How Nepal’s ‘gender responsive’ budget fails the women it claims to serve
Summary
A study reveals Nepal's 'gender responsive' budget is classified without proper assessment, with significant funds unspent and inadequate support reaching women, especially marginalized Dalit and indigenous communities.
Key Points
- Nepal’s Ministry of Women, Children, Gender and Sexual Minorities reports 100% of its budget as directly gender responsive without actual assessment.
- A large portion of the gender-responsive budget remains unspent each year, limiting practical benefits to women.
- Local women’s groups like Mili Juli Samuha in Chitwan benefit minimally due to poor programme design and lack of follow-up support.
- The government’s gender budgeting system lacks proper implementation, monitoring, and coordination across ministries and municipalities.
