U okviru projekta EWI – Economic Inclusion and Justice for Women of the Western Balkans, koji implementira CARE Balkans u partnerstvu sa LINK poduzetničkim centrom, ENECA, Tehnopolis i Strategic Development Consulting, uz podršku Austrijske razvojne agencije (ADA) kroz sredstva Austrijske razvojne saradnje (ADC), tim projekta realizovao je terensku posjetu korisnicama grantova, socijalnim preduzećima i partnerskim organizacijama u Bosni i Hercegovini.
Posjeta je organizovana u saradnji CARE Balkans-a sa projektnim partnerom LINK poduzetničkim centrom i uključivala je učešće kolega iz CARE Njemačka, koji su posjetili Bosnu i Hercegovinu u sklopu redovnog monitoringa projekta. Ovo je bila prilika da se iz prve ruke sagleda napredak korisnica i podrška koja im se pruža kroz projekat.
70 preduzetnica odabranih za podršku
Tokom prvog kvartala 2026. godine, evaluacijom 76 pristiglih poslovnih planova odabrano je 70 žena preduzetnica za finansijsku podršku u razvoju i unapređenju njihovih biznisa u Bosni i Hercegovini. Ovo je najveći broj odabranih korisnica u okviru EWI projekta na regionalnom nivou, što svjedoči o izuzetno visokom interesu i potrebi za ovakvom vrstom podrške.
Pored individualnih grantistkinja, projekat podržava i tri socijalna preduzeća koja posluju po principima društveno odgovornog poduzetništva i direktno doprinose ekonomskom osnaživanju žena u lokalnim zajednicama.
Susret sa individualnim korisnicama
Tokom terenske posjete, tim je imao prilike da se upozna s poslovnim idejama, proizvodima i dosadašnjim rezultatima individualnih grantistkinja. Predstavljene su sljedeće preduzetnice i njihovi biznisi:
- Nada Tomić – Ježeva kućica (uzgoj bilja i ljekovitog bilja)
- Emira Masleša – EM bags (izrada i prodaja torbi)
- Ana Matić Raguž – ARDIA (proizvodnja prirodne kozmetike)
- Edna Džubur – Iz srca prirode (sokovi i preradjevine od voća i povrća)
- Medina Gosto – OPG Medina Gosto (ljekovito bilje i prirodni melemi)
- Ema Badžak – MM d.o.o. (organska hrana i ugostiteljstvo)
Kroz razgovor s korisnicama vidljivo je kako projekat nadilazi puku finansijsku podršku – radi se o izgradnji samopouzdanja, kompetencija i mreže podrške koje su ovim ženama bile nedostupne.
Socijalna preduzeća: ulaganje u zajednicu
Tim je posjetio i organizacije koje posluju po principima socijalnog poduzetništva:
Organizacija Naša djeca Mostar implementira projekte usmjerene na unapređenje životnih uslova djece i mladih bez roditeljskog staranja, osoba s invaliditetom i djece koja odrastaju u institucionalnoj brizi. Posjeta je omogućila direktan uvid u njihov rad i uticaj na korisnike.
Socijalno preduzeće MOST M d.o.o. pruža ketering usluge uz fokus na zapošljavanje starijih žena i žena koje su teže zapošljive. Kroz podršku EWI projekta, planirano je unapređenje proizvodnih kapaciteta, proširenje ponude i otvaranje novih radnih mjesta.
Ostvareni su i susreti s predstavnicama grassroot organizacije u okviru EWI projekta, Udruženja MOST, koje aktivno doprinose implementaciji projekta kroz outreach aktivnosti i povezivanje s marginalizovanim ženama u zajednici.
Posjeta gazdinstvu Nihade Jamaković
Terenska posjeta zaključena je obilaskom poljoprivrednog gazdinstva Nihade Jamaković, koja zajedno sa porodicom razvija proizvodnju i preradu voća i povrća, te uzgoj peradi: živi primjer održivog porodičnog biznisa u ruralnoj sredini.
Ovakve terenske posjete omogućavaju neposredno praćenje napretka korisnica i jačaju međusobno povjerenje između učesnica projekta i implementacionih timova. One su i potvrda da projekat EWI ostvaruje konkretan, mjerljiv doprinos ekonomskoj uključenosti žena u lokalnim zajednicama Bosne i Hercegovine
Projekat EWI finansira Austrijska razvojna agencija (ADA) u okviru programa Međunarodna partnerstva Austrije (International Partnerships Austria). CARE Balkans implementira projekat u partnerstvu s LINK poduzetničkim centrom (BiH), ENECA (Srbija), Strategic Development Consulting (Sjeverna Makedonija) i Tehnopolis (Crna Gora).
ENGLISH
Field visit to EWI grant beneficiaries in Bosnia and Herzegovina: women on the path to economic independence
As part of the EWI – Economic Inclusion and Justice for Women of the Western Balkans project, implemented by CARE Balkans in partnership with LINK Entrepreneurship Centre, ENECA, Tehnopolis and Strategic Development Consulting, with the support of the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) through the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC), the project team conducted a field monitoring visit to grant beneficiaries, social enterprises, and partner organisations in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The visit was organised by CARE Balkans in collaboration with project partner LINK Entrepreneurship Centre and included colleagues from CARE Germany, who joined the team as part of regular project monitoring. It offered a direct, firsthand look at the progress made by beneficiaries and the support provided through the project.
70 women entrepreneurs selected for support
Following the evaluation of 76 submitted business plans during the first quarter of 2026, 70 women entrepreneurs were selected for financial support to start or grow their businesses in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is the highest number of selected beneficiaries across all EWI project countries, reflecting the exceptionally strong demand for this type of support.
In addition to individual grantees, the project supports three social enterprises operating on the principles of social economy, whose work directly contributes to the economic empowerment of women in local communities.
Meeting the individual grantees
During the visit, the team had the opportunity to learn about the business ideas, products, and early results of the individual grant recipients. The following entrepreneurs and their businesses were presented:
- Nada Tomić – Ježeva kućica (cultivation of herbs and medicinal plants)
- Emira Masleša – EM bags (design and production of bags)
- Ana Matić Raguž – ARDIA (natural cosmetics production)
- Edna Džubur – Iz srca prirode (fruit and vegetable juices and processed goods)
- Medina Gosto – OPG Medina Gosto (medicinal herbs and natural remedies)
- Ema Badžak – MM d.o.o. (organic food and catering)
Conversations with the beneficiaries made clear that the project goes well beyond financial support — it is about building confidence, competencies, and a network of support that these women previously lacked.
Social enterprises: investing in communities
The team also visited organisations operating on the principles of social entrepreneurship:
Naša djeca Mostar implements projects aimed at improving the living conditions of children and youth without parental care, persons with disabilities, and children growing up in institutional settings. The visit provided a direct insight into their work and its impact.
Social enterprise MOST M d.o.o. provides catering services with a focus on employing older women and women facing barriers to employment. Through EWI project support, the enterprise plans to expand production capacities, broaden its offer, and create new jobs.
The team also met with representatives of Udruženje MOST, who actively contribute to project implementation through community outreach and connecting with marginalised women.
Visit to Nihada Jamaković’s farm
The field visit concluded with a visit to the family farm of Nihada Jamaković, who together with her family develops the production and processing of fruit and vegetables and raises poultry — a living example of a sustainable family business in a rural setting.
Field visits such as this one allow for direct monitoring of beneficiaries’ progress and strengthen mutual trust between project participants and implementation teams. They are also a confirmation that the EWI project is delivering a concrete, measurable contribution to women’s economic inclusion in local communities across Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The EWI project is funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) as part of the International Partnerships Austria programme. CARE Balkans implements the project in partnership with LINK Entrepreneurship Centre (BiH), ENECA (Serbia), Strategic Development Consulting (North Macedonia) and Tehnopolis (Montenegro).
