Within the regional project “Economic Inclusion and Justice for Women of the Western Balkans” (EWI), implemented by CARE Balkans with the support of the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) under the International Partnerships Austria programme, a series of key panel discussions was held in North Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. These events served as a platform for connecting women entrepreneurs with institutions and presenting support mechanisms through the synergy of the public, private, and civil sectors.
CARE Balkans implements the project in partnership with LINK Entrepreneurial Centre (BiH), ENECA (Serbia), Strategic Consulting for Cooperation – SDC (North Macedonia), and Technopolis (Montenegro).
North Macedonia: “Women at Work: From Barriers to Breakthroughs”
In North Macedonia, Strategic Consulting for Cooperation – SDC organised a panel discussion on 16 April 2026 that opened up questions around systemic barriers. Moderator Nikica Kusinikova presented alarming figures in her introduction:
only 42% of women are economically active, the income gap stands at 12%, and women hold just 25% of managerial positions.
It was also highlighted that 21 municipalities in the country have no nurseries, directly affecting women’s professional lives.
Mladen Frčkovski from the Ministry of Economy and Labour emphasised the cultural, institutional, and economic dimensions of these challenges, while also noting that 46% of newly registered businesses are founded by women. Marina Krstić from the Municipality of Bitola spoke about local budgets of 1.6 million denars for equal opportunities programmes, while Makedonka Dimitrova pointed to fear of failure and inspections as greater obstacles than business risk itself. The panel concluded with recommendations on introducing entrepreneurial skills from the earliest age, particularly for the Roma population, where women’s employment is below 4%.
Serbia: Institutional Networking and “360-Degree” Support
The national partner in Serbia, ENECA, organised panels in three districts, focusing on concrete models of assistance.
In Niš, the concept of “360-degree support” was presented, in which programmes from various institutions are planned to complement one another. Jelena Čvorović, representative of the Regional Chamber of Commerce Niš, highlighted B2B meetings and favourable start-up loans. Dragana Stojanović from the Regional Development Agency South emphasised the JICA mentoring programme, which brings 15% growth, while Dragana Stojanović Krstić noted that the City of Niš increased its budget for small businesses from 10 to 77 million dinars. Anesa Omeragić, EWI project coordinator, highlighted that ENECA’s support for women entrepreneurs has a long track record, with 72% of supported businesses surviving over the years — demonstrating the significance of support from both the governmental and non-governmental sectors.
In Vranje, the focus was on an inclusive ecosystem. Dragana Maksić from the Regional Innovative Smart City Centre presented support for innovation, Danijela Milosavljević presented social inclusion initiatives, and Vesna Stanojković from the National Employment Service presented measures for vulnerable groups and persons with disabilities. Milivoje Jovanović from ENECA concluded that synergy is the only way to provide effective support.
In Kruševac, an encouraging trend was recorded — women account for 78% of applicants for self-employment measures.
Marija Vesković from the Regional Chamber of Commerce Kruševac presented the Women Entrepreneurs Network for networking, while Jelena Lacić from the Agency for Regional Development of the Rasina District highlighted the Agency’s role as a permanent link to funding sources.
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Local Development Policies and Social Entrepreneurship
Within the framework of the 27th International Economic Fair in Mostar, LINK Entrepreneurial Centre organised a discussion titled “Good Policies for Better Local Economic Development Practices.”
Panellists, including Emil Balavac, Minister of Trade, Tourism and Environmental Protection of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, and representatives of local initiatives such as “Herzegovinian House” and “Jablanica House,” spoke about branding authentic products at a session dedicated to tourism.
It was noted that BiH tourism suffers from institutional fragmentation and a gap between strategies and their implementation at the local level.
Representatives of organisations that received grants for entities operating on the principles of social entrepreneurship (ProVita, MOST M, PZ Smokvica, Naša Djeca) discussed the lack of adequate legal regulation on social entrepreneurship. It was concluded that the development of this sector in BiH depends more on a functional ecosystem and market access than on the adoption of specific legislation. Social enterprises are key actors that fill the gaps not covered by the public sector and, as such, must be recognised and supported by relevant institutions and programmes.
Montenegro: “Open Multi-Sector Discussion: Strengthening the Support System for Employability and Women’s Entrepreneurship”
At the panel organised at IPC Technopolis in Nikšić, representatives of local government, education, the financial sector, and employment services gathered: Gordana Čolaković (Municipality of Nikšić), Jelena Bojović (Centre for Vocational Education), Romana Vavić (NLB Bank), Snežana Božović and Ivana Mijušković (Alter Modus), and Ana Vukašinović (Employment Agency of Montenegro).
The discussion focused on available support programmes for women, including the Municipality of Nikšić grant scheme, as well as the importance of institutional cooperation in providing financial, educational, and advisory support.
Emphasis was placed on developing entrepreneurial skills, digital presence, and market access, while participants — through discussion and questions from grant recipients — provided concrete guidance on making use of available opportunities.
Such events and direct connections with relevant institutions and stakeholders contribute to achieving the project’s objectives related to strengthening the capacity of institutional and private actors to develop gender-sensitive employment and entrepreneurship programmes. Through the exchange of experiences, dialogue, and the joint definition of women’s needs, foundations are being laid for long-term cooperation and the improvement of existing support measures. This not only increases the availability and quality of services for women but also encourages the development of a more inclusive and sustainable system of support for their economic empowerment.
Osnaživanje žena kroz regionalni dijalog i institucionalnu podršku
U okviru regionalnog projekta „Ekonomska inkluzija i pravda za žene Zapadnog Balkana” (EWI), koji implementira CARE Balkans uz podršku Austrijske razvojne agencije (ADA), u okviru programa Međunarodna partnerstva Austrije (International Partnerships Austria) održana je serija ključnih panel diskusija u Severnoj Makedoniji, Srbiji, Crnoj Gori i Bosni i Hercegovini. Ovi događaji su poslužili kao platforma za povezivanje žena preduzetnica sa institucijama i predstavljanje mehanizama podrške kroz sinergiju javnog, privatnog i civilnog sektora.
CARE Balkans implementira projekat u partnerstvu s LINK poduzetničkim centrom (BiH), ENECA (Srbija), Strateškim konsaltingom za saradnju – SDC (Severna Makedonija) i Tehnopolisom (Crna Gora).
Severna Makedonija: „Žene na radu: od prepreka do proboja”
U Severnoj Makedoniji je Strateški konsalting za saradnju – SDC, 16. aprila 2026. godine, organizovao panel diskusiju koja je otvorila pitanja sistemskih barijera. Nikica Kusinikova, moderatorka, je u uvodu iznela alarmantne podatke:
samo 42% žena je radno aktivno, jaz u prihodima je 12%, a žene drže tek 25% rukovodećih pozicija.
Istaknuto je i da 21 opština u zemlji nema nijedan vrtić, što direktno utiče na profesionalni život žena.
Mladen Frčkovski iz Ministarstva ekonomije i rada naglasio je kulturnu, institucionalnu i ekonomsku dimenziju ovih izazova, ali i naveo da 46% novoregistrovanih preduzeća osnivaju žene. Marina Krstić iz Opštine Bitolj govorila je o lokalnim budžetima od 1,6 miliona denara za programe jednakih mogućnosti, dok je Makedonka Dimitrova ukazala na strah od neuspeha i inspekcija kao veće kočnice od samog poslovnog rizika. Panel je zaključen preporukama o uvođenju preduzetničkih veština od najranijeg uzrasta, posebno za romsku populaciju gde je zaposlenost žena ispod 4%.
Srbija: Institucionalna umreženost i „360 stepeni“ podrške
Nacionalni partner u Srbiji, ENECA, organizovao je panele u tri okruga, fokusirajući se na konkretne modele pomoći.
U Nišu je predstavljen koncept „360 stepeni podrške” gde se programi različitih institucija planski dopunjuju. Jelena Čvorović, predstavnica Regionalne privredne komore Niša istakla je B2B sastanke i povoljnije kredite za početnike. Dragana Stojanović iz Regionalne razvojne agencije Jug naglasila je mentoring program JICA koji donosi rast od 15% , dok je Dragana Stojanović Krstić navela da je Grad Niš povećao budžet za male biznise sa 10 na 77 miliona dinara. Anesa Omeragić, projektna koordinatorka EWI projekta je istakla kako podrška ženama preduzetnicama od strane ENECA-e traje dosta dugo i da 72% podržanih biznisa opstaje godinama, što govori o značaju podrške koja dolazi kako iz vladinog tako i iz nevladinog sektora.
U Vranju je fokus bio na inkluzivnom ekosistemu. Dragana Maksić iz Regionalnog inovativnog smart city centra predstavila je podršku za inovacije, Danijela Milosavljević inicijative za socijalno uključivanje, a Vesna Stanojković iz Nacionalne službe za zapošljavanje mere za ranjive grupe i osobe sa invaliditetom. Milivoje Jovanović iz ENECA-e je zaključio da je sinergija jedini način za efikasnu podršku.
U Kruševcu je zabeležen ohrabrujući trend – žene čine 78% prijavljenih za mere samozapošljavanja.
Marija Vesković iz Regionalne privredne komore Kruševca predstavila je Mrežu žena preduzetnica za networking dok je Jelena Lacić iz Agencije za regionalni razvoj Rasinskog okruga istakla ulogu Agencije kao stalne spone sa izvorima finansiranja.
Bosna i Hercegovina: Politike lokalnog razvoja i socijalno poduzetništvo
U okviru 27 Međunarodnog sajma gospodarstva u Mostaru, LINK Poduzetnički centar je organizovao diskusiju pod nazivom „Dobrim politikama do boljih praksi lokalnog ekonomskog razvoja”.
Panelisti, uključujući Emila Balavca, Ministra trgovine, turizma i zaštite okoliša HNK i predstavnike lokalnih inicijativa poput „Hercegovačke kuće“ i „Jablaničke kuće“, govorili su o brendiranju autentičnih proizvoda na sesiji posvećenoj turizmu.
Istaknuto je da BiH turizam pati od institucionalne fragmentacije i jaza između strategija i njihove implementacije na lokalnom nivou.
Predstavnice organizacija koja su dobila grantove za subjekte koji deluju po principima socijalnog preduzetništva (ProVita, MOST M, PZ Smokvica, Naša Djeca) diskutovale su o nedostatku adekvatne zakonske regulative o socijalnom preduzetništvu. Zaključeno je da razvoj ovog sektora u BiH više zavisi od funkcionalnog ekosistema i pristupa tržištu nego od samog donošenja posebnog zakona. Socijalna preduzeća su ključni akteri koji popunjavaju praznine koje javni sektor ne pokriva i kao takva moraju biti prepoznata i podržana od strane odgovarajućih institucija i programa.
Crna Gora „Otvorena multisektorska diskusija: Jačanje sistema podrške za zapošljivost i žensko preduzetništvo“
U okviru panela organizovanog u IPC Tehnopolisu u Nikšiću, okupile su se predstavnice lokalne uprave, obrazovanja, finansijskog sektora i službi zapošljavanja: Gordana Čolaković (Opština Nikšić), Jelena Bojović (Centar za stručno obrazovanje), Romana Vavić (NLB Banka), Snežana Božović i Ivana Mijušković (Alter Modus) te Ana Vukašinović (Zavod za zapošljavanje CG).
Razgovor je bio fokusiran na dostupne programe podrške ženama, uključujući grant šemu Opštine Nikšić, kao i na značaj saradnje institucija u pružanju finansijske, edukativne i savjetodavne podrške.
Poseban akcenat stavljen je na razvoj preduzetničkih vještina, digitalnog prisustva i pristupa tržištu, dok su učesnice kroz diskusiju i pitanja grantistkinja pružile konkretne smjernice za korištenje dostupnih prilika.
Ovakvi događaji i direktno povezivanje sa relevantnim institucijama i akterima doprinose ostvarivanju ciljeva projekta koji se odnose na jačanje kapaciteta institucionalnih i privatnih aktera za razvoj rodno osjetljivih programa zapošljavanja i preduzetništva. Kroz razmjenu iskustava, dijalog i zajedničko definisanje potreba žena, stvaraju se temelji za dugoročnu saradnju i unapređenje postojećih mjera podrške. Time se ne samo povećava dostupnost i kvalitet usluga za žene, već se i podstiče razvoj inkluzivnijeg i održivijeg sistema podrške njihovom ekonomskom osnaživanju.
