Gender Budgeting

Citation:

Elson, Diane. 2006. Budgeting for Women’s Rights: Monitoring Government Budgets for Compliance with CEDAW. New York: UNIFEM.

Author: Diane Elson

Abstract:

UNIFEM recently released a report entitled Budgeting for Women’s Rights: Monitoring Government Budgets for Compliance with CEDAW. The report, authored by Professor Diane Elson, a leading feminist economist, makes a significant contribution to the advocacy work on the transparency of budgets. It provides arguments for increasing the accountability of government budgets to women's rights. (Abstract from UN Women)

Topics: Economies, Gender, Gender Budgeting, Rights, Human Rights, Women's Rights

Year: 2006

Citation:

Çağatay, Nilüfer, Mümtaz Keklik, Radhika Lal, and James Lang. 2000. “Budgets as if People Mattered: Democratizing Macroeconomic Policies.” SEPED Conference Paper Series, UNDP, New York.

Authors: Nilüfer Çağatay, Mümtaz Keklik, Radhika Lal, James Lang

Abstract:

This UNDP conference paper, published in May 2000 by Nilufer Cagatay, Mumtaz Keklik, Radhika Lal and James Lang, provides a contextual framework for budget initiatives and discusses how much progress has been made towards achieving the commitments declared in Copenhagen and Beijing. The paper makes a case for rethinking macroeconomics such that social policy becomes a constitutive element of macroeconomics. The authors further discuss the need for and role of people-centered budgets, pro-poor and gender-sensitive budgets. The lessons learned from these initiatives are brought forth as well as recommendations for future budget exercises. (Abstract from UN Women)

Topics: Economies, Economic Inequality, Gender Budgeting Regions: Africa, Southern Africa, Asia, Southeast Asia, Oceania Countries: Australia, Philippines, South Africa

Year: 2000

Citation:

Budlender, Debbie, Rhonda Sharp, and Kerri Allen. 1998. How To Do a Gender-Sensitive Budget Analysis: Contemporary Research and Practice. London, UK: Commonwealth Secretariat.

Authors: Debbie Budlender, Rhonda Sharp, Kerri Allen

Abstract:

This document is a training manual that details the practical steps involved in implementing gender-sensitive budget analysis. The manual offers tools and methods that may be used in gender-sensitive budget analysis and offers a range of applications using various country case examples. (Abstract from UN Women).

Topics: Gender, Gender Analysis, Gender Budgeting

Year: 1998

Citation:

Budlender, Debbie, and Guy Hewitt. 2002. Gender Budgets Make More Cents: Country Studies and Good Practice. London, UK: Commonwealth Secretariat.

Authors: Debbie Budlender, Guy Hewitt

Abstract:

This Commonwealth Secretariat publication by Debbie Budlender and Guy Hewitt (2002), documents "good practice" in gender budget work from across the globe. Practitioners share their first-hand experiences and in-depth knowledge of the why, where and how of gender responsive budget (GRB) initiatives. They reflect on both the challenges and successes of initiatives in the Andean region, Australia, Korea, Mexico, the Philippines, Rwanda, Scotland, South Africa and the UK. A chapter on the Commonwealth Secretariat's involvement in developing and implementing GRB initiatives is also included to suggest the role that can be played by external agencies at the national, regional and international level.

This book builds on a previous publication, Gender Budgets Make Cents, which was designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of GRB initiatives. It described the conceptual framework, evolution of the work and lessons learned, and provided brief summaries of country initiatives. Together, these titles show the importance of integrating a gender perspective into budgetary policies to promote equality between women and men. 

(Abstract from UN Women)

Topics: Gender, Gender Budgeting Regions: Africa, Central Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa, Americas, North America, Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Europe, Northern Europe, Oceania Countries: Australia, Mexico, Philippines, Rwanda, South Africa, South Korea, United Kingdom

Year: 2002

Citation:

Budlender, Debbie, Diane Elson, Guy Hewitt, and Tanni Mukhopadhyay. 2002. Gender Budgets Make Cents: Understanding Gender Responsive Budgets. London, UK: Commonwealth Secretariat.

Authors: Debbie Budlender, Diane Elson, Guy Hewitt, Tanni Mukhopadhyay

Abstract:

This 2002 Commonwealth Secretariat publication, by Debbie Budlender, Diane Elson, Guy Hewitt and Tanni Mukhopadhgay, provides a conceptual framework for work on gender responsive budgets, traces the evaluation of work in this area and provides information on country initiatives. This is a crucial resource for researchers, policy-makers and practitioners. Hard Copies are available from the Commonwealth Secretariat. (Abstract from UN Women)

Topics: Gender, Gender Budgeting

Year: 2002

Citation:

Budlender, Debbie. 2009. Ten-Country Overview Report: Integrating Gender Responsive Budgeting into the Aid Effectiveness Agenda. New York: The United Nations Development Fund for Women.

Author: Debbie Budlender

Abstract:

The following research reports (1 composite report and 10 country reports) have been generated as part of the UNIFEM programme,  "Integrating gender responsive budgeting into the aid effectiveness agenda”. The three-year programme funded by the European Commission (EC) was launched in 2008 and consists of research and programmatic technical assistance.

The programme seeks to demonstrate how gender responsive budgeting (GRB) tools and strategies contribute to enhancing a positive impact on gender equality of aid provided in the form of General Budget Support (GBS).

The first aspect of the programme involved research in ten developing countries to deepen the understanding of national partners and European Union (EU) decision makers of the opportunities for using GRB to enhance accountability to gender equality in the context of the aid effectiveness agenda. Concerned countries were Ethiopia, Peru, Tanzania, Uganda, Morocco, Nepal, India, Rwanda, Mozambique and Cameroon.

The second aspect of the programme will involve the selection of five countries in which targeted and tailored technical support will be provided in 2009 and 2010 to improve country capacity to further institutionalise GRB. (Abstract from UN Women)

Topics: Gender, Gender Budgeting Regions: Africa, MENA, Central Africa, East Africa, North Africa, Southern Africa, Americas, South America, Asia, South Asia Countries: Cameroon, Ethiopia, India, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Peru, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda

Year: 2009

Citation:

Budlender, Debbie. 2000. A Global Assessment of Gender Responsive Budget Initiatives. Washington DC: World Bank.  

Author: Debbie Budlender

Annotation:

Summary:

“The following assessment is based on a study of gender responsive budget (GRB) initiatives conducted in over forty countries in different parts of the world by the end of 2000. Pen-sketches of the different country initiatives considered are included as a separate section in this publication. These case studies are referred to in this section to illustrate different points.

The Commonwealth Secretariat commissioned the assessment as a planning document for their partnership with UNIFEM and IDRC. Its structure and the topics covered reflect this origin. It is organised as follows:

·      The first part discusses gender responsive budgeting as a strategy for mainstreaming gender into economic policy

·      The second part discusses the goals and objectives of different initiatives.

·      The third and fourth parts discuss the roles of international agencies and country-level actors respectively.

·      The fifth part talks about the differences between national and sub-national gender budget work

·      The sixth part focuses on implementation strategies

·      The seventh part discusses how GRB work intersects with other developmental programmes

·      Finally, the eighth part proposes some key considerations for the three commissioning partners and others who plan to support GRB work.”

(Paragraphs from Budlender, p.1) 

Topics: Gender, Gender Budgeting, Gender Mainstreaming

Year: 2000

Citation:

Budlender, Debbie. 2000. “The Political Economy of Women’s Budgets in the South.” World Development 28 (7): 1365-78. 

Author: Debbie Budlender

Abstract:

Soon after the democratic elections of 1994, South Africa embarked on its first women's budget exercise, a collaborative venture between nongovernmental organizations and the South African parliament. Some time later the South African government initiated its own exercise in gender analysis of the budget. The South African initiative has attracted a lot of interest from around the world. In a number of other countries governments and civil society players have embarked on gender analysis exercises, often with strong support from international donors. This paper discusses the ways in which these exercises can assist in addressing gender issues, as well as some of the tensions involved.

Topics: Gender, Gender Analysis, Gender Budgeting, Gender Mainstreaming, Governance, Political Economies Regions: Africa, Southern Africa Countries: South Africa

Year: 2000

Citation:

Banerjee, Nirmala, and Maithreyi Krishnaraj. 2004. “Sieving Budgets for Gender.” Economic and Political Weekly 39 (44): 4788-91.

Authors: Nirmala Banerjee, Maithreyi Krishnaraj

Abstract:

Gender budgeting exercises attempt to assess how far prevailing gender-based biases are incorporated into budgetary exercises. Such analyses also provide women with vital information regarding the contents and focus of existing government policies. The aim is to promote greater transparency and enhance democracy. After the late 1990s, when gender budgeting exercises were first set in motion, such exercises have quickly come into vogue and many scholars have undertaken them. This period has also been marked by shifts in economic policies, especially in developing countries. Reforms in the name of development that have had a pernicious effect on women have been implemented. Recent studies in India have looked at the many well-intentioned public schemes that have failed to achieve significant results. The set of papers included in this review illustrates the progress made so far. While there is still need for crucial interaction between analysis and the structures of gender that currently exist in society as well as with the elements necessary for transforming gender relations, these efforts, as presented here, are a step towards opening a meaningful dialogue with policy-makers to make them appreciate exactly what it is that women want and in what form. 

Topics: Economies, Gender, Gender Budgeting Regions: Asia, South Asia Countries: India

Year: 2004

Citation:

Balmori, Helena Hofbauer. 2003. Gender and Budgets Overview Report. Brighton, UK: BRIDGE. 

Author: Helena Hofbauer Balmori

Abstract:

This Overview Report questions why government budgets often allocate resources in ways that perpetuate gender biases and looks at how budgets offer the potential to transform gender inequalities by attaching money to policy commitments. In recent years gender budget initiatives (GBI), both inside and outside government, have risen to this challenge. Although most GBIs are still primarily focused on analysing the budget and its impact, the ultimate aim is to mainstream gender into the criteria that determine the planning, formulation and implementation of the budget. In order to make this a reality, new methodologies need to be identified and documented. The GBIs themselves need to be consistently followed up, evaluated and the identifiable impacts of different GBIs shared. New approaches, alliances and tools also need to be explored, such as the potential for mainstreaming gender into participatory budget initiatives, and the comprehensive development of a rights-based approach to gender and budgets. 

Recommendations from the Overview Report 
Every single GBI has to be recognised as a process of its own, with its own characteristics. There are no readily applicable recipes and no formulas that guarantee success. This stems from the fact that GBIs are political processes, which are connected to and influenced by larger political contexts. It is possible, however, to isolate some features that can make a significant difference in the overall strength of GBIs:
 

·  Civil society involvement: Civil society can add considerable value to an initiative, by bringing to the table gender experts, exerting public pressure, and holding the government accountable for concrete actions.

·  Hard and constant work, which is well-resourced: budget analysis and advocacy are not sporadic activities, since they must build on solid knowledge. 

·  Women’s participation: any increase in the potential of women to participate in budgetary debates and decision-making is crucial. 

·  Strategic vision: in many strong initiatives one person, or a small group of people, with strategic vision and commitment have been key to their success. 

·  Opportunity of political change: if a larger political change is underway, windows of opportunity are more likely to open for initiatives located both inside and outside the government.

 (Abstract from BRIDGE)

Topics: Economies, Gender, Gender Budgeting

Year: 2003