UN Women Canvass For Effective Gender-Responsive Budgeting

The Country Representative to United Nations UN Women Nigeria and ECOWAS, Beatrice Eyong has urged the Federal and State Governments to support the Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB).

According to her, GRB helps in monitoring Programme implementation and accountability.

Eyong articulated these perspectives in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, during her delivery at a seminar on gender-responsive planning and budgeting for state ministries, networks, and coalitions in the North Central States of the federation.

She said gender-responsive budgeting improves efficiency by ensuring spending goes to those who need it and improves control by identifying groups, individuals, places and results targeted by government services.

” GRB also helps to provide a report on the progress of national and international commitments to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment,” Eyong said.

According to her,  the GRBP training is aimed at reducing socio-economic inequalities between men and women in different groups in society by considering the principles of equity and equality.

Declaring the training open, the Kwara State Commissioner for Women Affairs,  Afolashade Opeyemi, lauded the UN Women initiative, describing the programme as timely.

She said:” This gathering could not have come at a more critical time. As we move to advance gender equality and create inclusive governance, we must recognise that our policies, plans, and budgets are vital tools in driving real, tangible change. Gender-responsive planning and budgeting represent not only an opportunity but an obligation to ensure that women, men, girls and boys benefit equally from public resources.

“In many parts of our country, women continue to face structural barriers that limit their access to opportunities and essential services. Without the deliberate incorporation of gender considerations into our planning and budgeting processes, we risk perpetuating inequalities that can hinder the overall development of our communities” the Commissioner noted.

According to her, the training offers a unique platform for the government to explore strategies that can make its policies and budgetary decisions more equitable. 

Opeyemi added that through gender-responsive budgeting, the government will learn to identify and address gender gaps, ensuring that resources are allocated in ways that support the empowerment of women and girls and that social and economic services are more effectively delivered to all. 

The training was attended by participants from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Kwara, Kogi, Benue, Nasarawa and Plateau States.

Lantana Nasir