UN Women Kosovo Office and SPAR licensed operator for Kosovo Meridian Group have partnered in an initiative aimed at the economic empowerment of middle-aged and older women who have been absent from the workforce by facilitating their entry into the private sector.

The joint initiative underscores the crucial importance of investing in the economic empowerment of women as an important aspect of gender equality, reduction of poverty, and inclusive economic growth. The initiative is also in line with this year’s global International Women’s Day theme “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress.” 

Important strategic commitment  

Agon Gashi, CEO of Meridian Express, highlights the company’s commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and the commitment to create employment opportunities specifically tailored for middle-aged women.  

He continued saying: “One of the main goals of the company is in empowering women through the provision of a secure and supportive work environment. We place a specific emphasis on the recruitment of women in the middle age bracket, alongside offering comprehensive training and development opportunities to enhance their professional capabilities.

“Furthermore, we anticipate a steady rise in these numbers, as our goal over the next three years is to employ more than 100 middle-aged women.” 

UN Women Head of Office, Vlora Tuzi-Nushi, further emphasised that this initiative is crucial for empowering middle-aged women by integrating or reintegrating them into work and changing perceptions around this social category. Empowering middle-aged women through employment not only enriches their lives but also strengthens their position in society and family, thus leading to overall economic development. 

Participant testimonials

During the launch, Meridian Express introduced a participant of the initiative, Sanije, a 52-year-old woman who recently moved to Prishtina and started working for the first time. 

“I needed a job, but I had never previously worked. I live in the building just above the Meridian Express and was a regular client here and one day I decided to ask if they needed new staff. I am immensely grateful for their willingness to welcome me aboard and support me through this challenging transition.” 

Meridian Express stands among the first private sector companies to endorse the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) in Kosovo committing to foster practices such as equal pay for equal work, gender-responsive supply chain management, and a zero-tolerance policy against sexual harassment in the workplace. 

Source: United Nations Kosovo Team

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About SPAR Kosova

In January 2019, SPAR International granted an exclusive licence to a consortium, SPAR Kosova JSC, to operate the SPAR brand in the country. Since 2021, SPAR Kosova has become a division of the well-established Meridian Corporation which is fully owned by the Gashi family. The Meridian Group has over 1,000 employees throughout Kosovo and has an ongoing strategy to invest in the development of their people’s retail and wholesale skills.