Egypt Allocates EGP 1.3B to Boost Women's Economic Empowerment

Egypt has renewed its pledge to empower women economically by incorporating the same into the Economic and Social Development Plan in fiscal year 2026/2027, making it an important aspect in their future development plans. The plan includes widening access to finance for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) so that more women can engage in entrepreneurial activities.

In order to improve capital access, the goal is to help women grow their businesses, earn higher incomes, and thus help stabilize the economic well-being of their households. In order to facilitate this process, the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (MSMEDA) allocated more than EGP 1.3 billion for women in 2025.

Key Highlights:

• Egypt allocates over EGP 1.3B to advance women’s economic empowerment
• Women-focused funding supports around 25,900 projects across Egypt
• Upper Egypt receives the largest share of financing directed to women

Loans that were granted to women constituted about a quarter of the total loans extended by the agency, underlining the ongoing efforts of the Egyptian government in terms of expanding financing options for more people and increasing the presence of women in entrepreneurship. The idea behind the project is to reach women entrepreneurs in various governorates, especially those that belong to poor and underdeveloped governorates. The program aims at encouraging women to set up their own enterprises and ventures successfully.

As per the information in the plan, the financial assistance was responsible for 25,900 projects. The micro-enterprises formed the major portion of the finance, and even the small and medium sized enterprises were receiving considerable financial assistance. Not only that the money helped in forming businesses and expanding them but also generated thousands of jobs for women.

Development plan highlights that promoting women’s empowerment requires a blend of financing, development of infrastructure, community-based activities, and trainings. This shows a more holistic approach of policy in which apart from financing, steps are also being taken to build up the skills of women entrepreneurs and create conducive environment for them.

There is special emphasis put on capacity building, skill development, and having access to a favorable business environment in the program. With this the government hopes to increase the sustainability of businesses run by women. It is important not only to help women start businesses, but to help them manage and develop them in the long run.

Based on the Economic and Social Development Plan for 2026/27, Upper Egyptian governorates have had the largest percentage of funding directed towards women, out of which the largest share goes to the commercial sector. The fact is indicative of the strategy adopted by the state in its attempts to give more economic chances to women outside the major cities.

These measures are viewed by the government as being a part of a broader plan for increasing the participation of women in the labour market and entrepreneurship as an avenue of achieving economic independence.

Small businesses are supported not only for the purpose of making them profitable and productive but also for ensuring that they are able to create jobs and contribute to the economies in which they operate. The objective of the initiative is to improve income levels and living standards through increased financial and economic inclusion of women in Egypt.