Women’s equal participation in politics has worsened in the Western Balkans countries compared to the socialist era. This also applies for equal opportunities of women in the labour market. The World Bank’s proposal includes creating knowledge, innovation and knowledge-sharing in the region. This approach reflects the strengths of the World Bank as a Multilateral agency in bringing forward analytical work and pilot interventions for the benefit of governments and other partners in the countries of transition.

The proposed program aims at promoting gender equality by strengthening the knowledge base and evidence on gender disparities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Serbia, in order to inform government, donor and civil society interventions.

Immediate target group of the analytical and dissemination work by the World Bank are:

• Governments of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Serbia
• Donor agencies in these countries
• Civil society organizations

The generated findings shall contribute to improve the situation and status of women; therefore, citizens of the three countries are the ultimate target group of this intervention.

The expected outcomes are:

• Informed/stimulated country public debate on gender issues
• Increased knowledge base for evidence-based policy-making on gender issues.
• Contribution to gender equality progress in the three countries.

Source: SDC