Women in Bosnia and Herzegovina gain economic empowerment through gender-sensitive credit solutions and climate-resilient agriculture

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and UN Women, with the support from Sweden, held a series of workshops aimed at improving gender-sensitive credit solutions and integrating a gender perspective in climate-resilient agriculture. The workshops took place in Pale and Zenica as part of the project “Women Driving Resilience in Agriculture and Rural Areas.”

The workshop titled “Gender-Sensitive Credit Solutions for Economic Activities in Rural Areas” held in Pale, a municipality near Sarajevo in the east of Bosnia and Herzegovina, aimed to enhance financial accessibility for women engaged in economic activities in rural areas. During the workshop, the current credit practices available to women in agriculture were examined, obstacles to accessing finance were identified, regional best practices were showcased, and guidelines for improving women's access to finance were defined.

Elma Zukić, president of the Association of Microcredit Organizations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, highlighted the importance of supporting women in this sector: “Women make up to 45 percent of our total portfolio, engaged in various forms of activities. However, the agricultural segment is generally underrepresented, and even more so from the perspective of women. Only 8 percent of agricultural assets are owned by women, which highlights the need for comprehensive support for women and women entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector.”

The workshop brought together a diverse group of participants, including representatives from banks and microcredit institutions, women's associations, agricultural experts, and the academic community. Professor Grujica Vico from the University of Istočno Sarajevo and FAO national consultant emphasized the significance of the event: “We had the opportunity to discuss these topics within a very heterogeneous group of various stakeholders. We examined current practices, identified key challenges and barriers, explored possible ways to overcome these barriers, and learned about practices from neighbouring countries and gender-sensitive solutions being considered there.”

Simultaneously, events on the integration of the gender perspective in climate-resilient agriculture and rural development were held in Pale and Zenica, city in central Bosnia and Herzegovina. These workshops brought together representatives from entity ministries of agriculture, cantonal agriculture and rural development sectors, women's associations in rural areas, and entity gender centers to support the integration of gender aspects into agricultural and rural development policies.

Gordana Rokvić Knezić, national consultant for gender issues within the project, stated: „We had the opportunity to discuss with local representatives the policies in place at the regional, cantonal, and local levels and to explore whether we can implement gender-sensitive programs to support rural women at these levels.”

The workshops are based on an upcoming needs assessment that examines the integration of the gender perspective and maps climate vulnerabilities in agriculture and rural development, jointly conducted by UN Women and FAO. A total of 12 workshops are planned across Bosnia and Herzegovina, demonstrating a commitment to creating more resilient and inclusive sectors capable of addressing the unique challenges faced by women in rural areas.

The need for tailored financial products that meet the unique needs of women in rural areas was highlighted, along with the importance of ongoing education in financial and digital literacy.

Anna Jenderedjian, gender and social protection specialist at the FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, emphasized that the workshops were conducted with the aim to bring awareness to public sector specialists. “In particular to bridge the gap between the institutions responsible for agriculture, producer organizations and women's associations, who know about gender equality issues but might not be so involved in the areas of agriculture, to better understand the priority areas and avenues for transition to more inclusive, sustainable agriculture development policies,” Jenderedjian added.

These initiatives will equip key actors with strategies for effective integration of the gender perspective into agricultural and rural development policies, enhancing the resilience and inclusivity of these sectors in light of climate vulnerabilities.

Continued cooperation and dialogue among all relevant actors is crucial for ensuring long-term progress in these areas. Initiatives like these represent a significant step towards improving gender equality and sustainability in rural economic activities, financing, and climate-resilient agriculture.