The gender approach cross-cuttingly characterizes the programs funded or directly implemented by AICS Cairo. The intent is to support Egypt in its journey towards building a more inclusive and gender-sensitive society through projects on women’s empowerment and combating gender-based violence, as defined in the Egyptian National Strategy for Women’s Empowerment 2030.
Within this framework, the project “Enhancing the Role of Women in Southern Egypt,” managed by the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), aims to socially and economically empower women in the target areas of Assiut and Sohag, particularly women in rural and marginalized locations. The project incorporates economic and social dimensions and brings together different actors, both at the community and government levels, involving women’s rights organizations and community leaders as agents of change. The social empowerment component aims to ensure that women in the focus areas have better access to gender-responsive services and actively participate in public life; while the economic empowerment component aims to foster their financial inclusion through support to the national initiative of the NCW and the Central Bank of Egypt and to strengthen existing women-led enterprises in the area through increased participation in micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and productive clusters.
The program “Surrounded and Engaging Platforms Campaign: Innovative Outreach Approach to Address Population Growth in Egypt” also continues, aimed at addressing the challenge of population growth, through which the Italian Cooperation is supporting the Egyptian government in the implementation of the National Population and Development Strategy 2015-2030 and the National Action Plan for Family Development, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The intervention entails an innovative outreach approach consisting of an educational campaign that combines the production of a TV series with community mobilization activities on the ground, and improved reproductive health services.
KHADRA is an initiative implemented in Siwa, Matrouh Governorate, aimed at accelerating gender equality and the socio-economic empowerment of women and girls in Egypt. The project promotes female entrepreneurship rooted in Siwa’s rich artisanal heritage, including embroidery, silverwork, and ceramics, while addressing health, financial inclusion, and market access barriers that limit women’s full participation in economic life. Through vocational and business training, a dedicated microcredit line, advanced business advisory services, and maternal and child health awareness activities, KHADRA supports aspiring and existing micro-entrepreneurs to start and grow sustainable businesses. It also strengthens local civil society organizations to ensure long-term sustainability. Managed by AICS Cairo, the initiative contributes to Egypt Vision 2030 and the National Strategy for the Empowerment of Egyptian Women.