News Summary
Reviewed and compiled.
- A study reveals that government spending and implementation systems for the gender-responsive budget have not been effective.
May 26, Kathmandu – A recent study indicates that the government’s gender-responsive budget, formulated to promote women and gender equality, has not been implemented effectively. Despite budget allocations, direct benefits have not reached the targeted communities. Stakeholders point to weak expenditure and implementation processes, as well as a lack of policy revision in line with the federal structure.
The study report titled “Analysis of Gender-Responsive Budget Allocation and Expenditure for Promoting Gender Equality and Women’s Rights in Nepal,” released in Kathmandu, highlights these findings. It reveals that the gender-responsive budgeting system is yet to achieve full effectiveness.
Radhika Aryal, Secretary of the Ministry of Women, Children, Gender and Sexual Minority and Social Security, emphasized the need to prioritize marginalized communities outside the mainstream in budget formulation and expenditure processes. She stressed the importance of robust monitoring to ensure the budgets allocated for targeted groups are actually spent. The study shows that budget expenditure over the past three fiscal years ranged only between 44 and 59 percent.
The research analyzed the trends in budget allocation and expenditure from fiscal years 2022/23 to 2024/25, along with the status of gender-responsive budget practices. It included data from the Ministry of Women, Children, Gender and Sexual Minority and Social Security as well as some local government entities.
Jagdish Kharel, a member of the House of Representatives and the Parliamentary Finance Committee, cited lack of clear objectives and results-oriented planning in budgeting as reasons for ineffective expenditure.
According to Kharel, although budgets are allocated, the benefits have not adequately reached the respective communities. He also pointed out that representation and access for Dalit and marginalized groups remain weak.
The study further analyzes women-targeted budgets, expenditure effectiveness, marginalized community access, and challenges in policy implementation. The report notes that existing guidelines have not been revised to align with the federal structure, causing implementation issues.
Economist Bharti Silwal highlighted the need for the Ministry of Finance to take a coordinating role beyond leaving responsibility solely with the relevant ministries handling women-related programs. Similarly, economist Dr. Kalpana Khanal remarked that while the public report is qualitative, some areas remain unaddressed.
The study found that gender-responsive budgeting at the local government level is still often understood simply as ‘women-targeted budgeting.’ It concludes that the seven-stage planning process, women’s participation, and meaningful involvement of marginalized communities remain limited.
Kamala Parajuli, Chairperson of the Women’s Commission, observed that the commission’s role remains limited to advising the government, restricting its capacity on implementation matters. Roshi Devi Karki, Deputy Secretary of the commission, informed that most ministries have not been able to spend more than 20 percent of their gender-responsive budget allocations.
The study concludes that effective implementation of the gender-responsive budget system is essential to achieve inclusive development, social justice, gender equality, and the Sustainable Development Goals.
