Egypt Launches ‘Maaki’ Program to Empower One Million Rural Women

Vodafone Egypt  has announced the launch of its ambitious “Maaki” program, a groundbreaking initiative designed to economically and socially empower rural women across Egypt. The program is a cornerstone of Vodafone Egypt’s strategy to integrate technology in building an inclusive and sustainable digital society, and to bridge the technological divide between rural and urban areas.

Over the next three years, “Maaki” aims to positively impact the lives of 1,000,000 rural women. It is specifically designed to foster digital and financial inclusion by equipping these women with the necessary skills and tools to utilize Vodafone Cash services and engage in digital education, thereby expanding their active contribution to the digital economy.

The program’s launch event saw the formalization of several key partnerships through the signing of cooperation protocols. The Project Development Device will contribute to nurturing entrepreneurial skills among women who complete the initial phase of the program. Samsung Electronics Egypt  is set to promote digital empowerment by providing smartphones to the program’s ambassadors, while CARE Foundation Egypt  is tasked with the crucial on-ground implementation of the program in the targeted rural areas.

The cooperation protocols were signed by Mr. Mohamed Abdullah, CEO and appointed Member of Vodafone Egypt and Regional President of International Markets of Vodacom Group; Mr. Basel Rahmy, CEO of SME and Infinite Project Development System; Mr. Pyongmou (Theo) Shin, President and CEO of Samsung Electronics Egypt; and Mrs. Vivian Sabat, Executive President of Care Egypt Development Foundation.

“Within the framework of cooperation between public and private sectors, the program “Maaki” has been launched to empower women in rural areas. The program reflects Vodafone Egypt’s commitment to closing the digital gap facing rural women, as an important step towards reshaping the future of the Egyptian countryside and promoting women’s participation in the digital economy. The program was launched to empower women as a driver of positive change within her community and opened up new economic horizons. Vodafone Egypt believes that technology is a driving force towards sustainable and inclusive development, and that the communications sector forms the cornerstone on which digital transformation is built in various sectors and communities.”

–Mohamed Abdullah, CEO and Member of Vodafone Egypt and Regional President for International Markets of Vodacom Group.

“The program “With You” implemented in cooperation with Vodafone Egypt, Samsung Electronics Egypt, and Care Egypt Development Foundation agrees with the vision of the political leadership and the directives of Dr. Mustafa Madbouli, Prime Minister of the Cabinet and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the device to expand digital transformation and support women, especially in Egypt.” Pointing out that the joint program will allow women to be trained on modern technology and qualify them to benefit from the services of the device and support them in establishing new projects. In addition, the device aims to, through this cooperation, train and qualify one million Egyptian women and encourage them to do entrepreneurship and establish small and small projects.”

-Basel Rahmy, CEO, Project Development.

“Samsung Electronics Egypt is proud of our partnership in the “With You” initiative, which comes as a successful model for effective cooperation between both, the public, private sector and civil society. At Samsung, we believe in purposeful innovation, and our partnership with Vodafone Egypt in the ‘With You’ initiative reaffirms our strategy that aims to achieve a real and sustainable impact. Through this initiative, we look forward to empowering women in Egypt’s less fortunate communities and helping them to open new horizons towards financial independence and community integration, in line with Egypt’s vision for inclusive and sustainable development.”

–Pyongmou (Theo) Shin, President and CEO, Samsung Electronics Egypt.

“At Care Egypt, through years of working with women, we have learned that empowering women is empowering the entire community. With you is not just a project, but a promise we fulfill every day. Through our partnerships with Vodafone Egypt, a business development device, and Samsung, we enable women to have access to digital skills and sustainable income. We are building a scalable model, based on trust and capacity. We don’t just watch change, we create it, hand in hand with every woman we believe in and walk the path with.”

–Vivian Sabat, CEO, Care Egypt Foundation for Development.

The “Maaki” program underscores Vodafone Egypt’s ongoing commitment to supporting women and inclusivity. By providing digital tools and knowledge that enhance their economic and social participation, Vodafone Egypt places women’s empowerment at the heart of its strategy, reaffirming its dedication to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and strengthening its position as a vital partner in building a more inclusive and sustainable digital society in Egypt.