Chancellor Amal Ammar, President of the National Council for Women (NCWC), recently highlighted Egypt’s transformative journey toward female empowerment during the closing session of the Egypt-OECD Country Programme. Speaking on sustainable development and institutional efficiency, Ammar credited the unprecedented progress to the strong political will of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. She noted that since the 2014 Constitution, which is built on equality and equal opportunity, Egypt has passed a historic package of 59 laws and 33 administrative decisions specifically designed to support and protect women.
The justice system in the “New Republic” has undergone a major overhaul, introducing laws that criminalize discrimination and the deprivation of inheritance. Ammar particularly praised the new Labor Law, which offers working women significant protections to balance their professional and family lives. This includes regulated maternity and childcare leave, as well as strict protections against unfair dismissal due to pregnancy. Similarly, the Civil Service Law ensures dignity and non-discrimination within the state’s administrative apparatus, protecting women’s career paths and promotion opportunities regardless of their family circumstances.
Economic empowerment remains a top priority on Egypt’s 2030 agenda, and the results are record-breaking. Over the past decade, female financial inclusion in Egypt has surged by a staggering 307%. By 2025, women’s access to financial services reached 71.4%, reflecting a massive integration into the formal banking system. Today, women are not just participants in the economy—they are leaders, heading 53% of all small businesses across the country.
The NCWC has spearheaded several award-winning initiatives to drive this change, most notably the “Tahwisha” (Savings) project. Part of the National Project for the Development of the Egyptian Family, Tahwisha empowers 1.2 million women through 60,000 savings groups. The project’s social and economic impact was recently recognized with the prestigious Government Excellence Award. Ammar emphasized that these programs provide women with the financial independence needed to secure their futures and support their families.
To ensure quality and fairness in the marketplace, the Council also launched the “Taa Marbouta” seal, which boosts the competitiveness of women-led products. In the corporate world, the Egyptian Gender Equality Seal (EGES) has become a vital institutional tool. By encouraging fair work environments within the private sector, the EGES promotes better governance and enhances the competitive edge of businesses that champion equality. Through these multifaceted efforts, the NCWC continues to build a society where every woman has the legal, financial, and professional support to thrive.
