Sarajevo, 11 October 2023 – The UNFPA, United Nations Population Fund proudly announces the successful conclusion of its collaborative initiative, the Project of Training Unemployed Mothers for the Labor Market, in cooperation with the Government of the Czech Republic, dm drogerie markt BiH, and the Mozaik Foundation. Launched in June of this year, the project has made a significant impact on the lives of 29 unemployed mothers and their families across the country.

The initiative was aimed at addressing the employment challenges faced by unemployed women in Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially those who have young children not yet of school age. Selected women were provided with a unique opportunity to undergo a comprehensive three-month training program, preparing them for the workforce and enhancing their employability.

According to a recent study by the United Nations, achieving greater gender parity within the workforce holds a significantly higher potential for bolstering economic sustainability in aging, low-fertility societies compared to merely increasing fertility rates. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the current scenario sees half of working-age women excluded from the labor market, devoid of income to support both themselves and their families. “Highlighting the substantial potential of over half a million unemployed women, there is a critical need to provide support by enhancing their skill sets and facilitating their ability to care for their children, allowing them the opportunity to actively engage in the labor market," emphasized John Kennedy Mosoti, UNFPA Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“This was a big turning point in my life. Until recently, I was a mother and a housewife, and thanks to this project, I became a business woman who, by virtue of her work, is now useful to her family, the company she works for and society in general, and that makes me very proud of myself."Given that I was educated, and graduated from university before starting a family, it meant a lot to me that I was given the opportunity to gain work experience in the profession for which I had been educated", said Nedžla Karahmet one of the women engaged in the project

Member of the dmBiH Board, Emina Mušinović stated: “We are very proud of this project, from which we have very positive experiences. Mothers who have joined us during the last three months have delighted us with their engagement, dedication in work and desire to master as many new skills as possible, and what we as an employer have come to know is that all of us need such projects as much as possible, even with longer duration. Participating in such projects helps the employers realize how many exceptional people are out there and at the same time it simplifies the process of finding new employees.”

“Government of the Czech Republic recognizes the great potential that lies in including so far inactive, and unemployed women into the labor market and that is why we decided to support this project. We will continue trying to support it and share good examples from our country which we can offer for use here", said Josef Zrzavecký, Acting Head of Mission in the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

Upon entering the workforce, these mothers would secure supplementary income for their families, actively participate in Bosnia and Herzegovina's socioeconomic development, and mitigate the adverse impacts of a diminishing labor force on the employment landscape. Establishing societies that are resilient to demographic shifts stands as the most effective approach in handling demographic changes. 

For all further information, please contact:

Majda Prljača, at prljaca@unfpa.org or 061/171-673