Shaping the Future of Gender Finance in Egypt

We are currently supporting the microfinance institution Tamweely in Egypt in developing a comprehensive gender strategy and action plan. This six-month project is funded by British International Investment. To gain a client perspective on gender finance, we invited Sherein Ahmed, Strategic Planning Director at Tamweely, to share her views on gender finance. 

GOPA AFC: What inspired Tamweel to prioritize gender finance and develop a dedicated gender strategy?

Sherein Ahmed: At Tamweely, financial inclusion has always been central to our mission of enabling sustainable economic growth. Over the years, we have witnessed firsthand the resilience and potential of women entrepreneurs across Egypt, particularly within the micro and SME segments. Prioritizing gender finance is a natural extension of our strategy to deepen market penetration, diversify our portfolio, and create long-term shared value. Developing a dedicated gender strategy allows us to move from participation to intentional impact—ensuring that our products, processes, and risk frameworks are better aligned with the needs of women-led businesses.

GOPA AFC: Can you share your vision for the gender strategy and how it will shape the bank’s approach to serving women entrepreneurs?

Sherein Ahmed: Our vision is to institutionalize gender finance as a core business pillar rather than a standalone initiative. The strategy will guide us in embedding gender-sensitive product design, data-driven portfolio management, tailored customer journeys, and performance KPIs across the organization. It will also enhance internal capacity and governance to ensure sustainability. Ultimately, we aim to create a differentiated value proposition for women entrepreneurs—one that combines access to finance, advisory support, and long-term relationship management—positioning Tamweely as a leading partner for women-led growth businesses.

GOPA AFC: Which innovative financial products or services do you foresee to be developed specifically for women as a result of this project?

Sherein Ahmed: Tamweely already offers tailored financial solutions designed specifically to meet the needs of women entrepreneurs, reflecting our long-standing commitment to serving this important segment. Through this project, we aim to further enhance and refine these offerings by introducing more structured, data-driven product features such as flexible repayment structures aligned with business cash cycles, sector-focused financing programs, and bundled value-added services such as micro-insurance and business advisory support.

Our focus is on continuously developing specialized products that address the practical challenges faced by women-led businesses, while strengthening their financial resilience, scalability, and long-term sustainability.

GOPA AFC: How do you see the future of gender finance in Egypt and the wider region?

Sherein Ahmed: Gender finance in Egypt and the region is moving from a social agenda to a strategic economic priority. With increasing regulatory support, investor focus, and data transparency, we expect significant growth in tailored financial solutions for women entrepreneurs. Institutions that adopt structured gender strategies will be better positioned to capture underserved market segments while enhancing portfolio quality and impact performance. At Tamweely, we see gender finance as a key driver of sustainable growth—both for our institution and for the broader economy.

For more information about the project please contact celine.serhal [at] gopa.eu (celine[dot]serhal[at]gopa[dot]eu).