The UN Women will provide approximately 5m jobs for Egyptian women by the end of 2020, according to the organisation's representative Ziad Sheikh. The jobs will be created in cooperation with the Social Fund for Development (SFD) and Coca Cola. In a conference held Saturday, entitled "Economic empowerment of female breadwinners", Sheikh said women's economic empowerment is one of the five topmost priorities for the United Nations. Sheikh added that the project aims to raise the standard of living for families mainly supported by women's income. This will positively affect these families in terms of education, health and meeting the basic needs. SFD Secretary General Soha Soliman said 4,000 small-sized businesses will be provided for low-income women at a cost of EGP 18m in 250 villages. The first phase will be launched in 78 villages. General Manager at Coca Cola Egypt Omar Mandour said the company seeks to achieve the project's objectives on two parallel axes. The first of these is based on granting women booths or small shops to sell various food products. The second axis is based on developing food products distribution centres, including granting women suitable distribution methods, such as scooters, which will help increase sales, thus increasing monthly income. Minister of Urban Development Laila Iskander said the ministry received requests from Egyptian women seeking to work in cleanliness projects without relying on cleaning companies. "The project is set to be implemented in cooperation with SFD and Ayadi for Employment Company," Iskander added. The conference comes on the occasion of International Women's Day, celebrated on 8 March every year.
