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The business case for increasing the number of women on corporate boards is clear. Women are successful in university studies and at the onset of their careers, but attrition rates increase as they progress through an organization. Women represent 60 percent of university graduates globally and 80 percent of consumer-goods-purchasing decision-makers. Evidence suggests that companies with strong female representation at board and top-management levels perform better than those without and that gender-diverse boards have a positive impact on performance.

The Women on Boards Observatory aims to improve the gender balance of corporate boards in Egypt and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region by sensitizing male board members to gender issues, qualifying women from different sectors to be appointed to corporate boards, and advocating for policy and legislative changes that institutionalize gender diversity on corporate board.

Partner Organizations

Members and partners of the Observatory represent a unique partnership bringing together government, business associations, research institutions, international organizations and non-government organizations.

Regional Networks

30% Club Logo
The Boardroom Africa Logo

National Networks

Business Women
Top 50 Women

Knowledge Sharing

The Women on Boards Consortium held a comprehensive 10-day training on the needs and demands of being on a cooperate board in January 2018. 

A. Abdelzaher and D. Abdelzaher, "Women on Boards and Firm Performance in Egypt: Post the Arab Spring." The Journal of Developing Areas. Forthcoming 2018

Ararat, Melsa and El-HelalyMoataz and ShehataNermeen F. 2017 "Gender Diversity and Firm Performance Before and After the Egyptian Revolution". AUC Avenue.

HowaidyGhada. 2016 “Women on Corporate Boards in Egypt: Time for Change”. Flynn, P., Haynes, K., and Kilgour, M., editors Overcoming Challenges to Gender Equality in the Workplace. Greenleaf Publishing/PRME Book Series.

An intensive six-day – three consecutive weekends – training aimed at equipping women executives from different fields with the required skills to compete for and reach board positions. The first run, which kicked off in November 2014, was offered in collaboration between the AUC School of Business and International Finance Corporation (IFC) and covered two modules on corporate governance and leadership.