Egypt’s transformative development presidential initiatives, Haya Karima and Bedaya, are playing a pivotal role in empowering women, enhancing infrastructure, and fostering socio-economic growth, particularly in rural areas. Both projects target reducing poverty, improving living standards, and advancing gender equality, with a strong focus on the country’s women and families.
Haya Karima: Empowering Rural Egypt and Focusing on Women’s Development
Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat recently highlighted the significant progress of Egypt’s flagship rural development initiative, Haya Karima (Decent Life), noting that 85.5% of the first phase had been successfully implemented by the end of November 2024. With an allocated budget of EGP 295.5 billion, the project aims to address developmental gaps and reduce multidimensional poverty in Egypt’s rural areas, particularly focusing on underserved villages in Upper Egypt.
Haya Karima has been internationally recognized for its alignment with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the first phase has already benefited 18 million citizens across 1,500 villages, with 23,000 projects initiated. Of the allocated funds, 68% have been directed toward Upper Egypt, where 61% of the beneficiaries reside.
Minister Al-Mashat emphasized that over 70% of the investments from the first phase are dedicated to human development, with special attention given to improving education, healthcare, and financial inclusion, particularly for women.
Key Achievements in Education and Health
The project has already made significant strides in education by renovating 1,300 schools and upgrading 15,000 classrooms. Efforts to eliminate illiteracy have benefited over 510,000 individuals, with the illiteracy rate in targeted governorates dropping by 7% between 2021 and 2024.
Health-related investments have also been a central focus, with the development of 1,102 health units and 24 central hospitals. This infrastructure upgrade plays a critical role in improving healthcare access, particularly for women and children in rural communities. Additionally, the initiative aligns with Egypt’s National Climate Change Strategy 2050, with 30% of its investments directed toward climate-resilient projects.
Economic and Technological Advancements
The project has made impressive strides in boosting rural economic opportunities, especially for women. By extending the gas network to 506 villages, increasing telecom services, and offering financial services, Haya Karima is driving financial inclusion. A total of EGP 65.6 billion in loans have been provided to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), benefiting over 2.9 million people, many of whom are women-led businesses.
The project also includes a focus on digital literacy, with 73,000 citizens trained, and has expanded banking infrastructure across rural regions. These investments empower rural women by offering them better access to financial services, employment opportunities, and business growth.
Bedaya: Promoting Women’s Economic Empowerment
In addition to Haya Karima, Egypt’s Bedaya Presidential Initiative has been instrumental in empowering women economically and socially. Launched in September 2024, Bedaya focuses on providing critical services to vulnerable families, including financial assistance for tuition fees, marriage grants, and medical services. Offering 154 million services in total, the initiative shows a strong emphasis on supporting women’s economic participation.
Women’s Economic Empowerment and Vocational Training
The Bedaya initiative has financed over 12,300 micro and small businesses run by youth and women, particularly those from families benefiting from Egypt’s Takaful and Karama social subsidy programs. Financial inclusion efforts have also been a central theme, with 2,200 women attending lectures on financial literacy.
Vocational training has been a major success of the initiative, equipping women with skills that empower them to launch and manage their own businesses. The program has reached over 5,800 individuals with training on agricultural and veterinary practices.
Empowering Women in Agriculture
With Egypt’s large rural population, agricultural and veterinary services are critical to improving living standards. Through Bedaya, 97,869 free veterinary services have been delivered, and training has been provided to thousands of women and men on agricultural best practices, boosting their incomes and productivity.
Health and Social Services
In addition to business support, Bedaya has provided essential health services, including contraceptive distribution, awareness sessions on child development, and social services for the disabled. Over 1,285 students received climate change awareness education, linking environmental consciousness with future sustainability efforts.
Looking Ahead: Sustainable Development and Gender Equality
Both Haya Karima and Bedaya represent Egypt’s commitment to improving the lives of its citizens, especially women, by fostering inclusive development and addressing key socio-economic challenges. By focusing on human development, healthcare, education, and economic empowerment, these initiatives are helping pave the way for a more inclusive and sustainable future.
As Egypt continues to implement these initiatives, they will not only improve the living conditions of rural populations but also contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With strong governmental support and ongoing international recognition, the Haya Karima and Bedaya initiatives are setting a new standard for rural development and women’s empowerment in the Middle East.
