An evaluation of Egyptian microfinance laws and regulations preventing overindebtedness of women

This paper examines the strengths and challenges of the Egyptian microfinance laws and regulations that protect impoverished women from overindebtedness. The focus of the analysis is on the regulation of microfinance in the nonbanking sector, that is, microfinance primarily provided by non-governmental organizations. Although a number of significant laws and regulations have been enacted that provide some protection from overindebtedness, it was found that these protections do not extend far enough, and some critical protections are absent. This leaves the most impoverished Egyptian women using microfinance, vulnerable to overindebtedness.