The conference “Women’s Cooperatives – Driving the Future of Rural Communities” was held yesterday in Begovo Selo on Nišići, gathering representatives of institutions, cooperatives and international organizations with the aim of strengthening women’s cooperatives as a cornerstone of sustainable rural development in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The event was organized by UN Women and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), with the support of Sweden, as part of the project “Women as Drivers of Development in Agriculture and Rural Areas”. The conference formed part of the global activities marking the 2025 International Year of Cooperatives, proclaimed by the United Nations to promote the cooperative model as key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Jo-Anne Bishop, UN Women Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, emphasized that women in rural communities across Bosnia and Herzegovina are already proving themselves to be drivers of development and innovation in agriculture. “However, to fully realize this potential, it is essential to ensure that they have equal access to capital, land, markets, and decision-making processes. Cooperatives, as models based on cooperation and solidarity, have the power to make this possible. We are proud that Bosnia and Herzegovina is actively contributing to the global promotion of cooperatives through this event within the International Year of Cooperatives 2025,”said Bishop.
The conference featured a panel discussion titled “What Women Leaders in Agriculture Need – Cooperatives, Capital and a Seat at the Table”, addressing key challenges and opportunities for improving the position of women in agriculture, particularly through the strengthening of women’s cooperatives.
“Today’s discussion clearly demonstrated how important cooperatives are—not only for the empowerment of women, but also as a platform for rural development. We identified common challenges: limited access to capital and land, the importance of local communities and structured budgeting for rural development, as well as the need to include women in decision-making processes at all levels,” said Vesna Jungić, Senior Advisor for Cooperatives at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of Republika Srpska.
The conference highlighted that women’s cooperatives are among the most important tools for the economic empowerment of women in rural communities, for advancing sustainable and innovative practices in agriculture, and for building the resilience of local communities to economic and climate challenges. Representatives of institutions and cooperatives agreed on the need for stronger institutional and financial support for women’s cooperatives, the development of education and networking programs for women in agriculture, as well as the adaptation of successful models from the region and the world to the context of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“As someone actively engaged in the economic empowerment of women through various forms of support, I can confirm that projects like this significantly empower women across Bosnia and Herzegovina and actively contribute to their positioning as leaders in agricultural and rural development,” said Ljiljana Čičković, participant and Manager of the women’s social agricultural cooperative “Smokvica” from Trebinje.
Special attention was given to the educational sessions that accompanied the conference, focusing on improving practical skills and applying innovative business models in agriculture.
This conference forms part of broader efforts by UN Women and FAO, with the support of Sweden, to empower women in rural areas and contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through the promotion of cooperatives.
