Gender Issues in the 2006 Budget

1. Gender Issues in the 2006 Budget Paper presented at Budget Review Workshop for Leaders of Parliament Elmina November 12, 2005 Dr. William Ahadzie. Univ. of Ghana

2. Gender Budget Analysis • Gender Analysis of national budgets aims to incorporate gender variables into models on which policy formulation, planning and budgeting are based. • It is therefore not a call for a separate budget for women. • Gender-neutral resource allocation in the past has not leveraged the deprivation of women. Gender-neutral allocation today will not do that either.

3. Why Gender Approach to Budget Analysis • There is a strong association between gender, power, decision-making and allocation of resources. • Gender analyses of Policies and Budgets allow us to track policy responses to noted gender differences in access to resources and participation in decision-making processes • Gender analysis helps in monitoring progress towards meeting goals in international agreements to which we are signatories. (Int’l Covenant on Economic, Political Social and Cultural Rights, CEDAW, NEPAD, MDGs etc.

4. Why GB-contd • Policy impact is different for men and women. The situation of women is relatively worse than that of men (GPRS 1). • Resource allocation must respond to the needs of the various social groups on an equitable manner. • There is a challenge to reverse underutilisation of the potential of women

5. Approaches to Gender Budgeting • Budget is govt primary fiscal policy instrument. it is important to examine its fiscal and economic assumptions and effects-impact on annual deficit and national debt; and effects on outcomes such as inflation, growth and employment. • Pursue a gender aware policy appraisal-looking at how policies and programs funded by public money will help reduce (or increase) gender inequalities.

6. Approaches to Gender Budgeting-contd • Analyse incidence of public expenditure by comparing distribution of benefits among women, men, girls and boys. Also examine gender impact of expenditure cuts • Analyse revenue sources to check (distributional effects) how taxes or user charges affect different categories of households or individuals, match revenue and expenditure. • Analyse impact of govt spending on time use of women and men (allocation of public money has a direct impact on the way time is spent within the household)

7. Current Commitments • As signatories to the MDGs we are committed (by 2015) to • Provide universal basic education • Achieve equivalent levels of education for boys and girls • Achieve reduction of infant mortality to below 35/1000 live births • Reduce maternal mortality by half • Achieve life expectancy of greater than 70

8. Analysis of 2006 Budget -outline • Analysis of the Broad Economic Policy • Sector Expenditure Analysis • Gender Analysis of Revenue Projections • The Budget as an Instrument of Promoting Rights • Ratio of gender-specific allocation to total discretionary expenditure-determining gender-sensitivity

9. Broad Macro-Econ Policy • Like the 2005 Budget the 2006 Broad Policy is largelygender neutral. • It proposes mainstreaming the Vulnerable and Excluded in Human Resource development (250) • Under Transfer to households (205), we assume that the projected increase in amount to the NHIF will reduce the problems of access and quality of health service to women

10. Sector Analysis • The introduction to Sectoral Performance (p. 60) makes reference to achieving GPRS II goals through accelerated and sustained growth, poverty reduction, promotion of gender equity, protection and empowerment of the vulnerable and excluded within a decentralised democratic environment. Indicative of gender considerations.

11. Sector Exp Analysis-Agric • Main thrust is improving the environment for private sector participation through a no. of interventions. (refer to 275) • Crop Programmes aim at promoting cereal production, rice, legumes, nuts, plantain pineapple and horticulture.-women predominate in food crop production. • Small scale irrigation facilities will be provided-this will aid small-holder women food crop farmers. • Other initiatives are cross cutting (refer to 313/314)

12. Sector Exp Analysis-Educ • Very gender sensitive- • 682-improve access and expedite progress towards Universal Pry Completion -by 2015 and Gender Parity during 2006. • 683-scholarship for needy students to achieve gender parity • 684-Capitation Grant • Free Ride on Metro Transit for School Chldn

13. Sector Exp Analysis- Health • Also gender sensitive-bridging equity gaps in access to quality healthcare and nutrition services (728) • 730 gives targets that provide planned anti-natal and post natal coverage, supervised deliveries and reduction in maternal deaths • The NHIS is to be expanded in the year-more access for women (741)

14. Sector Exp Analysis- MOWAC • Section 771 • Establish a reliable Gender disaggregated data base • Enhance collaboration with sector MDAs, Civil Society and NGOs towards implementation of Gender Equality and Gender Equity programmes • Organise gender mainstreaming training for MDAs • Dedicated Micro credit schemes to empower women

15. 2006 Budget -Revenue Analysis • The personal Income Tax reliefs (1080) provided will cover women in paid employment. • Tax credit schemes should allow companies to adopt affirmative action to hire more women into the management of organisation. • Special schemes are required for women working in the informal sector

16. 2006 Budget -Rights Protection • We are signatories the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural rights-fair wages, safe and healthy working conditions, social insurance, food clothing, housing, physical and mental health and education. Inequity in allocations represents rights-violation. • Our public fiscal policy making is still not rights-responsive. (RBA is not yet part of formal policy formulation). Duty bearers (policy-makers) lack knowledge of RBA and rights-holders (women included) are largely powerless, voiceless and ignorant of their rights

17. 2006 Budget -Gender Sensitivity • Decomposition of discretionary expenditure is difficult due to aggregate nature of allocations.

18. Progress to Achieve MDGs • Section 1080-1096 • Programmes for accelerated registration on NHIS • Subsidy system will be reviewed and expanded • Financial support to schemes

19. Approving the Budget • Review the GPRS II framework and its link with the Annual Budget • Present a diagnosis of women and poverty • Analyse govt policy for gender sensitivity on the basis of diagnosis • Evaluate (in)sufficiency of allocations for carrying out this policy • Reallocate resources on the basis of Equity

20. Way Forward • Measure impact of spending using outcomes and outputs • Work on policy proposals and alternatives-how to achieve different outcomes, how to have more impact on gender gap.