Gender budgeting is an approach to budgeting that incorporates a gender perspective to analyze the impact of government budgets on different genders and promote gender equality. The primary goal is to ensure that budgetary allocations and policies address the specific needs and priorities of both women and men, taking into account existing gender inequalities.

Here are key components and aspects of gender budgeting:

1. Gender Analysis: Gender budgeting begins with a thorough gender analysis of existing budgetary policies and practices. This involves assessing how budget decisions affect women and men differently in various aspects of their lives, such as education, health, employment, and social welfare.
2. Identification of Gender Impacts: The next step is to identify the differential impacts of budgetary decisions on different genders. This involves understanding how budget allocations may contribute to or mitigate existing gender disparities and inequalities.
3. Integration of Gender Goals: Once gender impacts are identified, gender budgeting aims to integrate specific gender goals and priorities into budgetary policies and processes. This may involve allocating resources to programs and initiatives that directly address gender disparities or support gender equality.
4. Data Collection and Monitoring: Effective gender budgeting requires reliable data on how budgetary decisions affect different genders. Governments and organizations implementing gender budgeting initiatives often establish mechanisms for collecting and monitoring gender-disaggregated data to track progress over time.
5. Capacity Building: Gender budgeting initiatives often involve capacity-building efforts to train policymakers, budget analysts, and other stakeholders in understanding and applying gender-sensitive approaches to budgeting. This helps ensure that gender considerations are mainstreamed into the budgeting process.
6. Advocacy and Stakeholder Engagement: Gender budgeting often involves engaging various stakeholders, including civil society organizations, women’s groups, and the public. Advocacy efforts aim to raise awareness about gender disparities in budgeting and mobilize support for more equitable budget allocations.
7. Policy Formulation: Gender budgeting can influence the formulation of policies by highlighting the gender dimensions of various issues. It helps policymakers make informed decisions that promote gender equality and address the specific needs of women and men.
8. Evaluation of Impact: Periodic evaluations are conducted to assess the impact of gender budgeting initiatives. This involves analyzing whether budgetary allocations have led to positive changes in gender equality indicators and addressing any shortcomings in the approach.

Gender budgeting is a tool for advancing gender equality and empowering women by ensuring that budgetary decisions consider and respond to the diverse needs and experiences of both genders. It is often seen as an essential strategy for promoting social justice and sustainable development. Many countries and organizations around the world have adopted gender budgeting principles as part of their commitment to achieving gender equality.