Incentives for gender responsive budgeting (GSDRC Helpdesk Research Report 1133)

Abstract

Query Identify literature on effective incentives for gender responsive budgeting. Where possible, focus on non-cash-based rewards and sanctions, and identify material on potential wider impacts on women's empowerment. Overview There is no set body of literature on incentives for gender responsive budgeting (GRB). This helpdesk research report therefore looks at a cross-section of literature on gender responsive budgeting, gender empowerment, and public sector reform to identify those issues which may work best as effective incentives for GRB. These are mainly non-cash-based. Research for this report finds that it is difficult to conclusively evaluate the impact of GRB on gender outcomes and in turn the impact of incentives on GRB and on women’s empowerment more widely. This is both due to a limited evidence base about impact and to the complexity in assessing and interpreting impact (Combaz, 2013). Literature on GRB is primarily prescriptive and there are few documents that provide conclusive evidence on impact and effectiveness. Complexity in assessing and interpreting impact is, in part, because definitions of gender-responsive budgeting vary and the impact of gender-responsive budgeting is difficult to measure. Gender-responsive budgeting has been implemented in a very diverse and uneven fashion across time and place, under very different constraints and opportunities