Cairo: Minister of Environment Dr. Yasmine Fouad has reviewed a report detailing the accomplishments of the Women’s Unit at the Ministry of Environment and its agencies, the Environmental Affairs and Waste Management Organization. This unit was established to ensure equal opportunities and promote environmental awareness among women, operating on two main fronts: integrating gender considerations into the administrative system of the agencies and embedding gender equality as a core principle in all environmental policies and plans.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the latest statistics from February 2025 reveal that women now occupy 50.4% of leadership positions within the Ministry. This figure stands out against the overall percentage of women employed at all levels within the Ministry, which is about 27%. This achievement reflects the efforts led by the Egyptian state, under President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, to enhance the role of women in economic and social development.
Dr. Yasmine Fouad highlighted the government’s commitment to the empowerment of women, evident in its inclusion of specific objectives in its work program aimed at their economic, political, and social empowerment. The Minister emphasized the ongoing efforts to encourage the participation of female leaders within the Ministry and its agencies, ensuring women have a greater role in various tasks and activities.
The Ministry has also implemented an annual capacity-building plan for the Women’s Unit’s teams in regional branches, working independently or with partners like UN Women and UNICEF. From March 2024 to March 2025, 179 female trainees from the Ministry were trained under this initiative.
Furthermore, the Ministry has signed cooperation protocols with civil society organizations to foster women’s involvement in environmental activities. These collaborations include partnerships with the Al-Wefaq Foundation for Environment and Integrated Development in Kafr El-Sheikh and the Green Foundation for Friends of the Environment and Sustainable Development in 10th of Ramadan City.