Projects through which we empower women, connect communities, and create space for long-term change.
Don't (meno) PAUSE is a European project aimed at improving the quality of life of women in the perimenopause and menopause period through education, physical activity, digital tools and community support. The project brings together organizations from the sports, educational, health and civil society sectors from different European countries, with a special focus on women who often lack sufficient accessible and reliable information about menopause, especially women from rural and vulnerable groups. The project will develop a digital platform, educational manual, video content and practical resources that will provide women with access to expert information, advice and exercises. Community activities are also planned that will provide women with opportunities for physical activity, learning, networking and sharing experiences. The aim of the project is to contribute to greater knowledge and self-confidence of women, improve their physical and mental well-being and reduce the stigma associated with menopause. The project is taking part in ROMNI APS from Italy, Žene za Žene International from Bosnia and Herzegovina, ATERMON BV from the Netherlands, Borys Grinchenko Kyiv Metropolitan University from Ukraine and Athens Network of Collaborating Experts (ANCE) from Greece, while the project is coordinated by Sports academy PESG from Croatia.
The network of women's associations for rural development is an informal network that connects more than 20 women's associations from rural and less developed communities throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina. Through their work, the Network members directly connect and support more than 1,600 women in their local communities. They work in the areas of economic empowerment and entrepreneurship, civic participation, gender equality, cultural heritage preservation, environmental protection, social inclusion and local community development.
The network nurtures intersectional and transformative approach, recognizing the diverse circumstances and obstacles that women in rural areas face. Through networking and joint action, the Network seeks to strengthen the voice of women who are often underrepresented in decision-making processes and create a space in which women and their organizations can advocate for change and actively contribute to the development of their communities.
Since 2018, the members of the Network include: Advisory Committee of Women for Women International, through which their experiences, needs and perspectives directly contribute to the work and strategic direction of the organization. The committee meets once a year through Networking Meeting, which provides a space for the exchange of experiences and ideas, connecting members, jointly considering challenges, and defining future strategic directions for Women for Women International.
Through cooperation with members of the Network, numerous projects aimed at strengthening the capacities of women's organizations, socio-economic empowerment of women and development of local communities, as well as joint campaigns and activities. The network initiated and supported humanitarian and solidarity actions, including assistance to women and families during floods, COVID-19 pandemics and other crisis situations. Joint campaigns like „"And I wonder..."“ i „"Are you wondering?"“, as well as activities on the occasion of International Women's Day, further contributed to the visibility of women from rural areas and their active participation in public life.
The network is not a separate project, but a long-term initiative launched in 2018 by Women for Women International. In the coming period, the goal is to further empower member organizations and their leaders, strengthen their capacities for advocacy, networking and partnership development, and open new opportunities for connecting with similar networks and organizations on national, regional and European level.
Through various projects, programs and partnerships, ZZI seeks to ensure the sustainability of the Network, expand its membership and create new opportunities for knowledge exchange, joint action, mobility, learning and access to resources. The long-term vision is a strong and connected platform of rural women's organizations whose members and leaders have the capacity, space and opportunities to be more visible and active in shaping economic, social and political processes at the local, national and European levels.
Democracy Academy for Young Women is a flagship program of Women for Women International, which has been implemented continuously since 2015 with the support of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). The new phase of the project is aimed at strengthening the civic engagement and participation of young women in Bosnia and Herzegovina, affirming young women as drivers of democratic change, improving electoral culture and democratic participation, and strengthening cooperation between young women, civil society organizations, and local communities.
Through a structured educational program, young women participate in modules that cover topics such as democracy and human rights, political and governance systems, elections and citizen participation in electoral processes, critical thinking, public advocacy, project cycle management, communication and presentation skills, interethnic dialogue, peacebuilding, as well as the impact of digitalization and artificial intelligence on democratic processes. The Academy combines theoretical knowledge with practical experience through cooperation with local civil society organizations, volunteering, and the implementation of small projects in the community.
The project is based on more than ten years of experience and a proven model through which more than 250 young women have developed leadership and civic participation skills and implemented initiatives in their communities across Bosnia and Herzegovina. An important part of the program is the growing network of Academy alumni, which connects participants of different generations and provides opportunities for continuous learning, collaboration, mentoring and civic engagement. In this way, the program contributes in the long term to greater participation and leadership of young women and the development of more inclusive, democratic and gender-equal communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The project aims to support women from rural and peri-urban areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina to develop their business ideas, existing informal activities and small businesses into registered, sustainable and market-oriented business ventures. The project responds to the barriers that rural women face, including limited access to knowledge, finance, markets and business networks.
The project provides women with integrated support that includes practical education in entrepreneurship and business development, individual mentoring, support in preparing business plans, microgrants for business start-up and development, and support after business registration. Special focus is placed on connecting women from rural and urban areas through exchange of experiences, networking, joint events and activities aimed at market access, participation in fairs, and increasing the visibility of women entrepreneurs from rural areas.
The project builds on the experience of Women for Women International in women's economic empowerment and the methodology of the Strong Woman Strong Business program. The project simultaneously contributes to greater economic independence of women, reduction of regional disparities and stronger participation of women in local economic and social life.
A project aimed at empowering women and women's associations in the rural areas of Zenica through the use of cultural heritage as a resource for economic development, entrepreneurship, preserving local traditions and strengthening communities. The project is implemented in cooperation with five women's associations from the rural communities of Zenica: Women's Association "Stijene" Klopče, Women's Association "Putovići", Women's Association "Gorica", Cultural and Artistic Association "Mošćanica" and Women's Association "Babinke"„.
The project strengthens the capacities of women's associations and their leaders through training in digital skills, public advocacy and project development, while young women are given the opportunity to develop entrepreneurial ideas based on local resources, traditional knowledge and cultural heritage. Special focus is placed on the development of cultural tourism, the promotion of traditional products and handicrafts and the creation of new economic opportunities for women in rural areas.
An important part of the project is the documentation and promotion of intangible cultural heritage through the development of a digital archive that will include traditional crafts, food, music, folklore and other local knowledge and customs. The project also includes the organization of local cultural events that connect different generations, an awareness-raising campaign and activities aimed at the visibility of rural communities. Through dialogue with local institutions, the project further strengthens the cooperation and participation of women in local development processes.
The project aims to strengthen the competitiveness, visibility and sustainability of women entrepreneurs and women who want to start their own businesses in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Through the project, at least 150 women will have the opportunity to participate in practical training that will cover digital competitiveness and the use of modern digital tools, the opportunities offered by the green and circular economy, and the development of responsible and sustainable business practices.
A special part of the project is a digital campaign aimed at promoting female entrepreneurship, increasing the visibility of female entrepreneurs and their business stories, and challenging stereotypes about the role of women in the economy and entrepreneurship. Through education, practical tools, and public promotion, the project provides women with the knowledge and resources needed to adapt to modern market demands, develop new business opportunities, and conduct longer-term and more sustainable business.
The project contributes to the creation of an entrepreneurial environment in which women have greater access to knowledge, digital tools and information about new economic opportunities, while at the same time strengthening their visibility and role in the economic development of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Towards Equality is a multi-year project implemented in partnership with Empow'Her Global from France and Žene za Žene International, with the aim of advancing gender equality and creating a more inclusive economic and social environment for women in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Eastern Europe. The project addresses key barriers that women face in achieving economic empowerment, including limited access to networking and learning spaces, difficult access to finance and mentoring, a lack of tailored support programs, and limited availability of data on female entrepreneurship.
One of the key results of the project is the establishment of the Žene za Žene International Center for Women – Sist'Her Sarajevo, a unique space dedicated to women that combines education, entrepreneurial skills development, mentoring, networking, public dialogue and access to information and resources. The center provides programs for women who want to start their own business, existing entrepreneurs and women interested in developing new knowledge and skills, including the Strong Woman Strong Business program, bootcamps, thematic education, individual consultations and other support activities.
The project also invests in collecting and developing knowledge and data on the position of women in the economy, developing communities for learning and sharing experiences, and connecting civil society organizations from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Eastern Europe. In this way, Towards Equality goes beyond direct support for women and seeks to contribute to long-term changes in the ecosystem of women's entrepreneurship and gender equality. The project has also developed important resources and publications, including the Study on Women's Entrepreneurship in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Regional Feminist Policy Brief for the Western Balkans, which provide an analysis of the position of women in the economy and concrete recommendations for advancing gender equality and creating a more inclusive economic environment.
Women for Women International The Center for Women – Sist'Her Sarajevo was visited by more than 2,000 users, more than 80 activities were implemented, more than 100 speakers and experts were involved, and more than 150 different stakeholders were mobilized. Through the Strong Woman Strong Business program, more than 50 business ideas were incubated, and the most successful business initiatives received support through grant funds.
The project also achieved significant online reach, reaching more than 230,000 people through digital communication activities and campaigns, with more than 300,000 digital interactions and content views through various online channels.
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine in 2022, Women for Women International has supported local organizations that provide various forms of assistance to women and children affected by the war in Ukraine, as well as to women refugees in Poland. Drawing on more than two decades of experience working in the war and post-conflict context of Bosnia and Herzegovina, ZZI has played an important role in grant management, monitoring, reporting and strengthening the organizational capacities of local partner organizations. During the implementation of the CRF, ZZI collaborated with organizations HumanDoc, Andreev Family Foundation, DOM 48.24 and Foundation The Day After in Ukraine, as well as Foundation Beregynia in Poland. Through supported initiatives, women and children are provided with access to medical, psychological and psychosocial support, assistance to survivors of gender-based violence, opportunities for economic empowerment, education and development of leadership capacities.
A special contribution of the ZZI was in connecting Ukrainian women leaders with the experiences of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Western Balkans in the areas of peacebuilding, transitional justice and the Women, Peace and Security Agenda. Through supported activities, study visits and exchange of experiences, Ukrainian women leaders had the opportunity to learn from civil society organizations and institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the wider region, and to develop recommendations on the role of women in the future recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine.
Since 2022, the CRF mechanism has supported five local non-governmental organizations, whose programs directly included more than 15,000 women and children, with more than 1 million USD in grants awarded to local organizations in Ukraine and Poland.
Entrepreneurship is a Woman 4 - SheFounder (EIW4) is an international program that supports women and new entrepreneurs in developing business knowledge, skills and experiences through international exchanges and learning from experienced entrepreneurs. The program allows participants to spend a certain period in another European country with an experienced entrepreneur, get to know new business models, develop practical skills, acquire new knowledge and establish international business contacts.
Women for Women International participates in the program as an accredited intermediary organization for Bosnia and Herzegovina, providing support to candidates through information, the application process, connecting with appropriate experienced entrepreneurs and support during the implementation of the international exchange. The program is particularly important for women who want to start or develop their own business, as it allows them direct learning through practice and access to European business networks.
Through international exchange, participants have the opportunity to improve their entrepreneurial and managerial skills, better understand different markets and business cultures, and develop new ideas for business growth and internationalization. The program simultaneously contributes to strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem and connecting entrepreneurs from Bosnia and Herzegovina with European partners.