Women represented 53% of all microfinance beneficiaries in Egypt during the first quarter of 2026, highlighting their growing role in the country’s financial inclusion agenda, according to the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA).
The figures were announced by Dr. Islam Azzam, Chairman of the FRA, during a seminar on Financial Inclusion and Sustainable Development organized in partnership with UN Women, the National Council for Women, the European Union, and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The event brought together financial institutions, development partners, and experts to discuss expanding access to financial services and supporting sustainable development.
Dr. Azzam stressed that financial inclusion has evolved beyond providing access to financial services to become a key driver of economic growth and improved living standards. He emphasized that expanding access to appropriate financial products enables more citizens to participate in the formal economy while supporting Egypt’s national development goals.
Highlighting the importance of women’s economic empowerment, Dr. Azzam revealed that 1.8 million women benefited from microfinance during the first quarter of 2026, accounting for 53% of all beneficiaries. Women also held nearly 45% of the sector’s total outstanding financing portfolio, which reached EGP 74 billion.
The FRA continues to strengthen Egypt’s non-banking financial services sector by developing legislative and regulatory frameworks that expand financial inclusion, encourage innovation in financial products, and address the needs of women, young people, and residents of underserved and remote communities.
Dr. Azzam also emphasized that improving financial literacy remains a strategic priority. The FRA is working with local and international partners to implement awareness programs that help individuals make informed financial decisions, understand their legal rights, and access financial services with greater confidence.
He added that cooperation with international organizations and development partners plays a vital role in transferring global best practices, encouraging innovation, and supporting the sustainable growth of Egypt’s non-banking financial sector.
During the seminar, Marwa Alam El Din, Officer-in-Charge of UN Women Egypt, described investing in women’s economic empowerment as both a smart investment and a necessity for achieving inclusive and sustainable growth. She noted that empowering women strengthens families, increases productivity, and creates greater opportunities in education, healthcare, entrepreneurship, and decent work.
She also highlighted the Tahwesha program, implemented by UN Women in partnership with the National Council for Women and the Central Bank of Egypt, with support from the European Union and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The initiative focuses on rural communities by expanding access to secure digital financial services while improving women’s financial management, savings, and entrepreneurship skills.
The discussions also addressed the growing need for innovative financing solutions that respond to women’s evolving needs in the digital economy, including stronger consumer protection and safeguards against financial exploitation and digital violence.
Two panel discussions explored gender and financial inclusion, as well as sustainable finance for rural women. Experts from the FRA, UN Women, the Egyptian Federation for Microfinance, the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (MSMEDA), Fawry MSME Finance, and academic institutions exchanged practical experiences and policy recommendations for expanding women’s access to finance, improving governance, and ensuring responsible lending practices.
The seminar reaffirmed that strengthening financial inclusion and expanding responsible financing remain central to advancing women’s economic empowerment and achieving sustainable development in Egypt.
