OSCE-supported training course focuses on economic empowerment of women in Montenegro’s Bijelo Polje municipality

The economic empowerment of unemployed women in Montenegro’s municipality of Bijelo Polje was the topic of a training course on 30-31 October 2015 supported by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro.

During the course in Bijelo Polje town, particular focus was given to the challenges and opportunities for female entrepreneurship, institutional support, importance of networking, as well as marketing and practical guidance on starting up a business and the concept of ‘business angels’ – the investment of personal capital and/or business experience by individuals in start-up companies in return for an equity stake.  

The participants were identified in co-operation with the municipal authorities of Bijelo Polje.

Biljana Pejović, Head of the Gender Department at the Human and Minority Rights Ministry, highlighted the several years of co-operation between the Ministry and the OSCE Mission on programmes dedicated to gender equality issues.

“Despite the very significant activities and results, it is necessary to put additional efforts into economically empowering women in Montenegro,” said Pejović. “The Government is making efforts to create a positive environment, through special credit lines for women and other affirmative actions, because economically empowered women can give their full contribution to the state economy."

This activity is part of the OSCE Mission’s project dedicated to strengthening gender equality principles at the local and national levels.