Juhayna awarded the Egyptian Gender Equity Seal (EGES) by the National Council for Women in collaboration with Women’s Economic and Social Empowerment Program funded by USAID and implemented by Pathfinder International

Cairo, February 22, 2024: Juhayna Food Industries has been awarded the Egyptian Gender Equity Seal (EGES) by the National Council for Women in collaboration with Women’s Economic and Social Empowerment Program funded by USAID and implemented by Pathfinder International. This recognition comes as a testament to Juhayna’s dedication to promoting and supporting gender equality practices within the private sector. The company’s vision is to create equal opportunities while empowering women’s roles in achieving sustainable development.

The awards ceremony recognized auditors of the Egyptian Gender Equity Seal (EGES) and the private sector companies who were awarded and those who were in the process of being granted the seal. In attendance were notable figures, including Dr. Maya Morsy, President of The National Council for Women (NCW), Mr. Sean Jones, USAID’s Mission Director in Egypt, Dr. Maged Othman, Former Minister of Communications and Director of the Egyptian Center for Public Opinion Research “Baseera”, Dina Kafafi, Chief of Party of Women’s Economic and Social Empowerment Program (WESEP) and Passant Fouad, External Communications Director at Juhayna.

H.E Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation, said: “Evidence from multiple institutions have emphasized the significance of women’s participation in the economy for the economic well-being, making the gender equality agenda a significant priority for a resilient and inclusive future. The ceremony of recognition for the Egyptian Gender Equality Seal (EGES) highlights a noteworthy achievement by these private sector companies in reinforcing more inclusive work environments.”  Dr. Rania Al-Mashat also added that these efforts come within our goals of ‘Bridge the Gender Equity Gap Catalyst’, a national initiative that promotes collaboration between the public and private sectors to effectively address economic disparities between genders.

In her speech, Dr. Maya Morsy emphasized that this meeting falls under the umbrella of women’s economic empowerment and their participation in the labor market, which the Egyptian government prioritizes due to its supportive political will and commitment to empowering women in general and economic empowerment in particular. Dr. Maya added that the Egyptian government has implemented several supportive policies to promote women’s participation in the labor market, such as the Article 11 of the Constitution and the National Strategy for Empowering Egyptian Women 2030.

Among the policies approved by the state is the “Bridge the Gender Equity Gap” catalyst, which was launched by the National Council for Women in collaboration with the Ministry of International Cooperation. This initiative is based on the model of the World Economic Forum, and Egypt is the first country in Africa and the Middle East region to implement it. The catalyst serves as a supportive framework for other economic models aimed at empowering women, such as the Egyptian Gender Equity Seal (EGES) and the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPS). Dr. Maya also added that the catalyst provides a supportive framework for the other economic models implemented by the council to achieve women’s economic empowerment. These models include the Egyptian Gender Equity Seal and the Women’s Empowerment Principles. She further highlighted that the previous models have made significant progress and achievements towards their goals. For example, the number of Egyptian companies embraced the Women’s Empowerment Principles has reached 101, and the number of Egyptian companies that are committed to promoting gender equality has now reached, where some are still in the process of joining the Egyptian Gender Equity Seal (EGES).

During her speech, Dr. Maya, also announced the establishment of the “Gender Equity Gap Catalyst and Egyptian Gender Equity Seal in the Private Sector Unit” at the National Council for Women headquarters. This unit will focus on building capacities and supporting companies in creating an enabling work environment for the integration of women in the labor market. Its operation will commence immediately.

She concluded her speech by expressing sincere gratitude and appreciation to all the partners involved in this important project, including the Ministry of International Cooperation, the World Bank, and USAID’s “Egypt Women’s Economic and Social Empowerment Program” implemented by Pathfinder International. She thanked them for their valuable cooperation in enhancing the capabilities of private sector companies. Additionally, she expressed her hope that in the coming months, more institutions and companies would join in their efforts to obtain the Egyptian Gender Equity Seal (EGES) with the aim of its presence in every Egyptian institution.

Dina Kafafi, Chief of Party of Women’s Economic and Social Empowerment Program (WESEP) said: “The Women’s Economic and Social Empowerment Program is honored to provide its support to the Egyptian government by providing technical assistance, and capacity building to private sector companies. Our aim is to promote diversity, inclusion, and women’s empowerment within the workplace.”

During the event, Passant Fouad, External Communications Director at Juhayna had the opportunity to participate in a panel discussion titled “The Impact of Gender Diversity on Organizational Success.” In her remarks, she expressed her immense pride in Juhayna’s achievement in being awarded the Egyptian Gender Equity Seal (EGES). She emphasized that Juhayna places significant importance on ensuring the well-being and empowerment of women in the workplace. Furthermore, she highlighted the company’s active involvement in supporting various projects that aim to further empower Egyptian women and promote gender equality in the surrounding communities – as well as prioritize the psychological and physical safety of women both within and outside the communities where they operate.

Fouad also stated that internally, Juhayna has implemented the PRO Girls training program, in collaboration with the German Corporation for International Cooperation. The program aims to educate young girls in schools on how to enter fields traditionally dominated by men, such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), through various training sessions. Juhayna has also worked with the German Corporation for International Cooperation in creating a diversified and inclusive work place that provides equal opportunities for career development and promotion. As a result, Juhayna currently has 30% representation of women in leadership positions, including departments such as Information Technology where men typically dominate.

Respectively, Fouad also mentioned that Juhayna has implemented various initiatives to support Egyptian women on a broader scale. One of these initiatives is the “Heya El Commanda” program, which was launched in 2020. The program aims to empower women in Beni Suef and Minya, enabling them to contribute effectively to their families and society as a whole while gaining economic independence. Through this program, Juhayna provides training sessions that cover topics such as product specifications, pricing, and capital management. In its first year, the program witnessed a remarkable 137% growth in women’s total sales within just 8 months.

It is worth noting that the Egyptian Gender Equity Seal (EGES) is an accredited certificate designed to promote and support the private sector’s initiatives in empowering women. This is achieved through the implementation of various practices in the areas of employment, career development, work-life balance, and sexual harassment policies. The seal follows guidelines set by the World Bank’s Gender Equality Model, which outlines crucial goals and actions necessary to achieve gender equality across all sectors.

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