Monrovia – The Institute for Research and Democratic Development (IREDD) in collaboration with UN Women has trained 40 civil society actors to ensure that the national budget is more gender-responsive.
Speaking Friday In Monrovia at the end of the three-day training, UN Women Country Representative, Ms. Marie Goreth Nizigama said Gender-Based Violence(SGBV), harmful traditional practices, such as (FGM), domestic violence are troubling gender issues in Liberia.
Nizigama noted that a gender-responsive budget will help in fighting these societal vices.
According to Ms. Nizigama, UN Women’s partnership with IREDD is a hallmark in ensuring that the capacity of society actors are development for proper policy planning in making sure that they (CSOs) work with central government to consider gender issues in the formulation of the national budget.
She furthered indicated that the role of CSOs is vital in ensuring that the national budget is more gender-responsive.
The UN Women Country Rep. also said Civil Society Organizations should also be able to analyze the national budget in making sure that the budget is reflective of gender needs.
“This is the first of many [several] trainings we have organized; this training is very impactful in helping to address the hindrances of gender, most especially how the national budget can be helpful in addressing these hindrances,” she added.
Giving a highlight of the project, IREDD Country Director, Harold Addo noted that the project brought together civil society organizations from across the 17 political districts in Montserrado to build their capacity in ensuring that the national budget is reflective of gender needs.
According to Mr. Addo, strengthening the capacity of civil society organizations and women’s right institutions on gender response planning and budgeting (GPRB) will help address the many of the difficulties of the needs of women and men.
According to the IREDD boss, there is a need to “think outside the box” in order to be more practical in crafting the national budget that will be more gender-responsive.
“Making sure the issue of gender is taken care of, the focus of the most vulnerable, for example, vulnerable women groups, men groups, all groups affected whether SGBV and much more, are issues we been looking,” he said.
He noted that transforming the budget process to make sure its responsive and reflect the aim and objective of everyone, including the vulnerable women and children are issues of key concern that should be advocated by CSOs actors, adding “allocation for the budget should be informed by data, research and policy.”