Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) stands at a critical juncture in its journey towards a sustainable future. Women in Bosnia and Herzegovina are increasingly recognized as pivotal stakeholders in the transition towards a green economy, where sustainable development goals intertwine with gender equality imperatives.
But, still poverty and precarious socioeconomic conditions are strongly feminized and gender-based discrimination in employment and the labour market represents a significant challenge. Gender inequality is reflected in employment rates, with current labour force participation for women being at 37% and 63% for men. Economic disparities persist in BiH, disproportionately affecting women who face higher rates of unemployment and limited access to healthcare and social services.
Various indicators confirm that gender inequality in Bosnia and Herzegovina persist and that its negative toll impact multiple dimensions of life. The Human Development Index value is lower for women than for men (0.754 vs 0.802 respectively) and the Gender Development Index is 0.9416, which indicates significant room for improvement across its three indicators of human development (health, knowledge and living standard).
Also, as one of the most fossil fuel-dependent nations in Europe, BiH faces significant environmental challenges, including severe air pollution and high greenhouse gas emissions. To be clear, Bosnia and Herzegovina is a highly fossil fuel dependent country, which limits the country’s progress towards clean energy transition. According to the most recent Energy Transition Index Report, BiH is ranked 98th among 115 countries for energy transition and 88th for transition readiness.
A critical step towards gender equality in the green job sector involves conducting comprehensive skills assessments. These assessments, done in collaboration with employers and labor organizations, identify skill gaps and inform targeted training programs. Such initiatives aim to equip both men and women with the necessary skills to participate equally in emerging green sectors, thereby enhancing access to quality green jobs for women and promoting equitable economic development. Empowering women through comprehensive skills assessments and targeted training programs is essential to enhance their participation in emerging green sectors. These initiatives aim to equip women with the necessary skills for quality green jobs, thereby promoting equitable economic development.
Despite the imperative for change, women in BiH remain underrepresented in the energy sector, often confined to low-qualified and non-technical roles. Gender stereotypes and fewer opportunities in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields further hinder women’s participation. The lack of female leadership and gender-sensitive policies in climate mitigation efforts exacerbates these challenges, undermining both environmental sustainability and development outcomes. Integrating environmental sustainability and gender equality into educational curricula is pivotal in fostering awareness and preparing future generations for careers in the green economy. Promoting green careers and sensitizing communities, particularly young people, to opportunities in the green economy are critical. Education systems should integrate environmental sustainability and gender equality into curricula, encouraging future generations to pursue careers in green sectors. Also, companies can miss to adapt to new market demands in terms of labour skills through Support training programmes for re-skilling and upskilling as well as training of women and youth for new potential green jobs and other jobs of the future.
To further address these issues, governments in BiH must adopt robust accountability measures to ensure gender-responsive practices across all sectors, particularly in green job initiatives. Integrating gender considerations into policy frameworks not only aligns BiH with international standards but also fosters coherence and support among stakeholders for gender equality in the green economy.
Promoting Women in Non-Traditional Roles
Investing in training for women in male-dominated occupations within the green economy is crucial for diversifying the workforce and enhancing competitiveness. By supporting women’s transition into sectors like renewable energy and sustainable tourism, BiH can capitalize on their leadership and entrepreneurial skills to drive local economic growth and environmental sustainability. The social enterprise is giving a significant boost to another great trend with a very high revitalizing potential for the global economy: green start-ups. Therefore, it is recommended to strengthen green start-ups, social entrepreneurship models and cooperatives due to their potential to economically empower women, especially those living in rural areas and coming from vulnerable groups. Such models can also significantly contribute to sustainable development by working towards a combination of social, environmental and business targets and bringing a diverse range of benefits to their communities.
BiH has made strides in promoting gender equality through legislative frameworks and gender action plans. However, translating these into tangible outcomes requires sustained political will and collaboration across sectors. A critical step towards gender equality in the green job sector involves conducting comprehensive skills assessments. These assessments, done in collaboration with employers and labor organizations, identify skill gaps and inform targeted training programs. Such initiatives aim to equip both men and women with the necessary skills to participate equally in emerging green sectors, thereby enhancing access to quality green jobs for women and promoting equitable economic development. Investing in training women for non-traditional roles within the green economy is essential. Resources should be earmarked to support women’s transition into male-dominated occupations, ensuring they have equal opportunities to benefit from and contribute to BiH’s green economic growth. This approach not only diversifies the workforce but also enhances innovation and competitiveness in the green sector.
The promotion of social enterprises and green start-ups, particularly those led by women, holds significant potential for economic revitalization and local development in BiH. These enterprises can generate employment, particularly in sectors like renewable energy, sustainable tourism and cultural industries. By supporting women’s participation in these sectors, BiH can harness their leadership and entrepreneurial skills to drive sustainable development goals forward. Empower women to take more active roles as agents of change and leaders in green jobs and community energy is one of crucial measures in the process of labor market transition.
In conclusion, advancing gender equality in BiH’s green economy necessitates a comprehensive approach that addresses structural inequalities and empowers women as catalysts for change. Policy and decision makers should ensure employment and skills development policies designed for green job sectors are gender responsive, well informed, coherent and broadly supported by all relevant stakeholders. They must ensure that green job policies are aligned with the existing international gender frameworks and treaties. By leveraging women’s potential and promoting inclusive policies, BiH can achieve sustainable development goals while fostering a resilient and equitable society. Efforts must prioritize gender-responsive policies, education, and support for women-led enterprises to propel BiH towards a greener and more inclusive future.
References:
- Inclusive decarbonization activity (IDA) Project Blueprint for gender responsive
- just transition for all in Bosnia and Herzegovina; Available at: https://www.undp.org/bosnia-herzegovina/publications/blueprint-bihs-gender-responsive-just-transition-all
- Fostering Effective Energy Transition; Available at: http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Fostering_Effective_Energy_Transition_2021.pdf
- UNDP and UNICEF, 2022. Social Impact Assessment Study. Third Household Survey; Available at: <https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2022-06/SIA%20III_ENG.pdf>
- UNDP, 2021. Country program document for Bosnia and Herzegovina -UNDP
- United Nations., 2021. Human Development Index; Available at: <https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/.
- United Nations., 2021. Gender Development Index; Available at: <https://hdr.undp.org/gender-development-index#/indicies/GDI>
- UNDP, 2021. National Human Development Report 2020: Social Inclusion in Bosnia and Herzegovina; Available at:https://www.undp.org/bosnia-herzegovina/publications/national-human-development-report-2020-social-inclusion-bosnia-and-herzegovina