Gender budgeting is particularly important in ageing economies which are facing shrinking labour forces and rising fiscal pressures. It can also bring important economic and fiscal dividends. Closing gaps in labour force participation and working hours is estimated to result in an average boost of 9.2% to GDP across OECD countries by 2060.
Gender budgeting
Strategic budget initiatives, such as gender budgeting, are targeted fiscal planning efforts designed to align government budgets with long-term goals, priorities, and policy objectives. These initiatives ensure that resources are allocated efficiently, maximising impact while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
Key messages
Gender budgeting has established a model for other initiatives such as green budgeting and pro-growth budgeting for structural reforms, through showcasing a new approach to using the budget to progress broader policy objectives.
Themed budget statements accompanying the budget – such as gender budget statements – aim to enhance transparency regarding how the budget is being used by the government to advance broader policy objectives and strengthen accountability.
Context
The number of OECD countries practising gender budgeting has almost doubled in recent years.
The number of OECD countries practising gender budgeting has almost doubled in recent years. In 2022, over 60% of OECD countries (23 countries out of 38) used gender budgeting.
The OECD has set out seven best practices for gender budgeting.
The best practices draw on gender budgeting practices in Member countries and the OECD’s work with countries in designing and implementing gender budgeting.
OECD Best Practices for Gender Budgeting
1. Strengthening the link between budgeting and key gender equality objectives
2. Ensuring gender budgeting is sustainable beyond political cycles
3. Incorporating gender budgeting into the overarching budget framework, with leadership from the central budget authority
4. Embedding gender budgeting tools at all stages of the budget cycle
5. Underpinning gender budgeting with strong data and analysis
6. Supporting gender budgeting implementation through capacity building
7. Using gender budgeting to reinforce governmental transparency and accountability
Related policy issues
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Designing and implementing gender budgeting – a path to actionLearn more
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The OECD Network on Fiscal Relations across Levels of Government, also known as the “Fiscal Network”, provides a platform for countries to engage on intergovernmental fiscal relations and fiscal decentralisation policy issues. Its core mission is to improve the efficiency, equity and stability of fiscal systems through cross-country policy analysis and international comparisons. The Network facilitates best practice sharing through high-level meetings and maintaining a comprehensive decentralisation database, informing policymaking and reforms. Through collaborative efforts like workshops and the Fiscal Federalism publication series, the Network enables policymakers to access and contribute to research and insights on managing financial relationships across government levels. Supported by a multidisciplinary OECD team, the Network emphasises concrete outcomes, offering members a structured environment to learn, share and apply successful policy strategies.Learn more
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Gender budgeting and intersectionalityLearn more
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Gender budgeting and intersectionality (Highlights)Learn more
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Gender budgeting: The economic and fiscal rationaleLearn more