The Economic Inclusion and Justice for Women of the Western Balkans (EWI) project is a regional initiative implemented from December 2024 to November 2027 across Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and North Macedonia. The project addresses the structural barriers that prevent women from fully participating in economic life by strengthening entrepreneurship, improving employability, promoting gender-transformative social norms and supporting institutions to develop more inclusive policies and services.
EWI brings together civil society organisations, public institutions, business support organisations, vocational education providers, financial institutions and local communities to create lasting opportunities for women’s economic empowerment. Special attention is given to women facing multiple forms of exclusion, including women from rural communities, unemployed women, young women, minorities, single mothers, women with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
The project collaborates with 10 women-led grassroots civil society organisations, strengthening their capacities through mentoring, networking and financial support so they can become active local actors in advancing women’s economic inclusion and advocating for sustainable community change.
The project works in four interconnected areas:
- Supporting women entrepreneurs to establish and grow environmentally sustainable businesses through business development training, mentoring, technical assistance and financial support.
- Improving women’s employability through soft skills training, vocational education and training (VET), digital literacy and labour market-oriented capacity building.
- Promoting more supportive environments for women’s economic participation through financial literacy, gender equality workshops, community engagement and awareness campaigns.
- Strengthening the capacities of public institutions and relevant stakeholders to integrate gender-sensitive approaches into employment, entrepreneurship and local development policies and programmes.
Find more information about EWI project in our brochure.
Project Partnership
The project is implemented by CARE Balkans together with CARE Österreich, in partnership with four organisations:
- Bosnia and Herzegovina –LINK Entrepreneurship and Business Association
- Serbia – EcoNomic Expert Community Association (ENECA)
- North Macedonia – Strategic Development Consulting (SDC)
- Montenegro – Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre Tehnopolis
Together, the partnership combines extensive expertise in women’s economic empowerment, entrepreneurship development, employment, local economic development, advocacy and institutional capacity building.
Funding
The Economic Inclusion and Justice for Women of the Western Balkans (EWI) project is implemented by CARE Balkans with the financial support of the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) as part of International Partnerships Austria.
Project Contacts
Nataša Tandir, Project Manager tandir@care.de
Anesa Omeragić, Project Coordinator omeragic@care.de
Kenan Cerić, Project Officer ceric@care.de
