Gender-Responsive Budgeting in Practice

This book studies the use of gender responsive budgeting (GRB) as a tool to further global and regional gender equality goals in developing countries. Through analyses of budgets and the budgeting process in Nigeria from 2000-2020 as a case study, the book analyzes why GRB has failed to gain traction in developing countries and provides solutions.

In the twenty-first century, gender-responsive budgeting (GRB) has emerged as a development tool that explores if and how gender equality goals and targets are being effectively supported through government funding. Gender-Responsive Budgeting in Practice: Lessons from Nigeria and Selected Developing Countries argues that, although justified by the high costs of gender inequality to economic growth and development, the use of GRB as a tool to achieve global and regional gender equality goals has seen little progress in the twenty-first century, especially in developing countries. Through analyses of government budgets and the budgeting process, and gender equality outcomes in Nigeria and the selected countries from 2000 to 2020, the contributors show that GRB has failed to gain traction or thrive in developing countries. Using these analyses, the contributors identify critical success factors that are missing in policy-making and planning in the developing world and must be integrated in order to further facilitate inclusive growth and sustainable development.

Introduction: Gender Responsive Budgeting in Developing Countries: An Inclusive Development Tool in Muted Progress

Bola Akanji

Part 1: Conceptualizing Gender Responsive Budgeting for Traction

Chapter One: Rationale and Entry-Points for Gender Responsive Budgeting in Developing Countries

Bola Akanji

Chapter Two: “Speaking to Data”: Gender Statistics as an Imperative for GRBs

Bola Akanji, Funmi Soetan, and Tolulope Jerumeh

Part 2: Fiscal Policies, Budgets, and Gender Equality in Nigeria

Chapter Three: Does Research Influence Policies in Favor of Gender Responsive Budgeting? Evidence from Nigeria’s Education Sector

Adebukola Daramola, Bola Akanji and Abubakar Oladeji

Chapter Four: Policy Trends, Budgetary Practices, and Gender Equality in Nigeria’s Education Sector: A Historical Lens on Governance Regimes

Monica Adele Orisadare and Ayoola Helen Akinyemi

Chapter Five: The Paradox of Gender Policies and Gender Budgets: Critique of the Nigerian Agricultural Sector Policies and Budgets

Olanike. F. Deji, Bola Akanji, Dorcas L. Alabi, and Aanuoluwa O. Opayinka

Chapter Six: Does Presumptive Taxation Promote the Tenets of a Good Tax System? Stakeholder Assessment of Associational Tax Regime in the Informal Sector of Lagos State, Nigeria

Abiodun A. Adegboye, Funmi Soetan, and Adeniyi O. Adekanla

Chapter Seven: A Gender Audit of Financial Governance in Nigeria: Analysis of Participation in Budgetary Processes in Selected States

Fidelis Allen, Emem Okon, and Grace Isodiki Allen

Part 3: Cross-Country Learning Experiences of Gender Responsive Budgeting

Chapter Eight: Gender-Responsive Budgeting in South Korea

Reina Ichii

Chapter Nine: Designing and Using Indicators of Gender Equality: Lessons from Timor-Leste Siobhan Austen and Monica Costa

Chapter Ten: Gender Gap Analysis of the Budgeting Process in Ethiopia’s Public Financial Management System

Misrak Tamiru, Enat Shiferaw, and Neteru Wondwosen

Chapter Eleven: Gender Responsive Budgeting in Ghana: Reality or Rhetoric?

Vera Acheampong and Abena D. Oduro

Chapter Twelve: The Budget’s Impacts on Gender Equality: An Empirical Analysis of Foreign Aid in West Africa

Funmi Soetan, Phillip Olofin, and Ifeolu Olagbaju

Chapter Thirteen: Criss-crossing the West Africa Region: ISODEC’s Lessons of Experience in Gender Responsive Budgeting

Bishop Akolgo

Chapter Fourteen: Gender Responsive Budgeting: Lessons from the Eastern and Southern Africa Region

Judith Mulusa

Epilogues: Opportunities and Threats to GRB in Developing Countries: Looking Ahead

Epilogue One: GRB: From the Margins to the Mainstream

Zohra Khan

Epilogue Two: Imperatives and Politics of Financing Gender Equality in Developing Countries: GRB to the Rescue?

Olufunke Mojubaolu Okome