Eda has published the study “Gender-Responsive Public Procurement in BiH: Current State and Perspectives”, which analyzes the current situation and opportunities for improving gender-responsive public procurement in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Gender-responsive public procurement is a strategic tool for promoting gender equality through public spending, enabling women entrepreneurs to gain fairer access to economic opportunities.
The research combined qualitative and quantitative approaches, including an analysis of over 2,000 public procurement procedures in 12 local communities in BiH during 2023. Two focus groups were organized, and seven semi-structured interviews were conducted with relevant stakeholders -including representatives of local governments, women entrepreneurs, and public procurement experts.
The findings show that women entrepreneurs and women-owned businesses rarely participate in public procurement procedures. Statistics indicate that while women own about 30% of businesses in BiH, their average participation in public procurement procedures is only 17.18%. Women-owned businesses are mostly engaged in smaller contracts, while larger contracts remain inaccessible.
For the full findings and recommendations, see the study: https://bit.ly/3EduzPu
The research was conducted as part of the project “Enhancing Women’s Participation and Gender-Sensitive Policies in Public Procurement at the Local Level in Bosnia and Herzegovina” implemented by Eda and funded by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI).
