Egypt, Spain invest €4.5m in women’s empowerment

Egypt is implementing 13 women’s empowerment projects in partnership with Spain, through the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), with total funding exceeding €4.5 million, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation Rania Al Mashat stated.

The remarks were made during events hosted by the Spanish Embassy and the African Centre for Economic Transformation (ACET) to commemorate International Women’s Day and Egyptian Women’s Day.

Al Mashat highlighted Egypt’s collaboration with Switzerland, Germany, Norway, and Ireland, emphasising that these partnerships aim to create a more inclusive economic environment and empower Egyptian women in both social and economic spheres.

She also underscored Bedaya Initiative, a programme focused on human capital investment, including women, to drive national development.

Al Mashat added that Egypt has increased investments in women’s education, healthcare, employment, and social services. She noted that the ministry is coordinating 89 gender-focused projects in partnership with international and regional organisations.

The minister further highlighted the Closing the Gender Gap Accelerator, launched in 2020 as the first initiative of its kind in the Middle East and Africa.

The programme has mobilised over 100 companies committed to addressing gender economic disparities and increasing women’s workforce participation.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English

Subediting: M. S. Salama