Sahar Nasr - Egyptian Women Workers and Entrepreneurs

Maximizing Opportunities in the Economic Sphere

Sahar Nasr, Editor

2010 The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank

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ISBN: 978-0-8213-8190-8
eISBN: 978-0-8213-8191-5
DOI: 10.1596/978-0-8213-8190-8

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data has been applied for.

Cover photo: Safaa Habib, the National Council for Women, Egypt
Cover design: Naylor Design, Inc.

Egyptian Women Workers and Entrepreneurs is a joint product of the government of the Arab Republic of Egypt and the World Bank. The report was initiated by a request from Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, Minister of Investment; Mrs. Aisha Abdel-Hadi, Minister of Manpower and Immigration; and Dr. Farkhonda Hassan, Secretary General of the National Council for Women.

Their request came at an opportune time. Egypt has made laudable progress in empowering women in society and in the economic sphere, but challenges remain. The World Bank Country Strategy praised Egypts progress in reducing gender disparities and closing gaps in education, health, and economic participation, but it also noted the need for continued work and committed to assisting the government through both analytical and project support. This book forms part of that commitment.

Supporting programs that contribute to womens economic empowerment is important, as a growing body of research demonstrates the benefits to society of empowering women. Recognizing this need, the World Bank Group launched the Gender Action Plan in 2007 to promote gender equality as smart economics. Since its inception, the plan has catalyzed activities such as this publication, both in client countries and across the World Bank Group.

The World Bank Group has been pleased to support the government of Egypt in identifying the obstacles facing women in the economic sphere. The main findings of this publication have already been integrated into the National Gender Strategy launched jointly by the World Bank, and the government of Egypt. We look forward to helping to implement this studys recommendations and hope this publication will increase attention to the role of women in the economy, ultimately contributing to leveling the playing field for women in Egypt, and maximizing their opportunities in the economic sphere.

Mayra Buvinic
Sector Director
Gender and Development
World Bank

Emmanuel Mbi
Director
Middle East and North Africa
World Bank

Zoubida Allaoua
Director
Finance, Economic, and Urban Development
World Bank

The Arab Republic of Egypt is undergoing significant demographic, social, and economic changes, including the roles of women and men. Opportunities and obstacles exist for women in the pursuit of education, livelihood, entrepreneurship, and old-age security. There is also wide scope for creative policy approaches to increase gender equity. Stemming from its belief that gender mainstreaming plays a vital role in development, the government has consistently expressed its commitment to integrating women fully into the development process.

The governments commitment to womens empowerment is strong at the highest political levels. Such commitment has been evident in identifying the empowerment of women in the Egyptian National Strategy; in mainstreaming gender in the Five-Year National Development Plan; and in establishing, by presidential decree, the National Council for Women (NCW), an official government body responsible for empowering women economically, socially, and politically and addressing their strategic needs by safeguarding their human rights. In his pledges during the 2005 presidential elections, President Hosni Mubarak highlighted the instrumental role of women in the development process.

Over the past decade, Egyptian women have witnessed significant progress in improving their status. New laws enable women to initiate divorce (khula) and to give Egyptian nationality to their children by non-Egyptian fathers. Specialized courts now hear all family-related issues, including custody and divorce. The first Egyptian woman judge was appointed by presidential decreea sign of womens increased clout in decision-making circles. And the Constitution was amended to allow for a quota of female parliamentarians.

A key priority area for the government is to empower women economically by enhancing their access to markets and finance and encouraging female entrepreneurship. Equally important are the provision of support social services and the establishment of healthy working conditions, so that women employees can participate effectively in the economic sphere.

Much remains to be done to translate economic reforms into real positive changes. Promoting an enabling institutional, legal, and regulatory environment for womens equal ownership and access to economic resources and assets such as land, finance, and property is essential for economic empowerment. Freeing women and their families from poverty requires strengthening their economic capacity as entrepreneurs, producers, and informal workers so that they can access and shape markets.

The progress and pace of these gender efforts have been commended at home and abroad. But challenges and impediments remain. The government will continue to foster efforts to mainstream gender in its national social and economic plan, as well as in the budget. We hope that the findings and recommendations of this report will assist in the ongoing endeavors to meet this challenge.

Mahmoud Mohieldin
Minister of Investment
Egypt

Aisha Abdel-Hadi
Minister of Manpower and Immigration