Bosnia and Herzegovina

This World Bank Group report provides a baseline analysis of the status of access to finance for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) with a particular focus on women entrepreneur' ability and constraints in accessing finance in order to develop and grow their businesses. It is based on a nationally representative survey of 542 enterprises conducted in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) between September 2016 and February 2017.

Altijana Dzombic owns a small bakery in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH). This bakery, which started as an idea in 2004, has grown into a thriving small business which now employs 26 people.

Women are a significant, but underutilized force in Bosnia and Herzegovina's economy. The severe lack of research on women in the private sector means that their challenges and contributions are not well recognized. This report aims to fill this gap, compiling available research on the topic and showcasing positive role models of women in business, in the context of the country's post-conflict background.