## Gender Budgeting Is More Widespread But Implementation Remains a Challenge

_IMF Blog, March 8, 2022_

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [Gender Budgeting Is More Widespread But Implementation Remains a Challenge](https://www.imf.org/en/blogs/articles/2022/03/08/gender-budgeting-is-more-widespread-but-implementation-remains-a-challenge)

## Other formats

- [Markdown version](/en/blogs/articles/2022/03/08/gender-budgeting-is-more-widespread-but-implementation-remains-a-challenge/index.md)
- [Structured JSON version](/en/blogs/articles/2022/03/08/gender-budgeting-is-more-widespread-but-implementation-remains-a-challenge/index.json)
- [Bundle manifest](/en/blogs/articles/2022/03/08/gender-budgeting-is-more-widespread-but-implementation-remains-a-challenge/bundle-manifest.json)

## Bibliographic details
- Authors: Teresa Curristine, Nino Tchelishvili, Sureni Weerathunga
- Published: March 8, 2022

---

### Overview
- Publication title: Gender Budgeting Is More Widespread But Implementation Remains a Challenge
- Authors: Teresa Curristine, Nino Tchelishvili, Sureni Weerathunga
- Date: March 8, 2022
- Context: Chart of the Week takes stock of gender budgeting practices in Group of Twenty countries using data from a recent IMF survey. Focus is on structuring spending and taxation to advance gender equality (gender budgeting).

### IMF survey and the Gender Budgeting Index (GBI)
- The IMF assessed country practices using a gender budgeting index (GBI) framed around the four pillars of the IMF’s gender budgeting framework.
- The index uses data collected from the IMF survey and ranks countries high, medium, or low, depending on how they score.
- As the Chart of the Week shows, relative to their G20 peers, Canada, Mexico, France, South Korea, and Japan score high on the GBI.

### Key findings from the survey
- More than half of G20 countries have a legal framework in place requiring that gender goals and activities be incorporated in the budget.
- Almost all G20 countries collect gender-disaggregated statistics to some degree.
- Countries try to bring a gender perspective to budget preparation by:
  - Linking goals and performance indicators to gender, or
  - Issuing budget circulars with a gender lens.
- Just one third carry out up front gender assessments to understand the potential impact of new policies on gender equality.
- G20 countries score relatively low in integrating a gender perspective into budget execution:
  - Gender information is rarely included in government annual financial reports.
  - Only seven countries do ex-post gender impact assessments and seldom use them to improve policy design.
  - Few countries audit gender activities and programs.
  - There is some legislative oversight in about half of G20 countries.

### Implementation challenges identified
- Lack of guidance on gender budgeting.
- Weak coordination across government institutions.
- Limited expertise in gender analysis and data.

### Success factors and policy implications
- Survey responses highlight keys to success:
  - Strong political backing.
  - Legislative requirements.
  - A ministry of finance that is firmly in the driver’s seat.
- Making the impact of policies on equality more visible through better analysis and reporting can make a real difference in women’s lives.

*Source: IMF blog post "Gender Budgeting Is More Widespread But Implementation Remains a Challenge", March 8, 2022.*

---


## References

- [gender budgeting](https://blogs.imf.org/2021/03/05/engendering-the-recovery-budgeting-with-women-in-mind/)
- [gender budgeting index](https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WP/Issues/2021/11/12/Gender-Budgeting-in-G20-Countries-506816)
- [Mexico](https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2021/11/04/na110421-mexico-on-the-rebound)
- [Japan](https://blogs.imf.org/2020/09/09/guilt-gender-and-an-inclusive-recovery-a-lesson-from-japan/)
- [https://www.imf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/COTW-gender-budgeting-v2.jpg](https://www.imf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/COTW-gender-budgeting-v2.jpg)

_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/blogs/articles/2022/03/08/gender-budgeting-is-more-widespread-but-implementation-remains-a-challenge_