CLIMATE ACTION AND GENDER EQUALITY IN THE BUDGET – EVENTS IN SERBIA AND BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
UN Women, with the support of GFA South East Europe, organized events in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina entitled "Climate Action and Gender Equality in Budgeting" as part of the SIDA-funded project "Transformative Financing for Gender Equality Towards More Transparent, Inclusive and Accountable Governance in the Western Balkans". The events brought together experts, policymakers and representatives from different sectors to discuss the intersection of climate action and gender equality in budgeting.
The event in Serbia took place on 8 November in Belgrade. It began with introductory speeches by representatives from the Ministry of Mining and Energy, Ms. Jovana Joksimović; the Ministry of Environmental Protection, Ms. Andjela Stajić; the Coordination Body for Gender Equality, Ms. Andrea Dimoski; and UN Women, Ms. Milana Rikanović. Following these speeches, Ms. Sanja Nikolin and Mr. Zoran Kapor presented the Gender and Climate Financing Baseline Study and the methodology used to determine the gender and climate impact of budget allocations.
Moderated by Ms. Sanja Nikolin, the panel discussed strategies and challenges for improving gender equality and climate justice at local and national levels. Panelists included Ms. Jelena Docić from the Rural Development Sector of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management; Ms. Gordana Damnjanovic and Ms. Ana Radojević from the City of Kragujevac; Ms. Svetlana Drakul from the City of Užice; and Ms. Jelena Ružić from the Kolubara District Women's Association.
The Bosnia and Herzegovina event was held in Sarajevo on November 23. The opening ceremony was attended by Dr. Ingrid Macdonald, UN Resident Coordinator; Birgitta Jansson from the Embassy of Sweden; Jo-Anne Bishop from UN Women; Samra Filipović Hadžiabdić, Head of the Agency for Gender Equality of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Drena Đukić from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Srpska; Vedran Lakić from the Ministry of Mining, Energy and Industry of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina; and Edin Delić, Mayor of the City of Lukavac.
After the introductory speeches, Ms. Azra Bećirović presented the Gender and Climate Financing Baseline Study and the Gender and Climate Impact Methodology and its application to selected ministries and municipalities.
The panel discussion on "Gender Equality as a Prerequisite for Climate Justice", moderated by Ms. Aleksandra Stanivuković, was enriched by diverse perspectives, fostering dialogue and innovation. Panelists included Tamara Bajkuša-Spahić from the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, Božana Šljivar from the City of Banja Luka, and Tijana Marjanac, representative of the Fund for Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency of the Republic of Srpska.
