Sharing the purse strings: budgeting for gender

equalitySAMANTHA 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Some GRB Tools

1. Gender-Aware Policy Appraisal2. Sex-Disaggregated Beneficiary Assessments 3. Sex-Disaggregated Expenditure Incidence Analysis 4. Sex-Disaggregated Revenue Incidence Analysis5. 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!

But it does not have to be complicated!

Budget preparation Budget approval

4 entry points:

Budget execution Audit & Evaluation

But it does not have to be complicated!

Awareness Accountability Change

Plus 3 key elements:

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’

India: Increased $ for WomenYear No. of Ministries

(No. of Demands)Total Magnitude of Gender Budget

(in Rs.billion)

2005-06 9 ( 10) 143.78 (2.79 %)

2006-07 18 (24) 287.37 (5.09%)

2007-08 27 (33) 311.78 (4.5%)

2008-09 27 (33) 276.62 (3.68%)

2009-10 27 (33) 568.58 (5.57%)

2010 -11 28 (33) 677.50 (6.11%)

2011-12 29(36) 782.51 (6.22%)

GRB Scoring system No. Indicators Percent

1 Women’s Capacity Development 202 Women’s participation in formulation and implementation

of the program20

3 Women’s share of the benefit 204 Support in employment and income generation for women 20

5 Quality reform in time use and minimization in work load of women

20

Total 100

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”

GRB Example: Nepal

Example of practical actions:

MoLD provides a directive of 25% of allocation of Village Block Grants for women and children

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

GRB Example: BangladeshCriteria 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

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

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

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

Challenges & Lessons learned

• Focus first on sectors with greatestpotential gender impact

• Capacity building for sector agencies• Expand to all ministries and levels • Civil Society sustains the demand • Gradual process – long term view

Political will essential

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

Sustaining demand for GRB

Demand

Women’s organizations & gender practitioners

Development partners

Researchers & academics

Media and the general public

Parliamentarians

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

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