At a working lunch, representatives of Eda presented the findings of a study on the current state and opportunities for improving gender-responsive public procurement in Bosnia and Herzegovina to media representatives.
The research combined qualitative and quantitative approach, 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.
Women entrepreneurs and women-owned businesses rarely participate in public procurement processes. Statistics show that they account for approximately 30% of business owners in BiH, yet their average share in public procurement procedures is only 17.18%. Women-owned businesses are mostly engaged in smaller contracts, while larger contracts remain out of reach. There is a significant variation in women’s participation across municipalities and cities.
The research findings will be compiled into a study that will be published soon.
The activities were carried out within 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).
