Opportunities for women in agribusiness in Egypt

This project aims to enhance women’s economic well-being in the agribusiness sector in 2 governorates of Upper Egypt. It focuses on advancing women’s economic empowerment by establishing women-led agribusinesses and partnerships with private sector companies. It seeks to improve work environments for women and gender-responsiveness of the Government of Egypt’s labour policies and regulations. Project activities include: (1) increasing access to growth-oriented and environmentally sustainable agribusiness opportunities for women entrepreneurs; (2) providing business management technical and entrepreneurial training and health services to beneficiaries; (3) engaging with local leaders and influences to challenge stereotypes related to gender equality; (4) supporting new and existing enterprises and strengthening women’s entrepreneurship networks; (5) working with local companies to adopt gender-responsive policies and workplace models in their operations; (6) increasing the capacity of public institutions to mainstream gender into national policies and strategies that address barriers to women’s access and control over economic benefits particularly those related to agribusiness; and (7) implementing Productive Cooperative Model. This project expects to benefit 6500 direct beneficiaries 342 intermediaries and 22 225 (10 898 women and 11 327 men) indirect beneficiaries.

The expected outcomes of this project include: (1) enhanced employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for women and more equitable ownership and control over environmentally sustainable agribusinesses; (2) expanded adoption of gender-responsive workplace policies and practices that enhance women’s well-being at established agribusinesses; and (3) improved gender responsiveness of key Government of Egypt policies regulations and strategies that promote women’s economic empowerment and reduce barriers to women’s employment and entrepreneurship.