WFD trains Councilors on Gender Responsive Budgeting

The event also seeks to explore innovative ways to strengthen public accountability, foster grassroots initiatives, and champion people-centered advocacy.

At the event, Tabou Njie Sarr, Country Director of Westminster Foundation, explained that Gender-Responsive Budgeting (GRB) is a budgeting method that ensures resources are distributed equally and that everyone has equal opportunities.

“It's a governance tool that helps ensure that budget items fairly represent the needs of men, women, girls, and boys.” she highlighted.

She noted that GRB is important for both gender and fiscal justice, saying it's a strategy for promoting gender equality that is of interest to governments, policy makers, researchers, and community groups.

She indicated that GRB is often used to bring together gender policy and programming with public financial management.

“It can help shift economic policies to lead to gains for women and girls. The essence of our gathering lies in understanding and mastering the frameworks, principles and processes and analytical tools of gender responsive budgeting at councils and for women councilors with the aim of enhancing capacity to have an inclusive budget that responds to the needs of the diverse population across the country.  

She explained that since The Gambia embarks on a decentralised system of governance at council level, and run council with taxes collected from the people, it is important to ensure that basic services provided by council reaches everyone living within the jurisdiction of councils where one pay taxes, regardless of sex, race, religion, partisan politics etc.

“As duty bearers, by the end of this workshop, you should be able to not only contribute to the budgeting process for your wards but also be able to scrutinize council budgets to meet people’s needs and demands.”

Ndey Saine, a nominated Councilor in the West Coast Region and also a differently abled person, encouraged people with disabilities to equip themselves in terms of education, so that they can have a better future. 

She recalled that back in the days, people with disabilities were not included in politics and the like but now, things have changed and they are being empowered as well.

Alagie P. Saho, a representative from the Local Government Association (GALGA), also noted the importance of the training.

The training, he added, came at the right time when all the councilors are preparing their budgets.

“This will go a long way in helping the councils to make sure that the gender inclusive budgeting is done at all respective councils.”