Gender Budgeting

Citation:

Rakauskiene, Ona Grazina and Egle Krinickiene. 2015. “A Model For Assessing The Gender Aspect In Economic Policy.” Business, Management and Education 13 (1): 46-63.

Authors: Ona Grazina Rakauskiene, Egle Krinickiene

Abstract:

The purpose of research is to develop a conceptual model for assessing the impact of the gender aspect on economic policy at macro– and microeconomic levels. The research methodology is based on analysing scientific approaches to the gender aspect in economics and gender–responsive budgeting as well as determining the impact of the gender aspect on GDP, foreign trade, the state budget and the labour market. First, the major findings encompass the main idea of a conceptual model proposing that a socio–economic picture of society can be accepted as completed only when, alongside public and private sectors, includes the care/reproductive sector that is dominated by women and creating added value in the form of educated human resources; second, macroeconomics is not neutral in terms of gender equality. Gender asymmetry is manifested not only at the level of microeconomics (labour market and business) but also at the level of macroeconomics (GDP, the state budget and foreign trade), which has a negative impact on economic growth and state budget revenues. In this regard, economic decisions, according to the principles of gender equality and in order to achieve gender equality in economics, must be made, as the gender aspect has to be also implemented at the macroeconomic level.

Keywords: Gender, gender equality, gender awareness, macroeconomic policy, care/reproductive economy, gender responsive budget, foreign trade and gender

Topics: Economies, Care Economies, Gender, Gender Budgeting

Year: 2015

Citation:

Owano, Nancy Abwalaba. 2014. “Gender Disparities in Kenya.” Journal of Research in Gender Studies 4 (2): 298–312.

Author: Nancy Abwalaba Owano

Abstract:

Gender issues have continued to play a key role in the formulation of sector wide public policy, worldwide. It is notable that gender gaps in many developing countries remain a challenge in the education sector. The purpose of policies is to guide action towards some identified practical goals; policies lose meaning when they remain unimplemented. Moreover, it is important to understand the process of policy formulation and implementation because it is crucial to the final outcomes. In contemporary education theory and practice, feminist thought provides invaluable direction on gender policies that seek to enhance inclusiveness and equality in education so that it does not discriminate against girls and women or any minority groups. This paper will, therefore, provide an overview use of gender budgeting as an important tool in the hands of the state to eliminate gender disparities from educational perspective against feminist theoretical frameworks. The purpose of the study is to establish the impact of gender budgeting on accessibility to quality education by the girl child. The study identified a wide range of factors that have led to gender disparities in Kenya and reveals that significant positive changes have been realized in the education sector although a lot more is required.

Keywords: Gender, gap, responsive budget, policy

Topics: Education, Gender, Gender Budgeting Regions: Africa, East Africa Countries: Kenya

Year: 2014

Citation:

Nwoye, May. 2007. “Gender Responsive Entrepreneurial Economy of Nigeria: Enabling Women in a Disabling Environment.” Journal of International Women’s Studies 9 (1): 167-75.

Author: May Nwoye

Abstract:

Growth and development are among the most exciting subjects in economics, and the application of their principles to developing countries especially the African economies, is both needed and timely. In Nigeria, women have historically been disadvantaged in accessing not only material resources like property and credit, but also have been deprived of resources like education, market information and modern technology. All of these factors have negative implications for the type of enterprises that women are engaged in. This paper highlights the various economic constraints faced by women in Nigeria, as a result of limitations imposed on them by nature and culture; It calls for removal of gender-related obstacles in order to facilitate the creation of enterprises by women, as well as improving their general education, and entrepreneurial skills. The paper argues that gender imbalances in access to education and productive resources have important implications, not only for equity, but also for economic output, productivity, food security, fertility, and child welfare. It further recommends gender specific activities and affirmative action, whenever women are in a particularly disadvantageous position. The paper concludes that mainstreaming gender into budget and policy design will provide women access to support services they require to develop the necessary confidence, explore alternative business ideas and entrepreneurial strategies that will stimulate, not only the Nigerian economy, but the people’s way of life.

Keywords: Nigeria, Entrepreneurial Economy, women and economics

Topics: Development, Economies, Education, Gender, Gender Budgeting, Gender Mainstreaming, Security, Food Security Regions: Africa, West Africa Countries: Nigeria

Year: 2007

Citation:

Jones, Nicola, Rebecca Holmes, and Jessica Espey. 2010. “Progressing Gender Equality Post-2015: Harnessing the Multiplier Effects of Existing Achievements.” IDS Bulletin 41 (1): 113-122.

Authors: Nicola Jones, Rebecca Holmes, Jessica Espey

Abstract:

This article argues that international efforts to progress gender equality now and post-2015 need to build on the achievements of the MDGs and other international frameworks, but simultaneously address the gender dynamics that underpin the root causes of poverty. The first half of the article seeks to unpack the ways in which gender inequalities underpin five clusters of MDGs: poverty and sustainable development; service access; care and caregiving; voice and agency; international partnerships and accountability. The analysis then turns to highlight the importance of harnessing the momentum from other global initiatives such as CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women) and the Beijing Platform for Action to promote more fundamental change including: the establishment of a more powerful UN agency to champion gender equality; the institutionalisation of gender budgeting and gender-responsive aid effectiveness approaches; and the promotion of gender-sensitive social protection to tackle gender-specific experiences of poverty and vulnerability.

Topics: Development, Economies, Poverty, Gender, Gender Budgeting, Gendered Power Relations, Gender Equality/Inequality, International Organizations

Year: 2010

Citation:

Holvoet, Nathalie, and Liesbeth Inberg. 2014. “Gender Responsive Budgeting and the Aid Effectiveness Agenda: Experiences from Mozambique.” Journal of International Women’s Studies 15 (2): 61-79.

Authors: Nathalie Holvoet, Liesbeth Inberg

Abstract:

This article examines how gender-equality objectives have been addressed within the context of the Paris Declaration and related aid-reform processes. The focus of the article is on gender-responsive budgeting (GRB), an approach that is being increasingly advanced to increase the gender sensitivity of changing aid modalities, but which has thus far remained understudied. With our case study of Mozambique, we aim to fill this gap. It highlights the contribution of GRB towards increasing the gender sensitivity of national policy documents and budget processes with which donors increasingly (intend to) align, within the context of changing aid processes. Additionally, our study explores the underlying mechanisms that explain the benefits of GRB which makes our findings also interesting beyond the Mozambique context.

Keywords: Mozambique, aid effectiveness

Topics: Gender, Gender Budgeting, Gendered Power Relations, Gender Equality/Inequality Regions: Africa, Southern Africa Countries: Mozambique

Year: 2014

Citation:

Holvoet, Nathalie. 2007. “Gender Budgeting in Belgium: Findings From a Pilot Project.” European Societies 9 (2): 275-300.

Author: Nathalie Holvoet

Abstract:

The article highlights activities and findings of the Belgian initiative regarding gender budgeting, which are put against the background of theory and practice developed so far elsewhere. Attention is drawn upon the opportunities of gender budgeting to push further forward the policy goals of gender equality, thereby overcoming a number of problems commonly associated with the currently widely propagated strategy of gender mainstreaming. The article provides first-hand information on the origin of the Belgian initiative, its political location, the activities performed and the methodology used. Analysis of findings addresses a number of key dimensions in gender budgeting, including (i) the overarching importance of the political location, (ii) the internal management and monitoring function of gender budgeting and the importance of prevailing budgetary systems, and (iii) the external accountability function of gender budgeting and the need to link up with outside government initiatives.

Keywords: gender budgeting, Belgium, gender mainstreaming, gender budget analysis, accountability, public management

Topics: Gender, Gender Budgeting, Gender Mainstreaming, Gendered Power Relations, Gender Equality/Inequality Regions: Europe, Western Europe Countries: Belgium

Year: 2007

Citation:

Debusscher, Petra, and An Ansoms. 2013. “Gender Equality Policies in Rwanda: Public Relations or Real Transformations?” Development and Change 44 (5): 1111-34.

Authors: Petra Debusscher, An Ansoms

Abstract:

This article examines Rwanda’s gender equality policies with the intention of contributing to the ongoing debate in the literature on the meaning of gender equality initiatives in authoritarian states. The article evaluates the transformative potential of Rwanda’s gender equality policies with reference to deep-rooted societal norms and practices within which gender inequalities are embedded. To this end, the article draws on in-depth interviews conducted in Rwanda with a range of stakeholders, as well as on documentary research. It explores the factors informing the Rwandan commitment to gender equality, and the positive developments this has brought about, before identifying five trends that threaten the transformative potential of Rwandan gender equality policies. The authors conclude that while a strong political will and target-driven policies offer opportunities for promoting gender equality, the transformative potential is jeopardized by the dominance of an underlying economic rationale; the neglect of the ‘invisible labour’ of women; the formalistic implementation of gender policies and their focus on quantitative results; the limited scope for civil society voices to influence policy; and the lack of grassroots participation.

Topics: Economies, Gender, Gender Budgeting, Gendered Power Relations, Gender Equality/Inequality Regions: Africa, Central Africa, East Africa Countries: Rwanda

Year: 2013

Citation:

Costa, Monica, Marian Sawer, and Rhonda Sharp. 2013. “Women Acting for Women: Gender-Responsive Budgeting in Timor-Leste.” International Feminist Journal Of Politics 15 (3): 333-52.

Authors: Monica Costa, Marian Sawer, Rhonda Sharp

Abstract:

In the new country of Timor-Leste, women constituted in 2011 32 per cent of the parliament, a relatively high figure in the world and in the region. But to what extent has the presence of women in parliament contributed to progress towards gender equality? In this article we argue that the passage of a parliamentary resolution on gender-responsive budgeting in Timor-Leste was an act of substantive representation, and we draw on a range of data to examine what made it possible. We find that while ‘newness’, international norms, women’s movement unity, women’s machinery in government and parliament and networks linking them were important, it was the development of a cross-party parliamentary women’s caucus that was crucial to success. The role of gender-focused parliamentary institutions in supporting critical actors has rarely been examined in the literature on substantive representation. This is in contrast to the rich literature on institutions such as women’s policy agencies. Our study suggests that more focus on parliamentary institutions is needed to discover what enables women parliamentarians to become critical actors.

Keywords: gender-responsive budgeting, substantive representation, Timor-Leste, women's parliamentary caucus

Topics: Gender, Gender Budgeting, Gendered Power Relations, Gender Equality/Inequality, Governance, Political Participation Regions: Oceania Countries: Timor-Leste

Year: 2013

Citation:

Austen, Siobhan, Monica Costa, Rhonda Sharp, and Diane Elson. 2013. “Expenditure Incidence Analysis: A Gender-Responsive Budgeting Tool for Educational Expenditure in Timor-Leste?" Feminist Economics 19 (4): 1-24.

Authors: Siobhan Austen, Monica Costa, Rhonda Sharp, Diane Elson

Abstract:

Gender-disaggregated expenditure incidence analysis (EIA) is a tool for assessing the gender responsiveness of budgets and policies. However, to date there has been a limited take-up of gender-disaggregated EIA in policy and budget decision making. Using data from the 2007 Timor-Leste Living Standards Survey (TLLSS) and interviews and discussions with stakeholders, this paper conducts an EIA of expenditures on public schools and discusses the effectiveness of this analysis as an input into budget decision making. While gender-disaggregated EIA can assist in identifying gender gaps, its potential can only be fulfilled when combined with additional gender analysis and supported by a deep understanding of budget decision-making processes and the actors involved. The gender-disaggregated EIA of Timor- Leste’s educational spending confirmed its usefulness as an indicator of inequalities in educational expenditure. However, a range of political, cultural, and technical barriers constrains the use of gender-disaggregated EIA in policy and budget decision making.

Keywords: expenditure incidence analysis, gender-responsive budgeting, Timor-Leste, Gender

Topics: Education, Gender, Gender Analysis, Gender Budgeting Regions: Oceania Countries: Timor-Leste

Year: 2013

Citation:

Villagómez, Elisabeth. 2004. “Gender Responsive Budgets: Issues, Good Practices and Policy Options.” Background Paper V presented at the United National Economic Commission for Europe, Regional Symposium on Mainstreaming Gender into Economic Policies, Geneva, January 28-30.

Author: Elizabeth Villagomez

Abstract:

The following is an issue note on gender responsive budgeting from the Regional Symposium on Gender Mainstreaming in the ECE Region, which took place January 28th - 30th, 2004. (Abstract from UN Women)

Topics: Gender, Gender Budgeting

Year: 2004