For the seventh consecutive year, UN Women Egypt has partnered with Procter & Gamble (P&G) to support women entrepreneurs in rural communities, reinforcing efforts to advance women’s economic empowerment and inclusive growth.
In December, 190 women from the governorates of Minya, Beni Suef, Fayoum and Assiut took part in an intensive training program designed to strengthen their entrepreneurial capabilities and improve the sustainability of their businesses. The initiative targets women running or seeking to develop micro and small enterprises in underserved rural areas.
The training focused on core business competencies, including customer behavior, competitor analysis, business planning, cost structures and break-even analysis. Participants also engaged in hands-on simulations that enabled them to professionally pitch their business ideas, helping bridge the gap between theory and real-world application.
In addition to technical business skills, the program placed strong emphasis on soft skills critical for entrepreneurship. Sessions addressed negotiation, teamwork, problem-solving, time management and effective communication — areas that participants and organizers alike identify as essential for long-term business success.
The initiative is part of UN Women’s global flagship program, Stimulating Equal Opportunities for Women Entrepreneurs, which has been implemented in partnership with P&G since 2017. Since its launch, the program has provided practical training in marketing, sales, and business and financial management to 910 women micro-entrepreneurs across Egypt.
According to UN Women, the program has supported 214 women in starting and managing their own retail businesses, generating more than 29 million Egyptian pounds in cumulative sales and achieving average monthly profit margins of 20 to 30 percent — a notable outcome in rural economies where women often face limited access to finance, markets and professional networks.
The program is funded by Procter & Gamble through collaboration with the company’s purchases team, underscoring what both partners describe as a shared commitment to advancing women’s economic participation and fostering sustainable, community-level growth.
Organizers say the continued expansion of the initiative reflects growing recognition of women entrepreneurs as key drivers of local development, particularly in rural areas where empowering women economically can have far-reaching social and economic impacts.
