Behind each issue is a real story – a woman who started a business, found her voice or became a leader in her community. Our impact is not measured only by the programs we implement, but by the changes women create and pass on every day. Over the years, together we have built a better society and a strong network of support, solidarity and trust among women.
For more than three decades, Women for Women International – Bosnia and Herzegovina work to empower women to build secure, dignified and economically independent lives. Since 1994, our focus has been on women from rural and post-conflict communities, who are often excluded from economic and social mainstreams, but play a key role in the development of their families and communities.
Our approach is based on the belief that Economic empowerment and social inclusion of women are the foundation for their active civic and democratic participation.. Through long-term programs of education, microfinance support, and strengthening women's leadership, we have supported tens of thousands of women across Bosnia and Herzegovina to gain knowledge, self-confidence, and create sustainable sources of income.
Over the years, more than 50,000 women participated in the one-year educational programs of personal and professional development Strong Women Strong Nations, while additional 50,000 women achieved economic stability through micro-credit programs. At the same time, we continuously work on strengthening local initiatives and women's associations, and connecting women from rural areas through networks of solidarity and cooperation.
We pay special attention to to young women, which through the project Academy of Democracy They acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for active participation in democratic processes, advocating for change and assuming leadership roles.
Women for Women International (USA) begins work in Sarajevo
Launching a microcredit program for women
CORE program developed
Local organization registration and consolidation with Women for Women International
The first program to support women's associations was launched
Merger of a microcredit organization with another microcredit institution
Democracy Academy for Young Women (DAYW) launched
Žene za Žene International becomes independent and continues to operate in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Network of women's associations for rural development established
Starting to support Ukrainian organizations working with women
Towards Equality project launched, Sist'Her women's center opened and expanded
support for women entrepreneurs
We empower women to actively contribute to the development of society based on the principles of justice, solidarity and equality
A society where every woman is free
We empower women to actively contribute to the development of society based on the principles of justice, solidarity and equality
A society where every woman is free
We develop creative and effective solutions. We learn, adapt and create approaches that bring sustainable and real impact.
We act responsibly, transparently and consistently. Our words and actions are always at the service of the dignity of women and the trust of the communities we work with.
We believe in the power of mutual support. We build togetherness and stand with women in order to create a fairer society together.
We are open to changes and new perspectives. We act boldly and thoughtfully to advance women's rights and respond to contemporary challenges.
We respect the diversity of women's experiences and understand that gender is intertwined with other forms of identity and inequality. Our approach is based on understanding the complexity of women's lives.
Our team consists of dedicated and experienced women who share common values of solidarity, equality and mutual support. We come from different professional backgrounds, but we are united by the same vision – a society in which women have a voice, opportunities and the power to decide. What sets us apart is the belief that change should not be waited for, but built together.
Seida Saric is a visionary and leader with more than three decades of dedicated work in the field of women's empowerment, peacebuilding and social change in Bosnia and Herzegovina and beyond. . Her dedication and passion for creating a more just society have shaped the organization's long-standing mission Women for Women International – Bosnia and Herzegovina,
where since 1998 he has been at the head of numerous programs that have changed the lives of women, especially in rural communities.
Through all aspects of her work, Seida has built bridges between humanitarian action and long-term development, advocating for women's rights to education, economic empowerment, and active participation in social processes. Her vision and commitment have contributed to building a better society in Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially in local communities where women have been marginalized for years. It is thanks to this focus that the organization Women for women It has had a strong and lasting impact on numerous communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In addition to working in BiH, Seida participated in advisory activities within the program Women for Women International in Kosovo and Afghanistan, sharing experiences and supporting the development of programs aimed at empowering women in post-conflict contexts. She also led a program to support women's organizations in Ukraine, which Women for Women International implemented in partnership with the organization Women for women BiH, with the aim of providing concrete assistance and empowerment to women affected by the war.
Seida is regularly present in public space and has appeared in numerous media outlets, both in Bosnia and Herzegovina and abroad (CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera, etc.). Her strength lies in authentic leadership, the ability to inspire others, and the tireless fight for an equal and supportive society in which women have a fully equal position. .
Belma has been working at Žene za Žene International for over 20 years on civil society development and sustainable economic initiatives. She has successfully led the preparation and implementation of more than 200 projects, with a focus on education of youth, women, and entrepreneurs.
She is currently the program manager of the “Towards Equality” project, working on the growth and development of the organization and is the coordinator of grants for CSOs in response to the crisis in Ukraine.
Belma has extensive experience working with women in urban and rural areas, advocating for their better position in society. Her expertise encompasses all aspects of a project from development, progress monitoring and reporting, ensuring financial and technical integrity. She is passionately engaged in advancing discussions and research in the areas of human rights, gender equality, capacity building of CSOs, participatory democracy and entrepreneurship. Committed to encouraging and improving active citizenship, and strengthening CSOs led by women and women's entrepreneurship, Belma through her work strives to support the sustainability of civil society organizations and create effective changes in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Amela Delić is an experienced financial and administrative manager with extensive experience in the non-governmental sector. Since 2017, she has been leading financial and administrative processes at the Association Women for Women International.
Through her work, she actively supports projects that provide women with opportunities for economic and social independence.
Through her education in the field of physics, she developed outstanding analytical thinking and organizational skills, which she uses every day in managing complex projects. Creative, dedicated and goal-oriented, Amela sees every challenge as an opportunity for innovation and progress. Her dedication to working with women allows her to successfully connect diverse resources and perspectives, always motivated by the idea that real progress comes through togetherness, empathy and bold change.
With an academic background in business, international relations, and gender issues, and extensive experience in the private and non-governmental sectors, Džana is dedicated to contributing to real change in society.
After five years in the private sector, where she successfully managed key clients and a sales team, she joined the Women for Women International team in 2021.
Her three years of experience in the NGO sector includes the role of Center Manager in the project “Towards Equality”, where she organizes events, leads a team and strengthens partnerships, focusing on increasing opportunities for women in BiH, and ultimately their empowerment. Within Sist'Her Sarajevo, Džana works on creating innovative content for women and connecting women's organizations across Europe, with the aim of advancing women's leadership and entrepreneurship.
Venesa is an expert with more than 15 years of experience in the non-governmental and international sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where she focuses on the implementation of development projects, with an emphasis on labor market reform.
She devoted the last four years to the development of entrepreneurship, acting as a trainer and mentor to small and medium-sized enterprises, and supporting them in strengthening entrepreneurial skills, developing innovative products and services.
She is a graduate teacher of English language and literature, and is currently a graduate student of the master's program "Management of human resources and knowledge" at the Faculty of Economics in Sarajevo, in cooperation with the Faculty of Economics of the University of Zagreb. In addition, she underwent specialized training at the Business Academy in entrepreneurship, as well as numerous courses in marketing, sustainable development goals, personal data protection and other related areas.
Venesa actively participated in the creation of a curriculum for building the capacity of public employment services, manuals for working with unemployed persons, and publications dealing with the state of female entrepreneurship in Bosnia and Herzegovina. She also contributed to the development of practical tools and materials to support entrepreneurs across the country.
Her professional philosophy is based on the principles of equality, equal opportunities and social responsibility, and she actively promotes gender equality in the context of the labor market and entrepreneurial environment.
Nermana has been working for 20 years in the Association "Women for Women International", where she built a career as an educator through specialized education. Her many years of experience at the Women's Skills Renewal program, where she perfected her presentation and communication skills,
and actively contributed to numerous projects aimed at empowering women in various communities across Bosnia and Herzegovina. As an expert in the field of IT, Nermana uses her technical knowledge to improve her work, while sharing her knowledge and skills with other women through workshops, empowering them to participate more actively in society and the workplace. She is dedicated to improving the position of women in society and supports their active inclusion in communities. Within the Association, she is responsible for organizing IT education, providing IT support, conducting education, as well as for the graphic design of visuals and other promotional materials.
Lejla Poturković holds a Master's degree in Security and Peace Studies with more than three years of experience in the non-governmental sector. She currently works as a project assistant in the organization Women for Women International, where he contributes to the implementation of programs aimed at empowering women.
She began her professional development in the media, where she gained extensive experience and honed her communication and presentation skills. Her experience was enriched by volunteer and humanitarian engagements, as well as membership in cultural associations, which further deepened her commitment to social issues and activism.
Lejla is dedicated to working on projects that contribute to positive social change, with a special focus on providing support for the empowerment of women in the community.
Alma Mušanović Johnson is a retired Foreign Service Officer, currently residing in Sarajevo. During her diplomatic career with the United States Department of State, she held managerial, logistical, and consular positions at U.S. embassies and missions in Japan, Mozambique, Switzerland, Rwanda, Croatia, and Niger.
During her service, she led and managed large teams, coordinated with different departments and agencies towards a common goal, worked effectively under pressure, and successfully planned and implemented logistics for visits by high-ranking officials.
Alma has distinguished herself in improving customer service, motivating staff, and achieving high performance in demanding environments. She is the recipient of the 2015 Leaman Hunt Award for Management Excellence for her outstanding leadership in reforming the management platforms of the U.S. Embassy in Maputo, aiming to provide high-quality services to all agencies and employees. During her service, she has been awarded the Superior Honor Award and the Meritorious Honor Award multiple times.
Before joining the Foreign Service, Alma worked for non-governmental and governmental organizations in Morocco, Canada, Washington DC, and New York, and volunteered for several non-profit organizations. She is a co-founder and member of the Advisory Board of Friends of Bosnia, a humanitarian and educational non-profit organization.
Born and raised in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where she graduated in English language and literature from the University of Sarajevo, she left Bosnia during the war in 1992 to pursue a scholarship to Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts.
Alma's husband Richard is also a retired foreign service officer. Alma and Richard have three daughters. Alma likes to meet new cultures, travel, hike, read, cook and spend time with family and friends.
He speaks Bosnian, English, French and Portuguese, and is currently learning Korean and Italian
Jasenka Hot is a graduate energy engineer and internationally certified passive house expert, with more than 20 years of experience in the field of energy efficiency and renewable energy sources. She has built her career as an energy coordinator in construction projects in Sweden and across the EU, focusing on developing sustainable and cost-effective solutions in the construction sector.
She is particularly dedicated to educating communities and reducing the impact of climate change, by connecting technological innovations with social needs. She has participated in numerous national and international projects, and one of her key contributions was working on energy analyses within the framework of grant applications for SIDA, with the aim of improving energy efficiency in the public sector of BiH.
In addition to her technical expertise, Jasenko is driven by a strong commitment to social change – especially improving the living conditions of women. Throughout her career, she has actively contributed to projects that combine energy solutions with economic empowerment and women's education, especially in marginalized communities.
She believes that working at Women for Women International is an opportunity to combine her expertise and passion for supporting women, and contribute to building a more just and sustainable society.
Graduated economist and business process manager, with more than 27 years of experience in the development of the microfinance sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina. She built her professional career in leading positions at the Microcredit Foundation EKI, where she was a key person in shaping strategies, establishing operational procedures and managing projects of local to international importance.
During her long-term engagement, Sadina has held various positions – from loan officer, to director advisor, to general manager. Her expertise includes financial planning, strategic development, project management and operational management. She was responsible for the implementation of self-sustainability business models, regulatory compliance, communication with financiers and development partners, as well as for employee education and mentoring.
Sadina has participated in numerous trainings around the world – from Poland, Japan and England, to Bangladesh, Mongolia and Cambodia – where she further improved her knowledge in the fields of microfinance, leadership, risk management and change management. Her ability to connect strategic thinking with concrete implementation makes her a recognizable leader in the sector.
In addition to her technical and managerial expertise, Sadina is strongly committed to issues of gender equality and women's economic empowerment. Through the microcredit programs she has developed and led, she has contributed to increasing access to finance for women, especially those from rural and economically vulnerable environments. She believes that women are the driving force behind sustainable development and through her work actively builds models of support that enable women to achieve economic independence, education, and active participation in society.
For Sadina, her involvement in the Women's Association represents a continuation of her dedicated work on community empowerment – through the integration of professional knowledge and social action, she contributes to the creation of a more just and inclusive society.
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Contact
Association Women for Women International
Ferhadija 19
71 000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
phone: +387 (0) 62 502 509
email: general@zenezazene.ba
