is implemented by UN Women in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). Project activities include: (1) providing technical training and advisory services to women-led businesses; (2) supporting the establishment of innovative and green businesses; (3) supporting businesses to mainstream gender in supply chains review policies and implement new ones that empower women; and (4) supporting women-owned enterprises to access alternative financing. The project expects to reach up to 7 215 direct beneficiaries and approximately 30 000 indirect beneficiaries.

The expected outcomes of this project include: (1) increased productivity and job opportunities generated by women entrepreneurs; (2) increased employment of women by businesses; and (3) reduced gender-specific barriers to women’s entrepreneurship and women entering into and remaining in the workforce.