Empowering women, 
transforming workplaces, fostering innovation

Female labour force participation in Egypt remains among the lowest globally. Many women continue to face barriers to entering, remaining in, and advancing within the workforce, including gender biases, unequal access to leadership opportunities, and workplace environments that do not adequately support inclusion. These challenges not only limit women’s economic participation but also prevent businesses from fully benefiting from diverse talent and perspectives.

From the private sector’s perspective, promoting gender equality presents significant opportunities. Companies that invest in inclusive workplace practices often experience improved employee satisfaction, stronger innovation, enhanced decision-making, and increased competitiveness. However, many organisations require additional support, resources, and incentives to develop and implement effective gender-responsive measures and create sustainable pathways for women’s advancement.

To address these challenges, the Job Partnerships and SME Promotion (JP-SME) project under Invest for Jobs launched the “Empower-Her Champions Competition” in collaboration with Techne Summit. This competition was the conclusion of the year-long project Empower-Her, which fosters more equitable and inclusive working environments. The initiative recognises and supports private sector companies that demonstrate a strong commitment to gender equality through innovative workplace initiatives. By rewarding practical solutions and showcasing successful models, the project aims to inspire wider adoption of inclusive practices, empower women in the workplace, and contribute to more equitable and resilient businesses across Egypt.

Launched by Invest for Jobs in collaboration with Techne Summit, one of the MENA region’s leading entrepreneurship and investment events, bringing together startups, investors, industry leaders, and innovators to exchange ideas and explore emerging opportunities, the “Empower-Her Champions Competition” took place in 2024. The target was accelerating gender equality in Egypt’s private sector by encouraging companies to design and implement innovative measures that foster more inclusive, equitable, and supportive workplaces for women.

The competition invited private sector companies from various industries to submit proposals outlining practical initiatives to advance gender equality within their organisations. Proposed measures included improving recruitment and promotion practices, strengthening workplace policies, enhancing work-life balance provisions, increasing women's representation in leadership positions, and creating safer and more inclusive work environments. Following a competitive selection process, six companies were awarded financial and technical support to implement their proposed initiatives and serve as role models for other businesses.

The project was implemented in partnership with Techne Summit, which provided a platform to showcase the competition and engage a broad network of entrepreneurs, business leaders, and private sector stakeholders.

More than 150 small and medium companies applied to participate in the competition in 2024, of which 20 companies were shortlisted, and six companies were selected as winners. All the 20 companies received technical assistance. Additionally, the six winners received financial support including capacity-building workshops, expert mentoring, business advisory services, and training programmes. The support from Invest for Jobs enabled the design and implementation of the competition, the provision of funding for selected workplace equality initiatives, and the organisation of capacity-building and visibility activities. Through this comprehensive approach, the project contributes to creating more equitable workplaces, strengthening private sector competitiveness, and expanding economic opportunities for women across Egypt.