Training on Gender Responsive Budgeting

Supported by DFAT – Government of Australia

Background

The Lower Koshi Basin (LKB) is home to over 30 million people and is regarded as a highly vulnerable river basin in the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region, because of its susceptibility to several hazards and the effects of climate change. The region faces the dual challenge of too much and too little water (TMTL), often leading to destructive water induced hazards like floods as well as a shortage of water for essential needs in specific parts of the region. The risks of TMTL are exacerbated by the escalating impacts of climate change, environmental degradation, and socio-economic disparities, which disproportionately affect women, People with Disabilities (PWDs) and vulnerable communities. The high degree of dependence on agriculture in increasingly risk-prone areas further compounds the challenges on the marginalized communities and intensifies their vulnerability.

In response, ICIMOD, jointly with its partners Community Development & Advocacy Forum Nepal (CDAFN), HUSADEC Nepal, Mandwi, and Sabal Nepal is organizing a comprehensive training on Gender Responsive Budgeting from 15 to 18 December 2023.

The training is designed to enhance the capacity of municipal staff in gender-responsive budget preparation, enabling them to effectively mainstream Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) at every stage of the policy-budget cycle related to Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in the context of water resources (TMTL). It underscores the significance of Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) by advocating for its integration into local-level DRR planning. Furthermore, the program comprehensively covers the fundamental concepts, principles, and practical applications of the Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) tool within municipal settings, specifically tailored to DRR planning.

A significant opportunity for improvement in the effective implementation of gender-responsive budgeting at the local level in Nepal lies in addressing the knowledge gap. Closing this knowledge gap has the potential to enhance integration of GEDSI perspectives into the planning and budgeting processes. While gender-responsive budgeting is a mandated requirement at both the national and local levels, decision-makers may encounter challenges in practical implementation due to a substantial knowledge gap and the use of essential tools. Consequently, this training is designed to accommodate varying levels of understanding, aiming to empower municipal officers to develop the necessary capacity for integrating GEDSI into DRR plans through the application of the GRB tools.

Objectives

1. To enhance the knowledge on Gender responsive DRR budgeting guidelines among elected municipalities officials
2. To capacitate municipalities’ representatives to utilize the GRM tools when formulating the annual plan and budget at local level through an inclusive and consultative process to ensure GEDSI integration.

Outcomes

• Municipalities will have increased knowledge of integration of GEDSI skills to implement Gender-Responsive Budgeting tools for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) planning.

Agenda