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.

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Key messages

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 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 data

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Dataset

Budgeting databases

Database provides budget practitioners, academics and civil society with a unique and comprehensive source to compare and contrast national budgeting and financial management practices across OECD countries. The database includes data on areas such as independent fiscal institutions, green budgeting, gender budgeting, parliamentary data, spending reviews and financial management and reporting.