During the Women’s Economic Empowerment Forum (WEEF) The Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation Witnesses the Launch of the Joint Regional Project between the European Union and the OECD to Enhance Women's Access to Finance

  Dr. Rania Al-Mashat: The project aims to improve financial inclusion for women and empower female entrepreneurs in 8 countries, including Egypt.

 Economic empowerment of women is at the heart of Egypt’s strategies with international partners.

 Our partnership with the OECD is strategic and achieves several objectives, including building women’s capacities and their economic empowerment.

Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, witnessed the launch of the joint regional project between the European Union and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to enhance female entrepreneurs’ access to finance. This took place during the Women’s Economic Empowerment Forum (WEEF), which is being held on November 13 and 14, co-organized by the OECD and the Ministry in Cairo today, in the presence of Mr. Ulrik Vestergaard Knudsen, Deputy Secretary-General of the OECD, and several ministers, ambassadors, and representatives of the European Union and international organizations, including Ms. Noor bint Ali Al Khalifa, Minister of Sustainable Development and Member of the Supreme Council for Women, and CEO of the Economic Development Board of Bahrain.

Al-Mashat highlighted the importance of the EU-funded project, which aims to enhance women’s economic empowerment by improving financial inclusion and access to finance in eight countries in the Middle East and North Africa, including Egypt. The project seeks to foster an enabling policy and regulatory framework for financial inclusion, focusing particularly on women and female entrepreneurs. She noted that the project will raise awareness among policymakers and financial institutions about the importance of financial inclusion for women entrepreneurs.

During the opening session of the WEEF 2024, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat spoke alongside Mr. Ulrik Vestergaard Knudsen, Deputy Secretary-General of the OECD, Ms. Ann Shaw, Deputy Head of the EU Mission in Egypt, Ms. Ruta Zarnauskaite, Head of Regional Cooperation in the Southern Neighborhood at the European Commission, Ambassador Stephen Borg, Deputy Secretary-General of the Union for the Mediterranean, and Ambassador Eric Chevallier, Ambassador of France to Egypt.

 

In her speech, Dr. Al-Mashat emphasized that the economic empowerment of women is central to Egypt’s national strategies and that this focus aligns with Egypt’s national development priorities. She added that approximately 49% of Egypt’s population is female, making gender equality and women’s economic empowerment not just an economic necessity but an integral part of the country’s national strategy.

She further explained that Egypt launched its National Strategy for the Empowerment of Women in 2017, aligning with Egypt's Vision 2030. This strategy is more than just a set of policies—it is a comprehensive roadmap aimed at achieving a diverse and inclusive workforce, a fair economy, and a society where every woman has the resources and support needed to realize her full potential.

Dr. Al-Mashat noted that the government is committed to creating an enabling environment for female entrepreneurs, which contributes to a stronger and more inclusive economy. This is achieved through gender-responsive budgeting, mainstreaming gender considerations, and targeted skill development programs. She referenced the 2022 Gender-Responsive Sustainable Development Plan Guide, which reflects Egypt’s commitment to building an inclusive society by integrating gender considerations into every government program.

H.E. also highlighted Egypt's collaboration with the OECD to promote gender equality and empower women, stressing that the partnership with the OECD is a strategic alliance aimed at maximizing the impact of gender equality initiatives within Egypt’s national development agenda. In this regard, she mentioned the launch of Egypt’s country program with the OECD in 2021, which includes 35 projects designed to address Egypt’s most pressing social and economic priorities. Among these, two major projects focus directly on advancing women's empowerment, demonstrating Egypt’s commitment to evidence-based policymaking and translating gender equality commitments into tangible, lasting impact.

Dr. Al-Mashat also mentioned the OECD Gender Capacity Review and Building Project, which aims to identify and overcome challenges to women's economic participation. This comprehensive project evaluates Egypt’s progress concerning the OECD’s recommendations on gender equality in education, employment, and entrepreneurship and provides actionable recommendations to close gender gaps in economic participation. It further supports Egypt in advancing women’s economic empowerment through a series of collaborative activities.

She also touched on the Women’s Participation in Public Life project, describing it as a pioneering initiative to integrate a gender perspective into the green and digital transitions—two sectors critical to Egypt's sustainable development and climate goals. Supported by the OECD’s Public Governance Project, this initiative aims to enhance gender integration and strengthen women's leadership.

Dr. Al-Mashat concluded by highlighting that these projects equip Egypt with enhanced capabilities, frameworks, and insights that support gender equality in policy making. By implementing best international practices and deepening cooperation with the OECD, Egypt is not only advancing its own goals but also contributing to regional knowledge-sharing on gender-responsive policies.

The Minister also discussed the EU-funded Public Governance and Economic Support Program in Egypt, which reflects the strategic partnership between Egypt, the EU, and the OECD. She expressed her gratitude for this cooperation, noting that the program represents a critical initiative to advance Egypt's goals on governance reform, gender equality, and gender mainstreaming at all levels of public administration. She also emphasized the launch of initiatives that promote youth participation in policy processes, reinforcing Egypt’s commitment to an inclusive approach to governance.