Understanding The Budget Through A Gender Lens
In a groundbreaking move, the Gender Budget Group applauds the Malaysian government for considering the varied needs of its diverse communities in the recent Budget 2024. The Group, however, points out that a more expansive gender perspective could greatly enhance its impact, particularly targeting those who often find themselves at the margins, such as women and children.
The Nuances of Gender-Responsive Budgeting
An effective gender-responsive budget delves deeper than merely recognizing the different roles and needs of girls, boys, men, and women. It encompasses a thoughtful allocation of resources to address these specific needs, ensuring that both genders benefit equitably from projects and programmes. The recent i-Sayang programme stands out as a beacon of hope, capturing the essence of shared responsibilities within households and addressing the changing family dynamics in Malaysia.
Beyond Surface Allocations
It’s essential to note that gender-responsive budgeting is not merely about dedicating a sum, like the RM720 million for women and youth empowerment or tax breaks for childcare. These allocations, while commendable and continuations from previous budgets, only scratch the surface. Omna Sreeni-Ong, Founder of ENGENDER Consultancy and Co-Lead of the Gender Budget Group, stresses, “Instead, a gender responsive budget model aims for transformative outcomes in people’s lived realities; which requires robust monitoring, evaluation and impact assessment in place to support allocations and policies.”
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Missed Opportunities and Hopes for the Future
To truly level the playing field, budgets need to account for wider data, encompassing areas like gender-equal TVET programmes and considering the increasing number of female-led households in Malaysia. Sumitra Visvanathan, Executive Director of Women’s Aid Organisation, highlights, “Building on Malaysia MADANI as a governance concept, Budget 2024 should be reflective of the diverse needs of the community in Malaysia at this time. We need resources allocated to systems, structures and the people required to deliver social services to those most vulnerable, including JKM. This means that the social work sector must be strengthened. We hope that through implementation, there will be a deeper response to the unique and specific needs across all sectors and all facets of society,”
The Gender Budget Group envisions a future where all stakeholders, including CSOs, the government, and society at large, adopt a holistic and intersectional approach. Through rigorous reporting and evaluating Budget 2024’s impact, Malaysia can be on the right path to achieve gender equality and address disparities across communities, backgrounds, and identities.
About the Gender Budget Group
Spearheaded by ENGENDER Consultancy and the Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO), the Gender Budget Group comprises 21 CSOs and 18 academics. Their mission is to ensure every need is considered, especially during public health crises, and to collaborate with relevant entities to instill gender-responsive budgeting in Malaysia’s fiscal policies.
