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UN-run Rabeha program launches employability skills training for women in 4 Egyptian governorates
The United Nations-run Rabeha program launched on May 14 the first in a series of employability skills trainings that target 1,000 women from the Egyptian governorates of Giza, Fayoum, Beni Suef and Minya.
During the trainings and one-to-one coaching sessions, women job seekers gain essential work skills – such as communications, personal branding, teamwork, time and stress management, problem-solving, email etiquette, conflict and negotiations, CV-writing and interviewing skills. In addition, participants work alongside career-development and job-placement specialists who support them in improving their profile and applying for professional jobs.
Despite recent progress, women in Egypt face significant barriers in accessing formal employment. As a result, only 21 percent of Egypt’s working-age women are participating in the economy, compared to 75% of men. This lack of inclusivity has left many women feeling discouraged from seeking employment altogether. However, training provided by the UNIDO – UN Women Joint Program ‘Rabeha’ is helping to break down these barriers by empowering women with the skills, tools and confidence to find employment.
The Rabeha employability skills trainings are being organized by UNIDO in close collaboration with country partners, including the Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises Development Agency (MSMEDA), which has played a key role in engaging women in the community, especially from rural areas. The trainings are being facilitated by specialists from DCODE Economic and Financial Consulting, who engage with women participants, listen to their challenges and connect them with potential employers.
Closing gender gaps benefits the whole country, not just women and girls. Egypt-specific findings show that if the female labor participation rate matched that of males’, GDP would increase by 34%.
“Through the Rabeha program we are working together with our partners to address the root causes that limit women’s economic participation. This training focuses on developing women’s skills and creating pathways to employment, helping to ensure their equal participation in Egypt’s economic and social progress,“ Ahmed Rezk, UNIDO Deputy Representative Egypt, said.
The employability skills training is designed to enable women to achieve their full potential and to promote the country’s socio-economic development. To further facilitate this, the Rabeha program is also organizing a match-making event in June that will bring together employers and job seekers to connect women participants with new career opportunities in growth-oriented sectors including date palm, medicinal and aromatic plants and handicrafts.
Efforts like this on the ground demonstrate that the tide is turning for women’s participation in the labor market and gender equality in Egypt may come sooner than expected.
The Rabeha program aims to support the economic empowerment of more than 6,300 women in 7 governorates through increased access to employment and/or self-employment opportunities. The program is implemented by UNIDO and UN Women in partnership with the National Council for Women (NCW), the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MoTI) and the Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises Development Agency (MSMEDA), with the generous support of Global Affairs Canada (GAC).
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