Participants of the Asia-Pacific Training of Trainers simulate a GRB exercise

During the Regional Asia-Pacific Training of Trainers on Gender Equality and Aid Effectiveness (Kathmandu, 25-27 November 2009), participants engaged in a competitive quiz on donor budget support. The Indonesian team was the big winner of the quiz prize: 3451 rupees to develop their National Budget for 2010!!! Their task was then to use this prize to make sure the budget is responsive to gender equality!!

What follows is a simulated article on a simulated exercise…

Indonesia: A Budget for Gender Equality

Indonesia presented today its 2010-2014 development plan, as well as the budget for the first year. With the support and leadership of the Ministry of Finance, three Ministries – Education, Health and Women Empowerment and Child’s Protection – developed their budgets with a view to make equitable expenditures and promote gender equality, in an exercise normally called “Gender Responsive Budgeting”.

The ‘government’ reports that each Ministry, in order to define priorities and financial commitments, engaged in a consultative forum with key stakeholders, including some Women’s Groups.
But the consultation processes did not run without polemics. In fact, provincial CSOs and Women’s local NGOs made a strong point on the fact that the representation of women among the consulted CSOs was only 10%, and demanded for clear gender-responsive criteria for the engagement of the civil society in the consultation process, as well as a structured mechanism that would ensure the engagement of women’s groups.

The priorities advanced by the civil society movements included the reduction of illiteracy, especially among women, the improvement of maternal health and increase the availability of trained personnel, and the strengthening of good governance with a focus to women’s empowerment, especially in their political participation and representation.

When reviewing the priorities advanced by the civil society, the Ministry of Finance announced to have limited resources and some budget constraints.

At this point, indiscretions revealed a very tense dialogue, and we have reliable sources confirming that con consensus between the various Ministries and other social actors was not easy to reach.
Finally, in the last minute, a group of donors, despite these minor tensions and considering the success of the success of the gender responsive budgeting exercise, united efforts and offered to support the 3359 rupee shortage through the “general budget support” modality, thus these resources will reach the Indonesian coffers and will not be earmarked for any specific priority.

View the Indonesia Mock Budget:  EN 20.67 Kb