Egypt’s Planning Minister Concludes African Women Leadership Program, Highlights Gender Empowerment Efforts

Dr. Hala El Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development and Chair of the Board of Trustees of the National Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development (NIGSD), concluded the activities of the fifth batch of the "African Women Leadership" program. The program, implemented by the institute, serves as the training arm of the ministry. The closing ceremony was attended by Dr. Sherifa Sherif, the institute's Executive Director, and Dr. Hanan Rizk, Director of the African Development Center at the institute.

During her speech, Dr. Hala El Said expressed her delight at the launch of the African Transformative Leadership Summit for 2024, which aligns with the fifth cycle of the "African Women Leadership" program. She emphasized that studies consistently confirm that societies with greater gender equality experience economic growth, enhance social welfare, increase creativity and innovation, and benefit from a wider range of ideas and experiences, leading to more effective decision-making and ultimately to a fairer and more just society.

El Said noted that women represent more than 50% of the total population of Africa, and the Egyptian government has taken unprecedented steps to achieve gender equality and empower women economically. This includes increasing the representation of women in leadership positions within the public sector and across society, as well as reaching out to women across the African continent. She highlighted that empowering women is a continuous action plan, prioritized by the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt during his presidency of the African Union and beyond. The African Women Leadership program was launched in 2019, based on Egypt's commitment to Africa's development, empowering women, and aligning with the African Agenda 2063.

El Said pointed out that the National Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development has trained and empowered over 500 influential women leaders from 45 different African countries. She explained that the African Women Leadership program provides an interactive platform to highlight the significant contributions made by African women in politics, economics, and society, enabling them to have a greater impact in implementing the African Agenda 2063 (The Africa We Want) with gender-responsive budgeting and beneficiary-targeted approaches, as well as skill development for women. Together, they are working towards a more inclusive, sustainable future with greater strength and safety.

El Said also reviewed some of the efforts of the Egyptian government to economically empower women, starting with the National Strategy for Women's Empowerment launched in 2017. She mentioned initiatives such as the "Solidarity and Dignity" program, the National Family Development Program, and the "Decent Life" initiative, three national development projects from which women benefit significantly, providing them with access to financial services and decent employment opportunities.

Regarding skills development and capacity building, El Said referred to the "Women Leadership" program in Egyptian governorates and the "She is for a Digital Future" initiative aimed at reducing the digital divide, benefiting around 5,000 women across Egypt, as well as directing this program to 100 women from six countries in Africa. As a result of these efforts, the representation of women in government reached a record level of 56%, parliamentary representation of women increased to 16%, totaling 162 seats, achieving financial inclusion for more than 16 million women. Additionally, over 8,000 women have been trained through various programs, and the female unemployment rate has significantly decreased from 21% to 17%. Furthermore, 209 women have been appointed as judges for the first time in the public prosecution and in the State Council.