Backdrop:

Despite the constitutional pledges, the decision-making power has always been outside the domain of the common people. The budget cycle leaves very little time and space for stakeholders to lobby for their demands. Even elected representatives have very little time to discuss the budget thus budget become a document conceived in secrecy. The present budgetary system in Pakistan is based on the indirect participation of the people. Thus without active and meaningful participation of the poor, particularly the marginalized women, vulnerable, and voiceless budget is merely a game of those politicians whose interest are promoted and safeguarded through document annually.  

Sungi Development Foundation has started working on Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) in District Abbottabad since June 2010.  The objective of this initiative was to sensitize Government Line Agencies (GLAs) about the realization of gender equality goals and improve compliance with the ‘Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women’ (CEDAW) and millennium Development Goals (MDGs). 

GRB initiatives can help close these gaps, ensuring that public money raised is spent more effectively.  The initiative can also help promote greater accountability for public resources to the people of a country, especially to women, who are generally more marginalised than men in decision-making about public money. 

GRB initiative does not aim to produce a separate budget for women.  Instead it aims to analyse any form of public expenditure, or method of raising public money, from a gender perspective, identifying the implications and impacts for women and girls as compared to men and boys.  

As early as 1994, Sungi Development Foundation has embarked on various gender related initiatives within the organization and with its community partners.  In 2000, a Gender Policy and Anti-sexual harassment policy was adopted. Right from the inception Sungi learnt and felt the dire need for Gender Responsive Budgeting. With regards to its partners/stakeholders, Sungi is keen to inculcate the importance of GRB in terms of demand from the grass roots communities and planning with gender lens at the policy and institutional level.  

Human Rights programme of Sungi arranged one-day extensive orientation training of Finance & Planning, Education and Health departments of district Abbottabad and Haripur.  The training aims to introduce the concepts of GRB, system of GRB and its close link with the sectors like Education, Health and Finance Departments. 

Total 22 participants including 17 men and 5 women participated. EDO Finance and Planning, District Planning Officers, EDO Health and education along with their ADO, EDI were among the participants.     

Following were the objective of the training; 

The training participants to monitor and track programmatic as well as institutional budgeting with gender lens. The workshop will introduce participants to the key concepts and basic tools in GRB that will be useful for applying a gender lens while developing the budget. It is expected that participants will be able to build on this workshop to:

• Sensitize the participants about the concept of GRB. 
• Improve the Department’s financial planning and its implementation in the context of GRB 
• Enhance the level of understanding, in terms of conceptual clarity and basic technical Knowhow for better planning, coordination and integration of Finance, Education & Health Departments in the development of GRB
  

Mr.Salman Asif gende expert in UN office Islamabad facilitated the training. Following topics came under discussion during the training;

• Gender Equality, Women’s Empowerment and Agency Role - Concepts
• Gender Responsive Budgeting
• Gender Responsive Budgeting - Examples from Field
• Bench-marks for evaluating Gender Responsiveness, effectiveness and impact

As a result of GRB Training, the participants formed a three-member volunteer task group to support the district government in review and planning of district budgeting from gender perspective. Following members were nominated and agreed by all the training participants;

1. Mr. Salman Asif Gender specialist/Advisor United Nations office of resident coordinator
2. Mr. Mukhtar Javed Porgramme Manager Human & Democratic Rights Sungi
3. Shazia Naureen Programme Coordinator Education

Brief ToRs of the members are given below:

To support district government in ongoing review of budget 2010-11
To support district Finance and Planning team in preparing Gender Responsive Budget