MSME Day 2024: UN Joint Programme ‘Rabeha’ and MSMEDA Empower Women Entrepreneurs in Egypt

Cairo, Egypt – June 27, 2024 – Today, on MSME Day 2024, the global community celebrates the vital role of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in advancing sustainable development. MSMEs account for 90% of businesses and contribute significantly to employment and GDP worldwide. In Egypt, MSMEs are the backbone of the economy, driving local communities and economic resilience. 

To mark this occasion, Dr. Shaimaa Ali, Senior Manager at the Egyptian Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (MSMEDA), participated in a national radio broadcast on Sha3by FM to highlight how the agency is collaborating with the UN Joint Programme, ‘Rabeha,’ to support women entrepreneurs in Egypt. Rabeha, funded by the Government of Canada and implemented by UN Women and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), aims to empower over 6,300 women through enhanced access to employment and self-employment opportunities. 

Joining Forces to Support Women Entrepreneurs
MSMEDA and Rabeha are working together to enhance the local entrepreneurial ecosystem by improving services for women entrepreneurs. Through training programmes and awareness raising campaigns, women are equipped with entrepreneurship skills to succeed in sectors such as date palms, handicrafts, and medicinal and aromatic plants. These efforts also focus on educating women about decent self-employment and entrepreneurship opportunities as well as locally available support services in Beni Suef, Fayoum, Minya, and Wahaat.

"MSMEDA’s primary objective is to support the growth of MSMEs, which are so important to Egypt’s sustainable development," said Dr. Shaimaa Ali during the radio interview. "Together with Rabeha, MSMEDA is empowering women entrepreneurs to thrive, building a more inclusive and equitable economy." 

Promoting Sustainable Practices
Central to the Rabeha and MSMEDA collaboration is promoting circular economy principles and green entrepreneurship. 300 aspiring women entrepreneurs have received specialised training to develop sustainability plans and incorporate circular economy principles into their handicraft businesses.

Supporting Market Access
Since late 2023, UNIDO has provided technical training to handicrafts entrepreneurs, focusing on product design, quality, marketing, and market access. With the support of an international design expert, the women developed innovative, eco-friendly products that use locally available materials. Linkages with international companies are also being established to support the integration of women-led businesses into global value chains. 

"We have reached a stage where we are helping women export their products and assisting them in innovation and marketing," Dr. Shaimaa Ali added.

Preparations are underway for the Turathna (Our Heritage) exhibition, scheduled later this year in Cairo. This exhibition, a flagship initiative of MSMEDA, celebrates Egyptian cultural heritage and promotes the economic contribution of the handicrafts sector. Rabeha-supported women entrepreneurs will have a dedicated space to showcase their diverse handicrafts and products at this national event.

The Rabeha programme has already supported the economic empowerment of more than 6,500 women in seven governorates through increased access to employment and self-employment opportunities. The programme is implemented by UN Women and UNIDO in partnership with the National Council for Women (NCW), the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MoTI), and MSMEDA, with the generous support of Global Affairs Canada.

For more insights into Rabeha and MSMEDA's initiatives and the impact of the programme, listen to the radio interview [https://fb.watch/sZ5SIOHArk/