Human Rights and the Private Sector: Challenges and Opportunities in 2026-2030
Dr. Shaimaa El-Rifai
Head of Corporate Social Responsibility Department – Tawasul Egypt Center for Studies and Consultations
In September 2021, the Egyptian state launched the National Human Rights Strategy, marking an important step toward building a just society that guarantees the rights and freedoms of all citizens, including the private sector, which was recognized as a key partner in development rather than merely an economic actor. The strategy clearly outlined rights for the private sector, including the right to a fair legislative environment, freedom to conduct economic activities, participation in development, access to incentives when supporting the community, and adherence to workers’ rights.
In practice, some applications of these rights are evident. Companies like Orascom and El Sewedy have participated in the “Decent Life” initiative, reflecting the implementation of the development participation clause. Investment procedures have been simplified through Investor Service Centers, and legislative facilitation has been provided, demonstrating the state’s respect for corporate rights and ease of doing business. The government has also started offering incentives to companies committed to social responsibility and issued guidelines linking corporate activity to the Sustainable Development Goals, representing practical integration of human rights into economic policies. Additionally, financing programs for small projects have been launched, and some banks and telecom companies have partnered with civil society organizations on education and health projects, enhancing the private sector’s practical participation in development.
Despite these achievements, clear challenges remain. Commitment among medium and small enterprises is still relatively limited, as most focus on survival and profitability rather than human rights or social responsibility concepts. There is also currently no independent regulatory body to measure comprehensive human rights compliance within companies; oversight is limited to the Ministry of Labor regarding workers’ rights, while the National Council for Human Rights has only begun highlighting the importance of monitoring without an enforceable system.
The benefits to marginalized governorates remain limited, as private sector contributions tend to focus on major initiatives and urban areas such as Cairo and the Delta, despite some efforts in Upper Egypt and Sinai. Moreover, the relationship between the private sector and civil society organizations still requires formal structuring, through joint platforms at the governorate level, official tax incentives for supporting NGOs, and linking corporate social responsibility to clear performance indicators.
Regarding monitoring, although annual reports on the strategy’s implementation are issued, these reports are partial and lack detailed data on each company or sector’s compliance. Recommendations and observations from the National Council for Human Rights are not binding and do not include precise regulatory mechanisms for companies.
Overall, while tangible achievements by the private sector are evident, they remain limited, focusing mainly on large companies and urban areas, whereas medium and small enterprises and marginalized regions still need more support, oversight, and guidance. Therefore, the new drafting of the 2026–2030 National Human Rights Strategy must include comprehensive regulatory mechanisms, official incentives to support civil society, institutionalized partnerships between the private sector and NGOs, and expansion of initiatives to cover all Egyptian governorates, ensuring the genuine and practical integration of human rights into economic policies.
