With the successful close of a multi-year initiative funded by the European Union, Egypt’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (MSMEDA) marked the closing of the “Addressing the Root Causes of Irregular Migration” agreement with a spotlight on one of its most powerful outcomes: empowering thousands of women with the tools, training, and confidence to build livelihoods at home.
Implemented across 11 migration-prone governorates, the initiative trained over 42,100 young people—of which a significant portion were women—in entrepreneurship, craft skills, and vocational training, all with the aim of reducing migration pressures and unlocking untapped human capital.
Women: The Centerpiece of an Inclusive Development Model
Backed by €27 million (approximately EGP 600 million) in EU funding, the project did more than create jobs—it created choices. It enabled young women, many of whom live in economically fragile or socially conservative environments, to build viable micro and small businesses, increase their household income, and participate in their communities’ growth.
Women were trained in fields ranging from tailoring and food processing to tech-based startups and agribusiness. In several cases, graduates of the program have become local employers, hiring other women in their villages and towns—turning the migration narrative on its head.
Key Outcomes with a Gendered Lens
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42,100 youth trained in business and vocational skills—thousands of them young women
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Creation of 26,000+ permanent jobs, with women benefitting from new enterprise and employment pathways
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Engagement of 166 NGOs, many of which specialize in working with rural women
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Implementation of awareness campaigns addressing migration alternatives and women’s role in economic decision-making
Changing Perceptions, One Workshop at a Time
While infrastructure rehabilitation—paving roads, improving water access, and upgrading public buildings—was a major component, the heart of the program lay in behavioral change.
Workshops, mentorship programs, and community events focused on breaking gender norms, particularly in rural governorates like Minya, Fayoum, and Kafr El-Sheikh. The project’s outreach approach—using peer educators and local role models—was instrumental in building trust and shifting perceptions.
The EU’s Commitment to Women in Development
In remarks delivered on behalf of EU Ambassador Angelina Eichhorst, Anni Kovec, Head of Governance and Social Inclusion, emphasized the role of women’s empowerment in EU-Egypt cooperation.
She underscored the EU’s strategic commitment to gender-responsive development, citing this program as a flagship model for how investment in women yields security and stability at scale.
Government Support and Future Vision
Ambassador Wael Badawy, representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noted that tackling irregular migration requires a whole-of-government approach—but especially one that centers on economic equity for women.
This initiative transformed passive beneficiaries into active change agents. From microenterprises in Assiut to vocational hubs in Dakahlia, women are now choosing to stay—not out of necessity, but because they see possibility.
