Maya Morsy

Maya Morsy (; born 13 December 1973) is an Egyptian political scientist, specialist in public policy, and advocate for women's and human rights. She is the Minister of Social Solidarity of Egypt since 2024 and served as president of the National Council for Women between 2016 and 2024.

Morsy previously served as regional gender team leader for the Regional bureau of United Nations Development Programme in New York City and Regional Center in Amman before she served as the Country Manager for the United Nations Development Fund for Women.

In 2022, Morsy was elected by the UN member states to the United nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) from 2023 to 2026.

Education Morsy obtained a BA in political science from the American University in Cairo in 1995, an MBA from the City University of Seattle in 1997, and an MA in public administration from Seattle in 1998. In 2008 she received a PhD in public policy from the Institute of Arab Research and Studies in Cairo, a nominee for the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Philosophy from Honoris causa Rai University, Ahmedabad in Gujarat, India with a Focus on Girls education and Women’s empowerment in 2019.

Morsy is also G100 Global Chair on Economic empowerment within Group of 100 Global Women leaders

In 2021, She Headed the Egyptian Delegation entitled to discuss Egypt’s 8th – 10th periodic reports to the UN CEDAW in Geneva.

In 2019, Morsy was member of the Egyptian Delegation discussing Egypt's universal periodic report by the UN human rights council.

During her time, The National Council for Women together with the World bank Group in Egypt launched the Women's Economic Empowerment Report in 2019.

Morsy Led the development of the Egypt’s National Women’s Strategy 2030 launched and endorsed by the President of Egypt in March 2017.

During COVID19 pandemic, Morsy also published Egypt's rapid response to women's situation during COVID19 Outbreak, which is the first policy note globally to be issued on considering women's needs during the pandemic. She also managed to issue 4 editions of the first ever Women Policy Tracker to track & monitor gender sensitive Government responses in Egypt.

During her time, Egypt took first place among countries within North Africa & Western Asia region to consider women needs during COVID19, according to a global report issued by UNDP and UNWOMEN.

Together with Minister of International cooperation Rania El-Mashat, and the World Economic Forum Morsy Co led launching "Closing the Gender Gap Accelerator”, which is the first of its kind public-private collaboration model in Africa and the Middle East and North Africa

Morsy also led reviving the world bank's model on Egyptian Gender equality seal certification program for private sector companies

And concerning the Economic Empowerment of Women, Morsy introduced Financial inclusion mega program in Egypt "National Digital Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs)” programme"

Morsy also introduced an assets investment framework for adolescent girls "Noura" & girls empowerment program "Dawwie" which are implemented under the auspices of The First Lady of Egypt and the framework was also launched within the UN CSW67th session in New York. In September 2021 Morsy also led the establishment of UNDP Egypt's Human Development Report 2021: Egypt Pathways and Prospects in her capacity as the rapporteur of its 2021 version.

Also in 2021, Morsy led publishing a report on the National Strategy to Eliminate violence against Women 2015-2020

As lead up to UNFCCC COP27 that was hosted in Egypt's Sharm el-Sheikh in 2022, Morsy Launched Egypt's Global Perspective: Women, Environment, & Climate Change in New York during the UN Commission on the Status of Women CSW66th session.

Earlier in her career In 2014–2015, Morsy served as the United Nations Development Programme's regional gender team leader for the Arab Region.; “50 Most Influential Women Award” Top 50 Most influential women, 2016. The Aswan International Women's Film Festival gave the "Noon Award" to Morsy in the field of women’s issues, in appreciation of her efforts to support and empower Egyptian women since assuming her position. “Arab Women Special Award” in the health Sector, by the Arab Ministers of Health in the 47th Ministerial Meeting in the League of Arab States, 2017. The first to receive the “Top Achievers Awards" for institutional achievement on women empowerment from Amwal Alghad in 2024.

Memberships Appointed by the President of Egypt to the board of the National Coalition for Civil Development Work, 2024 Member of the Board of trustees in Egypt's National dialogue between political forces,2022

Member of the Board of Directors of Cairo International center for conflict resolution, peace keeping and pace building CCCPA Member of the Board of advisory of Kemet Boutros Ghaly foundation for peace and knowledge Member in the Egyptian National African Peer Review Mechanism APRM Committee Former Board Member in IT Industry Development Agency Itida Former Member of the Board of Directors of Banque Misr

Publications

10 years commemorative edition Egypts Political will to women's empowerment, 2024 10 years of achievement of NCW, 2023 Egypt's Global perspective on Women, Environment and Climate Change, 2022 UNDP Egypt's Human Development Report: Egypt Pathways and Prospects, 2021 REPORT ON THE NATIONAL STRATEGY TO ELIMINATE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN 2-15-2020, 2021 Egypt's Rapid Response on Women's Situation During Covid 19, 2020 5 Editions of Women and COVID policy tracker, 2020 Women's economic empowerment report, 2019 National Strategy for Women 2030، 2017