Ajka Rovčanin, Executive Director of the Institute for Youth Development KULT, participated on 22 September 2026 in Sarajevo in a panel dedicated to the role of young entrepreneurs in the circular economy and green transition, held as part of Sarajevo Energy & Climate Week 2026.
The panel, “From Linear to Circular Economy: A Roadmap for Innovation, Investment and Sustainable Growth,” organised by UNDP, brought together representatives of organisations, the business and banking sectors, academia, and young entrepreneurs from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region. The discussion focused on how young people’s innovative ideas can be transformed into sustainable business models and what kind of support young entrepreneurs need to actively participate in the green transition.
Speaking about the position of young entrepreneurs in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Rovčanin emphasised that the problem is not necessarily a lack of good ideas, but rather the path from an idea to a sustainable business.
“I would highlight four key barriers: skills, financing, the market and business environment, and support policies,” said Rovčanin.
She particularly emphasised the need to develop a combination of green, entrepreneurial, financial and digital skills. The importance of this issue is also reflected in the findings of the national research on youth financial literacy conducted by the Institute for Youth Development KULT in 2025 among more than 1,000 young people across Bosnia and Herzegovina. The research showed that the overall level of financial literacy among young people is low.
Young people generally understand basic financial concepts but face significantly greater difficulties when it comes to investing, risk management, diversification and digital financial tools – knowledge that becomes particularly important when we expect a young person to start and develop their own business.
Financing was highlighted as another important barrier, particularly because innovative and circular business models require resources not only to launch a business but also to develop an idea, build prototypes and test the market. Support for young entrepreneurs should therefore not end with the provision of a grant but should combine financing with mentoring, incubation, access to investors and access to markets.
An important part of the discussion also focused on how well education is keeping pace with the changes brought about by the green transition and circular economy. Rovčanin pointed to two worlds that are still connecting too slowly – non-formal education for young people and the emerging needs of the labour market.
“We need to shift from training-oriented programmes towards learning that responds to real labour market needs. The question should no longer be what kind of training we can offer young people, but what skills companies, emerging sectors and young entrepreneurs will need – and how we can help young people acquire those skills,” Rovčanin said.
The green transition does not only create entirely new “green jobs”. It also transforms existing occupations and requires new competencies across many sectors. Due to its flexibility, non-formal education can respond quickly to these changes, but it needs a stronger practical component and much more direct involvement of employers.
Companies should not be involved merely as guests at the end of educational programmes. They should help define the skills that are needed and contribute through practical assignments, mentoring, internships, job shadowing and, where possible, employment opportunities.
It is equally important to change the way the success of youth programmes is measured. The number of training sessions delivered and certificates issued does not, on its own, demonstrate real impact. More meaningful questions are whether a young person has found a job, started a business or developed a prototype, and whether a company has implemented a solution developed by a young person.
The panel also opened a broader discussion on how youth policies can be better connected with economic and development policies. One of Rovčanin’s key messages was that young people should not be viewed only as beneficiaries of support measures.
Young people should participate in shaping the policies and solutions that will define their role in the green transition and the future labour market.
