Egypt: International Cooperation Minister Rania Al-Mashat said on Tuesday the USAID-funded $39 million Women’s Economic and Social Empowerment Program comes within a framework of the strategic economic partnership between Egypt and the United States under which the Inclusive Economic Governance bilateral assistance agreement was signed.

Mashat, during the launching ceremony, pointed out that women’s empowerment is one of the main goals which the International Cooperation Ministry works on to achieve cooperation with multilateral and bilateral development partners.

She stressed the importance of the private sector’s role in empowering women, enhancing their role in economic development, and achieving comprehensive and sustainable growth, underlining international studies show that increasing the rate of women’s participation in the labour market is reflected in the economy’s productivity.

The program will be implemented from 2022 to 2027 in the governorates of Assiut, Behiera, Minya, Greater Cairo, Sohag, and Qena.

The program aims to promote women’s access to economic opportunities in Egypt by improving the private sector work environment for women, expanding financial inclusion, and reducing violence against women and girls.