ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses women on boards in Egypt. It describes the local context with reference to global trends and recommends specific actions to improve gender equality on boards in Egypt that may be relevant to other emerging economies. The influence of traditional forces, both religious and military, and of change in the power structure in Egypt beginning in 2011, on the role of women in public life, is discussed as well as the gap between progressive laws and practice. Data compiled by the Egyptian Stock Exchange on 233 companies in 2013, showing that women hold 8.7% of board seats, are analysed and compared globally and regionally. Lessons learned are presented, including the experience of the Women on Boards programme in Egypt that seeks to disrupt existing patterns of gender bias. Continuous and persistent efforts to keep gender equality on the national agenda are needed for a change in mind-set and practice.
