The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the National Council of Women, and the Drinking Water and Sanitation Holding Company have jointly launched the Fayoum Drinking Water and Sanitation Company’s economic inclusion project in Fayoum governorate.
The objective of this project is to facilitate the establishment of business networks, wherein rural Egyptian women will play an active role. The project aims to enhance the technical and management skills of these women, improve their economic returns from business activities, support them in forming productive alliances, and create long-term marketing sources.
This partnership holds immense significance in promoting women’s economic empowerment, wherein all parties are collectively contributing towards providing a range of non-financial services aimed at enhancing women’s income and developing their capabilities. The ultimate goal is to enable women to support themselves and their families financially and lead a better quality of life.
During the initial phase of the project, a series of significant activities were undertaken to establish the basis for enhancing women’s economic inclusion in Fayoum. These activities entailed conducting multiple analyses of gender-sensitive value chains and selecting priority value chains based on several criteria, including women’s participation in the value chain, demand for economic activity, and growth potential.
A digital evaluation technique was employed to identify villages with high potential, followed by stakeholder analyses to establish critical relationships vital for the project’s success. These efforts have paved the way for the second phase of the project, which will focus on empowering women economically in Fayoum.
