Women Empowerment: Unlocking Egypt’s Entrepreneurial Potential
Updated 3/4/2025 8:00:00 AM
Empowering female entrepreneurs is important for Egypt’s economic growth and gender equality. Despite their potential, women face challenges that hinder their entrepreneurial efforts.
However, various initiatives, including government-led programs, are underway to address these challenges and help women unlock their full potential. Empowering female entrepreneurs contributes to a more inclusive and robust economy.
Women's Participation in Labor Market
In Egypt, women need support to be on equal footing in the labor market. In the third quarter (Q3) of 2024, the unemployment rate among women reached 18.2%, compared to only 4.2% for men. Only about 4.7 million women were employed during this period, while around 25.33 million men held jobs, according to the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics’ (CAPMAS) Quarterly Bulletin Labor Force December Issue.
Entrepreneurship presents a mixed landscape for women, with both limitations and notable achievements. Women entrepreneurships in Egypt are not high, as female business owners make up 16% of all entrepreneurs, the Ministry of Social Solidarity revealed in February 2025.
Additionally, women have made strides in technology and digital entrepreneurship by launching start-up companies that compete regionally and globally. Women’s access to microfinance has risen to 60%, reflecting increased confidence from banks in women’s ability to achieve economic success, according to the ministry.
Empowering Female Entrepreneurs in Egypt
In recent years, the vital role of female entrepreneurs in contributing to economic development has been recognized, prompting a wave of initiatives aimed at fostering their success and inclusion.
In July 2024, Hassan Abdalla, Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE), signed the code of the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi), in collaboration with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). This initiative is designed to enhance access to financial resources for women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and offer them crucial technical support.
Nirmeen El Sayyad, a UN Women project manager at the American University in Cairo (AUC) and an economic expert, explains, “Egypt’s financial system has started to work on several initiatives that encourage financial inclusion and provide funding support, especially for female entrepreneurs.”
This represents a crucial turning point, acknowledging the unique needs of women and actively working to address them.
El Sayyad highlights that these initiatives go beyond offering capital; they dismantle the barriers that have historically held women back. This paves the way for a more equitable and inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem.
“Such initiatives are considered promising ones that could integrate women in the financial system and increase their access to finance,” she states.
“Programs like UN Women/UNIDO, Heya Raeda, and EBRD Women in Business relatively provided moderate funding, yet were able to help several female entrepreneurs start and expand. They were able to address key sectors with a significant number of female entrepreneurs, raising awareness and guiding several female entrepreneurs to succeed,” El Sayyad points out.
Challenges Facing Female Entrepreneurs
Female entrepreneurs in Egypt face a myriad of challenges that hinder their ability to start, manage, and grow businesses effectively. While all entrepreneurs encounter obstacles, women often navigate a significantly more complex landscape. This complexity is deeply rooted in societal expectations and ingrained norms that can restrict a woman's ability to thrive in the entrepreneurial sphere.
El Sayyad highlights these cultural barriers: "Female entrepreneurs face even more obstacles, such as cultural barriers that hinder their role." These cultural hurdles extend beyond business, reflecting broader societal norms that can limit women's roles and opportunities.
Beyond these cultural limitations, practical barriers also loom large. Jasmin Samy, Managing Partner/Founder of Shadow Sports Academy, says, "Female entrepreneurs in Egypt face a multitude of challenges, which vary depending on the sector."
Drawing from her experience in the sports industry, Samy notes a common misconception: “Many women pursue entrepreneurship as a pastime, rather than recognizing the drive, passion, and financial motivations."
As the first Egyptian woman to establish and own an official squash and padel academies, Samy underscores the challenges she encountered in securing reliable and equitable partnerships, with potential collaborators often hesitant to take a woman in business seriously. Ensuring equal rights and responsibilities within these partnerships required persistent advocacy and mutual understanding prior to starting any business.
El Sayyad also points out, "Access to finance is another crucial challenge for females, who may struggle to open a bank account." This highlights a systemic issue where even basic financial tools can be out of reach.
"Leading a project while managing life responsibilities is another challenge that needs the support of the woman’s family," El Sayyad adds, highlighting the delicate tightrope women walk to balance professional ambition and personal life.
Securing investment and sponsorship is another challenge. Samy further emphasizes that women-owned businesses often struggle to attract support until they have proven significant success. This creates a difficult cycle to break, especially in the demanding early stages of entrepreneurship when multitasking is essential.
Yet, the inevitable question of how women can achieve a work-life balance is particularly pertinent during these early stages, underscoring the need for broader societal support and understanding to empower female entrepreneurs in Egypt.
The Pivotal Role of Support and Resources
The success of women entrepreneurs is significantly influenced by the support and resources provided. Strong leadership, mentorship, and equitable business practices are key to women's empowerment.
“The private sector plays a crucial role in fostering women’s success. Leveraging their substantial presence and experience, private sector organizations are uniquely positioned to showcase women in leadership roles, thereby inspiring and empowering female entrepreneurs,” Samy explains.
Building on that foundation of inspiration, she emphasizes, “Financial access alone is not enough. Integrating mentorship programs and targeted training initiatives into corporate social responsibility strategies is essential. These programs should equip female entrepreneurs with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively manage and scale up their businesses.”
El Sayyad further elaborates on the importance of tailored mentorship, agreeing that “mentorship for females should be tailored to address females’ drawbacks in project design, marketing, and meeting production standards.”
“Addressing such problems in the female-focused context is crucial. Mentoring them given all the obstacles they might face is also the best way to give them guidance.”
While Egyptian female entrepreneurs face significant hurdles, their potential for driving economic growth and innovation is undeniable. The challenges, though substantial, are being met with increasing recognition and action. Government initiatives, coupled with the vital support of international organizations and the private sector, are creating a more enabling environment.
By Sarah Samir
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