Project profile — Opportunities for Women in Agribusiness in Egypt

• Egypt (100.00%)

• Public sector policy and administrative management:
Public sector policy and administrative management (15110) (10.00%)
Women's rights organisations and movements, and government institutions (15170) (20.00%)
Ending violence against women and girls (15180) (10.00%)
• Business And Other Services: Business support services and institutions (25010) (15.00%)
• Agriculture: Agricultural water resources (31140) (10.00%)
• Industry: Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) development (32130) (20.00%)
• General Environmental Protection: Environmental education/training (41081) (15.00%)

• Indigenous Issues (not targeted)
• Environmental sustainability (cross-cutting) (not targeted)
• Disability (not targeted)
• Nutrition (significant objective)
• Gender equality (significant objective)
• Children's issues (not targeted)
• Biodiversity (not targeted)
• Desertification (not targeted)
• Urban issues (not targeted)
• Disaster Risk Reduction(DRR) (not targeted)
• Participatory development and good governance (not targeted)
• Climate change mitigation (not targeted)
• Climate Change Adaptation (not targeted)
• Trade development (significant objective)
• Youth Issues (significant objective)
• ICT as a tool for development (not targeted)

This project enhances women’s economic well-being in the agribusiness sector in two governorates of Upper Egypt. It focuses on advancing women’s economic empowerment by establishing women-led agribusinesses and partnerships with private sector companies. It aims to improve work environments for women and gender-responsiveness of the Government of Egypt’s labour policies and regulations. Project activities include: (1) increasing access to growth-oriented and environmentally sustainable agribusiness opportunities for women entrepreneurs; (2) providing business management, technical and entrepreneurial training and health services to beneficiaries; (3) engaging with local leaders and influences to challenge stereotypes related to gender equality; (4) supporting new and existing enterprises and strengthening women’s entrepreneurship networks; (5) working with local companies to adopt gender-responsive policies and workplace models in their operations; and (6) increasing the capacity of public institutions to mainstream gender into national policies and strategies that address barriers to women’s access and control over economic benefits, particularly those related to agribusiness. This project expects to benefit 6500 direct beneficiaries, 342 intermediaries, and 22,225 (10,898 women and 11,327 men) indirect beneficiaries.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) enhanced employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for women and more equitable ownership and control over environmentally sustainable agribusinesses; (2) expanded adoption of gender-responsive workplace policies and practices that enhance women’s well-being at established agribusinesses; and (3) improved gender responsiveness of key Government of Egypt policies, regulations and strategies that promote women’s economic empowerment and reduce barriers to women’s employment and entrepreneurship.

Results achieved as of April 2023 include: (1) eight women’s economic empowerment organizations participated in a program to develop their capacity to promote women’s economic empowerment through awareness raising, training and business development services; (2) supported 18 local community committees to promote behavioural change by challenging gender barriers and promoting economic opportunities for women; (3) trained 358 women in entrepreneurship skills and how to develop business plans; (4) provided 254 women with business development support to establish or strengthen their businesses; (5) 900 community members participated in workshops that promoted gender equality concepts and women’s economic empowerment; (6) helped six private sector companies, in collaboration with the Egyptian Chamber of Food Industries and National Council for Women, improve working conditions for women, achieve the Egyptian Gender Equality Seal certification and become signatories of the UN Global Compact; (7) trained 60 trainers for a family health and well-being Program delivered to six agribusiness companies; and (8) developed a policy action plan to improve women’s economic empowerment for rural women.

• Proactive disclosure