From 13 to 16 May 2025, CARE Balkans, in cooperation with local project partners, organised a regional workshop in Bar, Montenegro, under the framework of the project Economic Inclusion and Justice for Women of the Western Balkans (EWI), which is funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) with funds of Austrian Development Cooperation.
The EWI project is implemented in four countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, North Macedonia, and Montenegro, with the goal of enhancing women’s economic rights and opportunities. The primary objective of the workshop was to facilitate discussions on stakeholder mapping and the development of strategic approaches.
The workshop brought together representatives from four local implementing organisations: ENECA from Serbia, LINK Entrepreneurial Center from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center Tehnopolis from Montenegro and Strategic Development Consulting from North Macedonia, who collectively with CARE Balkans core implementation team, analysed labour market trends, assessed institutional frameworks, and designed a draft strategy for cooperation to improve women’s access to economic rights in the region.
Over the course of three working days, the group conducted a thorough analysis of national-level mapping results, with a focus on labour market needs and available services that can enhance women’s employability and entrepreneurial potential. This included the identification of key business development actors, such as vocational training providers, financial service institutions, and public agencies responsible for employment and entrepreneurship policies.
One of the critical outcomes of the workshop was the joint categorisation of stakeholders relevant to women’s economic justice (WEJ) and EWI goals. Based on this, the participants agreed on a shortlist of strategic actors for formalised collaboration, including local government representatives, national employment agencies, chambers of commerce, and gender equality bodies. Some of these partnerships will be formalised through signing Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) during the upcoming implementation phase.
Special attention was also given to actors in the knowledge and innovation ecosystems. The team assessed the potential for cooperation with universities, research institutes, and think tanks, as well as synergies with the future Innovation Fund to be established through the project. This reflects the EWI project’s ambition not only to respond to current barriers, but also to build long-term systemic support for women-led businesses and inclusive economic policymaking.
The workshop agenda combined plenary sessions with group work formats, enabling cross-country teams to jointly reflect on contextual differences, share approaches, and lay the groundwork for regional learning. The final day was dedicated to drawing conclusions and identifying opportunities for advocacy and policy engagement.
This workshop builds on the EWI project’s comprehensive strategy to economically empower over 2,000 women in the Western Balkans, support 182 women-led businesses, and contribute to a more equitable environment through collaboration with institutions, media, and communities. By fostering strategic cooperation and stakeholder alignment, this activity sets the stage for the next phase of inclusive interventions across the four participating countries.
