الهيئة العامة للرقابة المالية

Dr. Islam Azzam – FRA Chairman:

• Women secured 53% of total Egyptian microfinance funding in Q1 2026.
• FRA is actively strengthening regulatory frameworks to empower Egyptian women, especially in underserved areas.
• FRA partners with international bodies to implement best practices, stimulate innovation, and expand financing options.

Financial Regulatory Authority organized a Seminar under the theme “Financial Inclusion and Sustainable Development,” in cooperation with UN Women, National Council for Women, European Union and Embassy of the Netherlands. The event convened at the Authority’s headquarters in the Smart Village, with the participation of delegates from financial institutions, development partners, and specialized experts.

FRA Chairman Dr. Islam Azzam attended the event, stating that financial inclusion has evolved from simple service access into a major driver of economic growth and efficiency. By providing tailored financial products to all segments of society, these initiatives actively elevate living standards in line with Egypt’s national goals.

FRA Chairman stated that the economic empowerment of women constitutes a principal pillar for achieving sustainable development. He indicated that recent statistics for microfinance activities during the first quarter of the current year (2026) demonstrated that women represent 53% of total beneficiaries, totaling 1.8 million women, with outstanding balances reaching approximately 45% of the total credit extended, which reached EGP 74 billion.

He further clarified that the Authority persistently works to develop the legislative and regulatory environment governing non-banking financial activities. This is intended to expand the scope of financial service beneficiaries and promote innovation in financial product design to fulfill the requirements of various categories, foremost among which are women and youth in underserved and remote regions.

He added that the Authority places the dissemination of financial literacy at the forefront of its priorities as a crucial success factor for financial inclusion efforts. FRA is dedicated to consolidating cooperation with diverse domestic and international agencies to execute initiatives aimed at elevating financial awareness, enhancing citizens’ capacity to make sound financial decisions and ensuring awareness of their rights guaranteed by legislations and Authority resolutions.

Dr. Islam Azzam underscored that partnership with international organizations and development stakeholders represents a significant element in transferring expertise and capitalizing on innovative global best practices, especially within emerging economies, thereby granting the non-banking financial services market greater vitality to keep pace with rapid developments.

The seminar featured an opening address by Dr. Rehab Taha, Assistant to FRA Chairman, followed by two panel discussions examining the latest developments in financial inclusion and women’s roles in sustainable development, alongside presentations of several successful initiatives.

In her speech, Marwa Alam Eldeen, Acting Country Representative of UN Women Egypt, emphasized that investing in women’s economic empowerment is not merely an option, but a smart investment and a prerequisite for achieving inclusive growth and sustainable equity. “Empowering women does not only transform their lives; it stabilizes families, boosts community productivity, and opens broader horizons for education, healthcare, decent work, and active economic participation,” she stated. From this perspective, “Tahwisha” program—in partnership with the National Council for Women and the Central Bank of Egypt, and supported by the European Union and the Embassy of the Netherlands—serves as a pioneering model for digital transformation and financial inclusion in rural areas. This model provides women with secure access to digital financial services while enhancing their financial management, savings and entrepreneurial capabilities.

She added that amid current global challenges and rapid digitalization, there is an urgent need for innovative financing solutions tailored to women’s needs that protect them from the risks of exploitation and digital violence. “This is where our partnership with the Financial Regulatory Authority gains vital importance in developing a supportive regulatory environment and promoting responsible finance,” she concluded.

The first panel, titled “Gender and Financial Inclusion,” was moderated by Yasmin Hassan, Vice Chairman of the Central Dept. for Technical Offices – FRA. Panelists included Dr. Amal Salah, Vice Chairman of the Central Dept. for SME Finance – FRA; Ms. Dina Kamal, Vice Chairman of the Central Dept. for Financial Literacy and Awareness; Eng. Amr Soliman, Head of the Economic Committee – Tahwisha Project; and Mr. Magdy Moussa, a microfinance expert.

The second panel focused on “Sustainable Finance and Rural Women,” moderated by Engy Amin, Financial Inclusion Program Manager at UN Women. Featured speakers included Dr. Tarek Seif, Executive Director of both the Financial Services Institute (FSI) and the Regional Center for Sustainable Finance (RCSF); Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Professor of Finance at the American University in Cairo (AUC). In addition to Dr. Hala Abou El Saad, President of the Egyptian Federation for Financing Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (EFSMEs) ; Nesma El-Gharably, Head of Microfinance central sector at MSMEDA and Mr. Mohamed Abdel-Halim, Managing Director of awry MSME،.

Both panel sessions focused on reviewing the real-world economic and social challenges facing projects and initiatives. Participants exchanged practical success stories and strategic insights on expanding women’s economic empowerment. Discussions also addressed methods for tracking evolving needs, analyzing factors influencing credit extension, strengthening procedural governance and ensuring robust verification of financing requirements.The event brought together representatives from Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA), FRA’s Regional Center for Sustainable Finance (RCSF), the National Council for Women (NCW), UN Women, the Egyptian Federation for Financing Medium, Small, and Micro Enterprises (MSMEF), MSMEDA, alongside various financial institutions and experts.