Changing Laws and Breaking Barriers for Women’s Economic Empowerment in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia
At a moment when many countries of the MENA region are looking to accelerate economic growth and build more stable, open societies, this report argues that greater women’s economic empowerment holds one of the keys. It asserts that despite challenges some countries are facing in guaranteeing women equal access to economic opportunity, progress is underway and can be further nurtured through targeted, inclusive and coordinated policy actions. Building on the conclusions of a first monitoring report released in 2017, the report analyses recent legislative, policy and institutional reforms in support of women’s economic empowerment in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia and seeks to identify success factors that have helped anchor reform. Moreover, it delivers actionable examples and practical tools for policy makers to help them transform policies into effective actions for women’s economic empowerment.
Resource persons for the research
Key resource persons in Egypt includeNehad Aboul Komsan, Legal Expert and Chairman of the Egyptian Center for Women; Dr. Naglaa Al-Adly, Director of International Cooperation, National Council for Women; Engy Amin Ayad, Programme Manager, UN Women Egypt Country Office; Samia Archella, National Project Coordinator, Decent Work for Women in Egypt and Tunisia Project (ILO); Inès Ayari, Chief Technical Advisor, Decent Work for Women in Egypt (ILO); Yllka Gerdovci Cancel, Regional Programme and Policy Specialist, Women’s Economic Empowerment, UN Women Regional Office for Arab States; Heba Hesham, Coordinator of the Women in Business Unit, Federation of Egyptian Industry; Dr. Fatemah Khafagy, Board of Directors of Alliance for Arab Women and Egyptian Women’s Association; H.E. Dr. Moushira Khattab, Diplomat, former Minister for Family and Population; Alia el Mahdi, Professor at the Faculty of Economics and Political Science, Cairo University; Dr. Maya Morsi, President of Egypt's National Council for Women; Dr. Magued Osman, Director of the Egyptian for Public Opinion Research (Baseera)/Member of National Council for Women; May Mahmoud, Director of Special Projects (Women business center), National Council for Women; Marwa Sharafeldin, Board Member of Musawah, International Movement for Muslim Family Law Reform; Azza Soliman, Lawyer and Founder of the Center for Egyptian Women’s Legal Assistance; and Mona Zulficar, Lawyer and President of Tadamun Microfinance Foundation. An OECD-Egypt national consultation on women’s economic empowerment was organised in Cairo in September 2019 under the leadership of Dr. Sahar Nasr, former Minister of Investment and International Co-operation of Egypt.
Also available in: French
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