Finance for development

Often assumed to be a ‘gender neutral’ arena, economic policies in fact have significant potential to worsen or improve gender inequalities. Achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls is essential to achieve equitable sustainable growth and development. All over the world, women and men tend to have different economic roles and responsibilities, as well as different access to productive resources. In most cases, women tend to be at a disadvantage.

Most governments have expressed a commitment to gender equality goals but there are often inconsistencies between policy statements and the ways in which public finances are raised and spent. Most governments have also expressed a commitment to greater transparency and accountability. Participation and consultation in the formulation of a country’s budget is still often limited, however, so that the different priorities of women are not fully reflected in the way finances are actually allocated and used.