Gender
Kyrgyz Republic: Improving working conditions
Gender
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Supporting women in business
GenderHerbal products company Faveda is owned by women and is one of the three largest firms of its kind in Bosnia and Herzegovina, producing more than 2.5 tonnes of dried herbs a year. The EBRD’s Small Business Support team helped Faveda change its marketing, target younger consumers and increase sales.
With donor funding from Luxembourg, SBS connected Faveda with a local consultant, who helped the company redesign its packaging and logo, produce promotional items, improve its retail space and create a new web site enabling customers to make online purchases.
These developments helped open up Faveda’s products to a much wider range of customers. For instance, the company moved into new markets in Turkey and expanded its exports to Kosovo. In 2013, turnover increased by 25 per cent, exports by 10 per cent and Faveda was in negotiations to supply a large retailer in Denmark.
In Numbers
EBRD annual Bank investment by sector, 2013
- Industry, commerce and agribusiness 31%
- Financial institutions 28%
- Energy 21%
- Infrastructure 20%
The EBRD and gender equality [table class=””][attr colspan=”1″] “Equality of opportunity for women and men contributes to the efficient use of all resources and is a fundamental aspect of a modern, well-functioning market economy. Through its investments and other activities the Bank is committed to addressing gender inequalities in the economies of countries where it works.”[/table] [table class=””][attr colspan=”1″] “The EBRD’s Strategic Gender Initiative draws on the experience of the three-year Gender Action Plan, under which the Bank identified and introduced gender considerations in 15 projects in a variety of sectors, from natural resources to financial institutions.”[/table] [table class=””][attr colspan=”1″] “Under the Initiative, the Bank has widened its approach. As well as assessing the direct impact of projects on women so it can mitigate any adverse effects, the EBRD now considers how its investments can play a systemic role in promoting economic opportunities for both women and men.”[/table]
Key facts about our work in this area [table class=””][attr colspan=”1″] “The Bank signed five investments with a gender focus or component in 2013.”
“During the year, the EBRD commissioned a report on legal barriers limiting women’s access to credit in the Kyrgyz Republic and Morocco.”
“The Strategic Gender Initiative, which was approved in April 2013, sets out how the Bank promotes women’s socio-economic empowerment, equal opportunity and participation in the labour market.”
“The work of the Gender team benefits significantly from the support of donors.”
[/table]