Gender-responsive budgeting: The case for Botswana

Various conferences on women's rights have identified a relationship between gender, power, decision-making and resource allocation. Considering it is a given that pockets of gender inequality in many developing countries, including Botswana, the women will always be disadvantaged in resource allocation. The disadvantage manifests itself in many fronts, particularly feminised poverty and HIV infection. Since the effects of the global financial crisis are not gender-neutral, women and girls, as vulnerable groups, must be protected by gender-responsive budgeting. This paper argues that while Botswana has chalked up some successes in gender equality initiatives, sufficiently instanced by the ratification of gender conventions, public budgeting largely lacks gender responsiveness. Since literature advocating for gender-responsive budgeting in Botswana is lacking, this paper attempts to fill the gap and encourage debate. Finally, it argues that such budgeting will ensure equality in resource allocation and also empower women.