Gender Responsive Budgeting The Bacolod City Experience by MS. CELIA MATEA R. FLOR City Councilor, Bacolod City, 1995-2004 and Atty. Andrea L. Si Bacolod City Administrator, 2001-2004
Outline: 1. Gender Responsive Budgeting, What and Why 2. Mainstreaming Gender 3. GAD Mainstreaming Efforts in Bacolod City: a. GAD Budget Research b. GAD Planning and Budgeting Workshop 4. Lessons Learned 5. Moving Forward
Example of a Budget with GAD-related Programs and Projects as Identified by the Bacolod Budget Office Office/Projects CMO: Aid to Boy Scouts & Girls Scout of the Philippines, Aid to SK federation, student summer internship program, PESO, Training services, peace and order council, senior citizens affairs fund, scholarship fund, GIS, price monitoring project, hospital City administrator s office: tax collection and information drive Bacolod housing authority: housing and relocation development project CHO: barangay mobile clinic, health services Budget (1999) P 11,566,000 P 4,815,009 P 6,000,000 P 17,318,588 Actual (1999) IS THIS A BUDGET WITH A GENDER PERSPECTIVE? P 10,587,500 P 5,000,000 P 1,860, 069 P 16,875,000
Answer the following questions: Are the projects beneficial to men and women? Do these projects change/improve uneven power relations between men and women? Do these projects provide greater access to and control of opportunities for men and women? Do these projects reduce the multiple burden of women? Other problems and issues of women? Planning process for the projects? Based on a gender analysis? Participated in by men and women? Aid to Boy Scouts & Girls Scouts, Aid to SK federation, student summer internship program, PESO, Training services, peace and order council, senior citizens affairs fund, scholarship fund, GIS, price monitoring project, hospital Tax collection and information drive Housing and relocation development project Barangay mobile clinic, health services
Gender Responsive Budgets Not separate budgets for women/men/girls/boys Not about 50% male:50% female Ensure needs and interest of individuals from different social groups are addressed Combine technical knowledge with advocacy and organizing Recognize unpaid labor s contribution to society and economy
WHY GAD? GAD makes visible women s and men s role/contribution in development GAD tries to address the inequalities between women and men GAD deliberately addresses the issues between women and men by developing, budgeting, implementing, monitoring and evaluating programs, projects and services.
Why GRB (Gender Responsive Budgeting) GRB initiatives aim to bring gender awareness into all policies and budgets of all agencies. This is in line with the generally accepted international approach of gender mainstreaming.
Gender mainstreaming : process of integrating gender perspective in: organization legislation policies programs/projects institutional mechanisms.. Within Government.
The Planning and Budgeting Process The GAD Mainstreaming Strategy Planning Monitoring & Evaluation GAD Planning Institutional Mechanism Advocacy &Training GAD Data Base Programming & Budgeting Implementation
While every GRB initiative is different, ideally each undergoes the five basic steps which should underlie all policy making and implementation. (a) situation analysis; (b) policy analysis and design; (c) resource allocation; (d) monitoring of delivery; and (e) evaluation of impact. What the GRB brings in added value, is explicit consideration of gender (and other axes of social disadvantage) at each of the steps.
Component Strategies in GAD Mainstreaming 1. The GAD Focal System 2. The GAD Plan & Budget GAD Plan a blueprint of how you could make your organization & its policies, programs and activities gender responsive GAD Budget (Pesos) the sum total of all resources required to implement a GAD plan
Some GAD Mainstreaming Efforts in Bacolod (1999-2004) Analysis of the Situation/Gender Analysis GAD Planning LGU and Community support systems Tracking Gender in the Budget of Bacolod (DAWN Study with The Asia Foundation) A GAD Plan and an Improved GAD Budget Council of GAD Focal Points (EO 19) Network of Women s NGOs
GAD mainstreaming efforts: On the Trail of Bacolod s Gender Budget (Analysis of the Bacolod City Budget for 1999 and 2000)
TRACKING GENDER IN BACOLOD BUDGET How it was done Legal basis laws, national policies, local ordinances and local policy mandates Compared the prescribed and actual planning and budgeting process Critiqued the quality of allocations which the departments identified as GAD Examined the budgets of the departments according to their mandated functions Examined the GAD budget in the barangays to monitor how they used the GAD budget which the City Council required
TRACKING GENDER IN BACOLOD CITY S BUDGET Methods: FGD, questionnaire, one on one interviews Questions: knowledge of GAD concepts, GAD policies, mandates, budget process, and participation and role in the budget process Respondents: department heads, rank and file barangay officials, focal points and women constituents
FINDINGS: TRACKING GENDER IN BACOLOD CITY S BUDGET Gaps between policy & implementation Compliance by departments very minimal, with traditional departments providing for most Compliance in the barangay level was 100% but decreased significantly the year after
FINDINGS: TRACKING GENDER IN BACOLOD CITY S BUDGET People s participation in planning and budgeting was not genuine due to maneuverings of bureaucrats and politicians No clear basis for identifying what GAD projects are Weak technical capability in GAD planning and budgeting
GAD Mainstreaming Effort: GAD Assessment and Planning Workshop, Bacolod City government department heads and key personnel, 2002
GAD Assessment and Planning Assessment of GAD Initiatives (policy, people, enabling mechanisms) GAD Analysis using GAD tools GEWEEF: empowerment framework Illo tool: service providers/ government agencies Torres tool: administrative GAD Planning using the DBM Framework contained in a memo circular for GAD Plan reporting
Assessment of GAD Initiatives Key areas GAD Issues Initiatives Undertaken Proposed Interventions Policy People Enabling Mechanism
From the 2002 GAD PLANNING Workshop Assessment of GAD Initiatives Key areas GAD Issues Initiatives Undertaken Proposed Interventions Policy Absence of a gender responsive VMG Sexist language in documents/ memos Passage of an executive order for formation of GAD focal point Reformulation of the VMG Advocacy for adoption in the CDC and SP Plan to get hold of the gender dictionary
ASSESSMENT OF GAD INITIATIVES, Con t Key areas GAD Issues Initiatives Undertaken Proposed Interventions People Inadequate GAD awareness, knowledge, and skills on gender analysis and gender responsive planning: departments and SP Growing appreciation for GAD among SP members Advocacy with SP Intensify with upper and middlemanagement GAD awareness limited to members of GAD focal team. Only some barangays with GST The present training undertaken on GAD planning, mainstreaming, and budgeting Maximize intervention of DILG Survey of those who have attended GST
ASSESSMENT OF GAD INITIATIVES, Con t Key areas GAD Issues Initiatives Undertaken Proposed Intervention Enabling Mechanism Limited/inade quate GAD data base Limited support facilities and services for women with multiple burdens No budget maintenance for gender GAD Focal Point CODI for anti-sexual harassment cases Gender fair trainings through TOP program of HRD Pool of trainers for gender-related trainings Commitment of P500,00 allocation for GAD budget Installation of GAD data based system (data center) Comfort rooms for women only Child minding center
From the 2002 GAD Planning Workshop: Engendered Vision for Bacolod City Our vision is to see Bacolod as a progressive city where women and men enjoy sustainable development for all; equal access to and control of opportunities, resources and benefits; efficient and effective public services; and Godfearing, transparent and participative governance for a fuller and more satisfying life for men and women, for the glory God.
Gender and Development Plan (Proposed 2002) GAD PPAs Gender Related Issue Addressed Expected Output/ Target Beneficiaries Implementation Period Performance Indicators OPR Budget Allocation START UP PLAN: FORMULA TION OF LGU CHIEF EXECU- TIVE S BUDGET POLICY INTEGRA- TING GAD Absence of a gender responsive policy Revised budget policy statement July 10-12, 2002 Budget Policy Statement formulated CBO NA
Gender and Development Plan (Proposed 2002) GAD PPAs GENDER MAINS- TREAMING PLAN: IMPROVEME NT OF EXISTING INFRASTRA CTURE TO MAKE THEM GENDER FRIENDLY Gender Related Issue Addressed Markets /office CRs not gender friendly & hygienic No Child minding center Stairs not gender friendly Expected Output/ Target Benefi-ciaries >Construction / renovation of women-friendly CRs >Construction CMC in city hall >Improvement of Stairs Implementatio nperiod 2003 2003 2003 Performance Indicators >Renovated CRs >CMC constructed >Stairs made Gender friendly OPR CEO CMO Budget Allocation P100,000 P 200,000 P 200,000
LEARNINGS A.Partners in government (executive and legislative) -saw budget as a whole -saw interconnectedness with others -appreciated role as stakeholders who can make changes from within, be better in delivering gender responsive services Celia R. Flor, Bacolod City, Phils.
LEARNINGS -B. Community stakeholders (village people, general constituency of women, men, girls, boys) -realized that how the city allocates and spends money affects them and their needs, -can hold city officials accountable on their promises/performance Celia R. Flor, Bacolod City, Phils.
LEARNINGS C.Civil Society (NGOs, Pos,/multisectoral, academe,etc) -learning the process, know when and how to intervene, who are the actors/ decision makers, how they make decisions,and how these decision makers can be influenced,is strategic in critical engagement Celia R. Flor, Bacolod City, Phils.
LEARNINGS: as partners & stakeholders D. Media (tri media) -as a constant critic to government, can use budget as measuring tool how government performs, responds to the needs and issues of the constituency, which is also the media s audience/constituency Celia R. Flor, Bacolod City, Phils.
LEARNINGS: as partners & stakeholders E. As researcher and Councilor -a check on self as advocate -studied budget in detail and followed the money,got revelations not known in her then 5 to 6 years in council -learned alternative ways to mainstream even when executive is gender blind or hostile
Moving Forward Replication of study in 11 other cities in province resulted in more local governments allocating GAD budgets, formulation of GAD plans and budgets Replication in Mindanao Continuing study and advocacy Celia R. Flor, Bacolod City, Phils.
Do you want To increase efficiency, ensure that expenditure benefits those who need it most To improve monitoring with information on who are reached by government services To track implementation and reduce corruption To enhance transparency and accountability Partnership with civil society to increase development impact and democratic governance Progress in national and international gender commitments
Gender Responsive Budgeting Your key to a more dynamic and effective local government