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Sharing the purse strings: budgeting for gender equality

Sharing the purse strings: budgeting for gender equality. SAMANTHA HUNG Senior Social Development Specialist (Gender and Development) Asian Development Bank.

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Sharing the purse strings: budgeting for gender equality

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  1. Sharing the purse strings: budgeting for gender equality SAMANTHA HUNG Senior Social Development Specialist (Gender and Development) Asian Development Bank The views expressed in this paper are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), or its Board of Governors, or the governments they represent. ADB does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this paper and accepts no responsibility for any consequence of their use.  The countries listed in this paper do not imply any view on ADB's part as to sovereignty or independent status or necessarily conform to ADB's terminology.

  2. Outline of Presentation • Why gender-responsive budgeting (GRB)? • Why GRB for the MDGs? • What is GRB? • How to implement GRB? • Some GRB Tools • Country examples • Challenges & lessons learned

  3. Why gender-responsive budgeting? • Budget reflects and defines highest level political commitment and priorities of government • Allocation of expenditure has different gender impacts • Government needs to deliver to different groups & implement gender equality commitments • Gender mainstreaming tool • GRB makes economic sense

  4. Why GRB for the MDGs? • MDG 3 is a goal in its own right • MDG 3 progress enables all MDGs - multiplier effect • Off-track gender-related MDGs • Gendered approach to MDGs essential to accelerate progress • GRB = resource allocation tool for MDG investment

  5. What is GRB? • Not a separate women’s budget! • Rigorous analysis of different impact of budget priorities on men and women • Reorient and re-prioritize • Data and tools

  6. How to implement GRB? • Requires simultaneous actions at 3 levels: • Developing and applying GRB technical tools • Collate & analyze sex disaggregated data and information • Mechanisms for GRB policy dialogue between Government and civil society

  7. Some GRB Tools 1. Gender-Aware Policy Appraisal 2. Sex-Disaggregated Beneficiary Assessments 3. Sex-Disaggregated Expenditure Incidence Analysis • Sex-Disaggregated Revenue Incidence Analysis • Sex-Disaggregated Analysis on Time Use 6. Gender-Aware Medium-Term Appraisal 7. Gender Budget Statements There is no one single way to do GRB!

  8. But it does not have to be complicated! 4 entry points: Budget approval Budget preparation Audit & Evaluation Budget execution

  9. But it does not have to be complicated! Plus 3 key elements: Awareness Accountability Change

  10. GRB Example: India • Ninth Plan (1997-2002) - “30% funds in all women related sectors.” • Tenth Plan (2002-2007) – Highlighted need for GRB • Institutionalization of GB since 2005 - Gender Budget Cells in 56 Ministries/Departments - Gender Budget Statements – Union and State level - Orientation and Capacity Building • More than 1000 Central & State Government officers oriented to concepts and tools of GB • 2009-2010 – all Ministries required to produce Statement 20 ‘Gender Budgeting’

  11. India: Increased $ for Women

  12. GRB Scoring system GRB Example: Nepal

  13. GRB Example: Nepal • If the total is >50% = “Direct Gender Responsive” • If the total is >20%-<50% = “Indirect Gender Responsive or Transformative” • If the total is <20% = “Neutral” Example of practical actions: MoLD provides a directive of 25% of allocation of Village Block Grants for women and children

  14. GRB Example: Bangladesh • GRB introduced in 2009 • Sector budgets - proportion of activities directly or indirectly supporting women‘s advancement. • Set of 14 criteria for assessment • GRB guidelines in budget call circulars • 2011 - 33 ministries had formulated GRBs • 29.7% of budget allocated for gender related expenditure, 18.3% targeting women directly • 2011 - 20 Ministry Gender Budgeting Report

  15. GRB Example: Bangladesh • Criteria of Gender Impact Assessment for GRB • Access to healthcare and improved nutrition • Access to public properties and services • Access to education and training • Reduce daily working hours of women • Women‘s participation in labor market and income generating activities • Enhance social safety for women and reduce probable vulnerability and risk • Women‘s empowerment- decision-making in household, society, work place & politics • Women‘s participation in various forums • Ensure safety and free movement for women • Monitoring and evaluation • Increase social status of women • Access to law and justice for women • Information Technology for women • Reduce violence and oppression

  16. GRB Example: Philippines • Legislative mandate for GRB • Specific allocation for gender projects • Mandated minimum 5% budget (set in 1996) • Ministries required to submit plans • Allocations less than expected

  17. GRB initiatives contribute to: • Increased awareness of gender impacts of budgets • Understanding of the care and informal economies • Understanding impacts on women’s time use • Bringing gender issues onto the political agenda • Improved transparency of budget processes • Participation of civil society in the budget process • Increased sex-disaggregated data

  18. Challenges & Lessons learned • Lack of gender expertise – invest in capacity • Requires a multi-disciplinary team • Commitment of time & human resources • Lack of sex-disaggregated & gender data • Practical nature is critical to success • Best placed & led by the Ministries of Finance & Planning with NWM in advisory role

  19. Challenges & Lessons learned • Focus first on sectors with greatest potential gender impact • Capacity building for sector agencies • Expand to all ministries and levels • Civil Society sustains the demand • Gradual process – long term view

  20. Political will essential • High-level commitment is crucial • Leadership of Ministry of Finance • Accountability via civil society • More women in decision-making helps

  21. Sustaining demand for GRB Women’s organizations & gender practitioners Development partners Demand Parliamentarians Researchers & academics Media and the general public

  22. In conclusion… • Cannot bolt-on GRB – gradual process • No one recipe fits all • Keep it simple & practical • Pick the right tools for the right entry points • Long-term commitment & perspective • Learn from other country experiences • Integrate GRB within wider PFM reform

  23. Thank you for listening “The Budget reflects the values of a country – who it values, whose work it values and who it rewards… and who and what and whose work it doesn’t.” Pregs Govender, former Chair of the South African Parliamentary Committee on the Improvement of Quality of Life and Status of Women

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