Egypt’s workforce includes 5.5 million women out of a total of 31 million, with agriculture employing 57% of them. The Nile Delta, a key agricultural region, is among the world’s most vulnerable to rising sea levels, leaving women exposed to climate risks. The International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Advancing the Decent Work Agenda in North Africa (ADWA) project is addressing these challenges through gender-responsive climate policies. These figures illustrate that women constitute roughly one-sixth of the national labor pool, yet their representation in higher-value sectors remains limited.
Skills for a Just Transition
ADWA’s 2024 Rapid Situational Analysis identified agriculture, renewable energy, and waste management as sectors where women-led enterprises could thrive. However, systemic barriers—such as limited access to finance and resources—restrict opportunities. The initiative’s capacity-building work focuses on equipping women with skills like financial management, regulatory navigation, and green technology adoption, all essential for sustainable businesses in emerging markets. By targeting these competencies, the program aims to close the gap between informal activity and formal employment.
“Women entrepreneurs are central to just transitions,” said Sara Andersson, Technical Officer on Women’s Entrepreneurship Development at ILO Geneva. The ILO’s global program targets three areas: policy reforms, institutional support, and tools for gender-responsive economies. Andersson noted that tailored policies and resources can help women lead in sustainable sectors. The broader ILO mission seeks to embed gender equity in all climate-related labour standards worldwide.
Climate change worsens gender inequalities, particularly for women in vulnerable sectors. 71% of global workers face heat stress risks, with productivity dropping over 50% when temperatures exceed 34 °C. Camilla Roman, Senior Technical Specialist for Just Transition, emphasized the need for policies balancing work-life responsibilities and investing in the care economy. Emanuela Pozzan, Senior Gender Specialist, highlighted measures like maternity protection and childcare support as essential for gender equality. Health-related losses also translate into lower household incomes and reduced community resilience.
ADWA’s work extends beyond skills training to systemic change. Over five years, the effort has trained 1,700 judges, including Egypt’s largest group of female judges, on international labour standards. Initiatives also promote formalising informal work, providing social protections for women. Valentina Verze, Enterprise Development Specialist, stated that addressing climate-gender intersections has been a key focus in Egypt. Formalisation helps workers access benefits such as health insurance and retirement savings.
Stakeholder Summit and Gender-Responsive Transition Workshop
Over the past week, ADWA convened the United Nations, development agencies, and donor Sida to discuss aligning climate action with gender equality. Participants explored policy options and collaborative mechanisms to integrate women’s needs.
A two-day workshop aimed to build skills for gender-responsive transitions and promote women’s entrepreneurship. Sessions emphasized sustainable economies and equipped women with tools to lead in green sectors.
