Outcome BIH_O_3

High quality of programme through knowledge, innovation, results-based management and evaluation

In 2024, the UN Women Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) office prioritized delivering high-quality programming by emphasizing knowledge generation, fostering innovation, and adhering to results-based management principles. These efforts aimed to ensure impactful initiatives that contribute to gender equality and women’s empowerment, aligned with national priorities and international commitments. Knowledge generation played a central role in shaping evidence-based programming . Several products including on gender responsive climate action and on rural women were produced. These resources provided critical insight s equipping stakeholders with actionable recommendations for advancing gender-sensitive policies and interventions. These tools not only informed UN Women’s strategic positioning but also strengthened the capacity of partners to address emerging challenges . Capacity building remained a key focus throughout the year. Workshops and targeted training sessions were conducted to enhance the skills and knowledge of stakeholders, including government representatives, civil society organizations, and community leaders. These activities improved their ability to integrate gender-responsive approaches into their work, ensuring greater alignment with international standards and local priorities. Additionally, innovative communication strategies, such as campaigns promoting women role models in climate action, utilized digital platforms to engage broader audiences, amplify advocacy efforts, and inspire positive behavioral change within communities. While no evaluations were completed during the year, significant preparatory work was undertaken to ensure high-quality assessments in early 2025. The Gender-Responsive Budgeting (GRB) and Country Portfolio Evaluations (CPE) will provide comprehensive analyses of program effectiveness and impact, further supporting a results-based approach to programming. The BiH office remained committed to embedding monitoring and evaluation frameworks in all programming, ensuring accountability, learning, and continuous improvement. These efforts collectively reinforced UN Women’s commitment to high-quality programming in BiH, fostering innovation, strengthening evidence-based approaches, and ensuring programs are responsive to the needs of women and girls. The office continues to focus on delivering impactful results while laying the groundwork for evaluations that will guide future strategic directions.

High quality of programme through knowledge, innovation, results-based management and evaluation

Several important CO initiatives are informed by the Country Portfolio Evaluation (CPE), which was conducted in 2020 / 2021 and are based on the commitments expressed in the Management Response. Importantly the CPE strongly informed the existing Strategic Note (2021 to 2025) that was approved in Q2 2021, providing very useful insight into key elements that the office needed to take better into account. Implementation of Management Response through 2021 has been challenging with the COVID 19 restrictions, despite this the CO sought to improve our learning and focus on leaving no one behind and transformative approaches, on revisiting Theory of Change and charting out several key areas for promoting operational excellence and team development. Significant efforts were also invested in support to women’s movement in BIH and developing renewed vision for strategic relationship with the CSOs. Total of 16 publications were produced and shared with partners in 2021. Breakdown per type of publication: 5 assessments/ case studies, 3 brochures, 1 report, 5 manual/guideline, 2 policy briefs (Gender in Focus). The number of publications has increased compared to end of 2020 by 33.3% (by 4 publications) Knowledge products were shared through 7 initiatives/events undertaken by UN Women.

High quality of programme through knowledge, innovation, results-based management and evaluation

UN Women conducted a strategic review of the largest area of work focusing on EVAW. This strategic review clearly demonstrates that UN Women has played a central role in addressing VAW in BiH since its establishment. It has evolved from a potential competitor with CSO to a crucial partner and technical leader in this field. The government, especially the Gender Centers, have acknowledged the important role that UN Women has played in building their capacity and supporting their work. UN Women has also contributed to the building of capacities in other government sectors, such as the police and, to a lesser degree, the health sector Another important role that CSOs see in the UN Women is the support with the information and service access through one stop shops, that may include, referrals and long-term support through rape crisis centers. UN Women can play a role here in funding programs that do that and generating evidence of how they work, or potentially by influencing the government to make important steps in this area of work. Funding for CSOs, particularly those in charge of key areas of VAW response (such as shelters), need to be improved and they see UN Women as an organization who can helped them advocate for more sustainable support from the government. Longer term, more dependable funding is needed, especially for providers of key services. Many CSOs are covering the costs of this work that has public benefits themselves, this is not sustainable, and CSOs believe that UN Women could play a significant role in overcoming the problem with fundings.

High quality of programme through knowledge, innovation, results-based management and evaluation

UN Women learned from the evaluations of the of the largest area of work focusing on EVAW. This learning demonstrates that UN Women has played a central role in addressing VAW in BiH since its establishment. It has evolved from a potential competitor with CSO to a crucial partner and technical leader in this field. The government, especially the Gender Centers, have acknowledged the important role that UN Women has played in building their capacity and supporting their work. UN Women has also contributed to the building of capacities in other government sectors, such as the police and, to a lesser degree, the health sector Another important role that CSOs see in the UN Women is the support with the information and service access through one stop shops, that may include, referrals and long-term support through rape crisis centers. UN Women can play a role here in funding programs that do that and generating evidence of how they work, or potentially by influencing the government to make important steps in this area of work.