Sarajevo, 25 April 2025 – The Agency for Gender Equality of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of BiH, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) convened key actors from the legal, economic, and gender equality sectors at the event “Feminist Economics at Work: Legal, Financial and Entrepreneurial Insights.” Through the Women’s Forum for Development, the event showcased innovative approaches to tackling deeply rooted barriers that prevent women from fully participating in the economic life of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The three foundational studies presented at the event offer practical recommendations for alignment with EU directives, reducing the gender pay gap in public institutions, and strengthening women’s entrepreneurship. The focus was on feminist economics as a framework that places care, equity, and dignity at the core of economic policy.

According to the income disparity study, men employed in BiH institutions earn on average 10% more than women, while women in the lowest income brackets earn as much as 8.5% less than their male counterparts. The overall gender income gap widens further when considering that men are significantly more likely to receive additional allowances for living away from home and for transportation. In public administration, women represent only a third of appointed officials—another clear indicator of structural inequality.

"Feminist economics reminds us that budgets, laws, and public policies are never neutral—they either entrench inequality or help dismantle it. The analyses presented today offer practical steps toward systemic change. Our message is clear: societies and economies that include women - thrive,” emphasised Renaud Meyer, UNDP Resident Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Samra Filipović-Hadžiabdić, Director of the Agency for Gender Equality of BiH, stressed that the studies open space for tangible institutional change: “These analyses create space for new partnerships and institutional reforms that will bring our country closer to the EU. But the greatest value lies in the fact that we are creating space for all women who face daily challenges in the workplace.”

Prof. Dr. Fatima Mahmutćehajić emphasised that legal solutions alone are not enough: “Legal frameworks are essential, but they are insufficient without political will, institutional support, and readiness to listen to every woman whose voice has been ignored by the system.”

Adela Ramić, a women’s entrepreneurship expert, presented a new support tool for women entering the business world: “The Women’s Business Navigator we are launching today is not just a tool—it’s a companion for every woman considering starting a business. It provides confidence, information, and concrete steps, because entrepreneurship doesn’t begin with capital, but with an idea, and support that can turn that idea into reality.”

The event gathered representatives from legislative bodies, the judiciary, academia, civil society, and the private sector to encourage concrete actions to reduce the gender pay gap, empower women entrepreneurs, and improve the balance between work and private life.

The Women’s Forum for Development represents a dynamic platform that brings together over 2,000 experts, leaders, and activists from various sectors, working collectively on gender equality and the economic empowerment of women in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Through this Forum, a diverse range of actors—from economists and academics to CSOs and business leaders - collaborate on shaping policies and solutions for a more just and equal society.

Feminist economics, as the foundation of the Forum’s work, was demystified during the event as a pragmatic approach aimed not only at economic empowerment for women but also at transforming the social norms and relationships that shape the everyday lives of women and men. Through the Forum’s activities, this approach is translated into tangible initiatives, policies, and partnerships that lay the foundation for a fairer distribution of resources, time, and power in BiH society. These studies and discussions mark an important step toward that transformation.