UNDP, Deloitte and Addiko Bank Sarajevo strengthen cooperation to advance women empowerment in BiH

Empowerment of women in Bosnia and Herzegovina through partnership with the private sector is in focus of a joint support of UNDP, Deloitte and Addiko Bank Sarajevo to Women’s Mentoring Network. 

Based on the MoU signed today, UNDP will continue to support the Women’s Mentoring Network initiative powered by Deloitte and Addiko Bank Sarajevo, which provides mentorship, support, and tools to help women succeed in business. This continuing partnership also envisions exchange of expertise, women's leadership, and capacities through UNDPs Women Forum for Development. 

‘UNDP is committed to gender equality and women’s empowerment,’ said Steliana Nedera, UNDP Resident Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina. ‘We believe that empowering women is key to creating a more inclusive and innovative economy. Partnerships with the private sector, an engine for growth, are important for shaping a better future for women and creating a more equal and empowered world. That’s why we are so pleased to advance our partnership with Deloitte on this important initiative, as well as cooperation with Addiko.’

The Women Forum for Development is a networking platform that currently brings together 1,700 women leaders across BiH to take joint action, advance common agendas, make their voices heard through issue-based coalitions in the areas of transformative leadership, decent work, care economy/social innovation and knowledge transfer. 

‘Deloitte is proud to partner with UNDP on this important initiative,’ said Sabina Softić, Managing Partner at Deloitte in Bosnia and Herzegovina. ‘We believe that by empowering women, we can together help to create a more prosperous and equitable society for all.’

This partnership will seek to mobilize women leadership, expertise and mobilize the know-how and efforts available within the Women Mentoring Network Initiative and Women Forum for Development with views of creating synergies for increased impact of both initiatives. Moreover, this partnership will facilitate future exchanges and catalytic actions between different projects of UNDP and Deloitte where added value from such cooperation would contribute towards empowerment of women and result in common good.

One of the initiators of the project ‘Women's Mentoring Network’, Sanela Pašić, Member of the Supervisory Board at Addiko Bank Sarajevo and a Lecturer at the University Sarajevo School of Science and Technology added: ‘We are honored that UNDP recognized Addiko Bank as a partner in this initiative. Through the ‘Women's Mentoring Network’ project, for the third year in a row, lecturers and mentors will share their experience with the participants and thus facilitate the solution of some future challenges. We are sure that greater participation of women in management brings benefits to every environment. We dedicated the Women's Mentoring Network project to the training of women in the hope that tomorrow they will contribute to the economy of Bosnia and Herzegovina and that greater representation of women in management brings benefits to every environment. We intend to continue this cooperation.’

The Women’s Mentoring Network initiative has already supported more than 150 women in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The initiative provides women with access to mentors who can help them develop their skills and knowledge, as well as connect them with networks of potential investors and partners.

Based on the MoU, the UNDP, Deloitte and Addiko Bank will continue to work together in the next five years to support the Women’s Mentoring Network initiative and to promote gender equality in Bosnia and Herzegovina.