Abstract

In Egypt, Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) play a crucial role in the economy, with their contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employment. Despite being the backbone of the economy, they are constantly confronted with challenges in the business environment. Primary amongst these challenges is limited access to formal financial capital at an affordable interest rate leading them to depend on other sources of finance like savings and informal financial services. Women-owned MSMEs especially, have been found to face more challenges in terms of financial accessibility and exclusion from the formal financial market. This work highlights the extent of financial inclusion in Egypt with respect to not only access, but also usage and quality of financial service problems faced by MSMEs in general and women-owned businesses in particular. The analysis of the study follows the comprehensive framework of financial inclusion including access, usage and quality of financial products and services. The findings of this research reveal that while women-owned MSMEs face certain challenges similar to those of their male-owned counterparts, the severity of their challenges is more pronounced by virtue of they being women-owned. Specific constraints faced by women includes risk aversion of banks, lack of financial services and products targeting women-owned MSMEs, lack of collateral and low levels of financial awareness and financial literacy. Whilst a number of interventions have been put in place by the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) and the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) to address the issue of financial inclusion within the MSME sector, most of them do not take gender into consideration. The study recommends continuing supporting MSMEs financial inclusion especially women-owned MSMEs through addressing non-price barriers like supporting a secured collateral framework, raising the capabilities of financial institutions to better serve women-owned MSMEs and focusing on raising financial awareness and literacy among women-owned MSMEs.

Department

Public Policy & Administration Department

Degree Name

MA in Public Administration

Graduation Date

2-1-2019

Submission Date

January 2019

First Advisor

Abdelhalim, Khaled

Committee Member 1

Shahjahan, Bhuiyan

Committee Member 2

Kaye-Essein, Charles

Extent

126

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Rights

The author retains all rights with regard to copyright. The author certifies that written permission from the owner(s) of third-party copyrighted matter included in the thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study has been obtained. The author further certifies that IRB approval has been obtained for this thesis, or that IRB approval is not necessary for this thesis. Insofar as this thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study is an educational record as defined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 USC 1232g), the author has granted consent to disclosure of it to anyone who requests a copy.

Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval

Approval has been obtained for this item

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