COMMUNICATION FOR INCLUSION AND GENDER SENSITIVITY OF PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING

1. COMMUNICATION FOR INCLUSION AND GENDER SENSITIVITY OF PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING

2. The main components of this study include: Project Background, Main Objectives, Study Methodology, Main Findings and Lessons Conclusions, Recommendations and Way forward

3. Project Background Project on Communication for Inclusion and Gender sensitivity in selected Countries in Africa and Latin America, a follow up from the Durban seminar (2008) on PB. The Project had three main components: Documentation of PB experiences (with a focus on gender sensitivity) in selected countries, development of a Manual and sharing experiences through peer learning, including VC presentation Team work involving nine members from countries in Africa and Latin America…….Ecuador, Ghana, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe….benefited from experiences elsewhere

4. Main objectives To document different experiences on PB approaches aimed at promoting inclusiveness and gender sensitivity at local government levels To promote acquisition of knowledge and skills among CSOs (and local leadership) on application of gender budgeting for enhanced inclusiveness and gender sensitivity To draw key lessons for peer learning through documentation and dissemination

5. Key Project Processes Planning and preparations Conducting studies on current approaches of inclusiveness and gender sensitivity on PGB in 6 countries (5 in Africa and 1 in Latin America) Compiling the individual countries’ experiences into one Case Study Developing a training manual on inclusiveness and gender sensitivity for local level application Dissemination – VC presentation, plans to distribute hard copies of reports to peer learners, non-peer learners and MDP-ESA partners

6. Study methodology The Study mainly based on desk review Documentation review focused on local level planning and budgeting context, the on-going initiatives in participatory budgeting and gender sensitivity. These initiatives reviewed in relation to: -Key processes -Main objectives - Key outcomes - Potentials and Challenges of implementation Key emerging lessons and way forward

7. Main findings Several countries in Africa and Latin America have attempted to develop PB with gender sensitivity at national and local levels Initiatives under study, are at different level of implementation but most happening at local level, and aimed at bringing forward voices of poor people- especially women, closer to local level planning and budgeting processes These initiatives operating under context of both opportunities and challenges Opportunities include: on-going local govts reforms including planning and budgeting (introduction of participatory planning approaches- bottom up approaches?, etc)

8. Main Findings Enhanced capacity of planners, CSOs and communities in participatory planning and budgeting another key opportunity Challenges include: constraining context of disempowerment for citizens and particularly women at local levels (culture, institutional constraints re local leadership…often have attitudes that ordinary citizens cannot be involved in planning and budgeting…..

9. Main Findings CSOs/Women’s organizations and communities playing a pro-active role in promoting inclusiveness and gender sensitive budgeting Promoted PB initiatives with a focus on gender sensitivity have started yielding positive results-albeit still limited. These include: improved understanding of women’s and poor men’s issues for local planning and budgeting

10. Main Findings ..resulting in increased visibility of women issues such as maternal mortality, gender based violence, time poverty for women, etc for local level planning and budgeting…key for understanding people’s issues/voices PB processes with gender sensitivity has also been resulting in increased participation of women and people in communities, including CSOs, indigenous people…

11. Main Findings Others results include: increasing attitude change by local leadership/planners on citizens’/women’s engagement Increased capacity development of planners/ budget officers, as well as CSOs on participatory planning, gender budgeting, …the role of CSOs/communities in participatory planning and budgeting key….

12. Main Findings ..resulting in increased progressive public debates which are key in providing communities/women with relevant information regarding planning, budgeting and pro-people and gender sensitivity issues …increasing accountability on public resources ..because more ordinary men and women, CSOs, communities becoming aware on budgeting issues

13. Main lessons learnt The Study provided key lessons for enhanced participatory and gender sensitivity. This include: The on going opportunities in participatory and gender sensitive budgeting have huge potential for transforming people’s/women’s at local levels..all experiences documented indicate so.. Capacity enhancement for both local level officials /planners as well CSOs/communities, especially women on participatory planning, gender sensitive budgeting, and others key.

14. Key Lessons Adoption of effective strategies for participatory and gender sensitivity at both national and local level is key..because central and local level processes are linked and impact on each other For successful PB with gender sensitivity call for active participation of Municipals, Councils and local planners/budget officers. CSOs/communities’ advocacy key

15. Conclusion and recommendations Capacity building on PB for increased inclusiveness and gender sensitivity interventions need to be intensified at local governments…potential impacts Developed Training Manual on inclusion and gender sensitivity be applied/used by Local Government… Effective outreaching and mobilization of communities/women’s network key for facilitating participatory governance and empowerment.

16. Conclusions and Recommendations The Study has produced rich information and data on participatory and gender sensitivity at local levels…this opportunity need to be further utilized…. Donors/MDC-MPESA to invest more on supporting CSOs, women’s networks so as to activate more participatory and gender sensitivity.

17. The way forward The on-going initiatives on PB with gender sensitivity need to be further institutionalized (to become part and parcel of local planning and budgeting) and thus go beyond ‘projects’ Enhance skills on participatory planning and budgeting, gender equality issues etc; for both local authorities as well as CSOs/communities Donors/ Local govts need to ‘invest’ more on participatory budgets/gender budgeting initiatives…. Need to invest more on documenting such initiatives…

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