The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has launched a program to support Egyptian women in the field of green energy by creating more employment opportunities for them and supporting their small and medium-sized enterprises in the sector.

According to an EBRD statement, the program aims to “identify challenges that prevent women’s participation in the sector and potential [skill gaps], and will work with the Egyptian authorities to overcome these issues.” The Program for Supporting Renewable Energy and Promoting Gender Equality in Egypt is one aspect of the $7 million joint technical cooperation initiative co-funded by the bank and the Green Climate Fund.

“The EBRD is putting women at the center of its commitment to Egypt’s transition to a green economy with a new initiative that supports the country’s vast potential for renewable energy,” the statement read.

Women's rights activists, economists and energy experts have praised the bank’s program, saying that it will boost Egyptian women entrepreneurs in the field and include women in Egypt’s strategy to achieve energy self-sufficiency.