Gov’t moves to reduce gender gaps in economic management

The government, through the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, has said that this year it will embark on strengthening gender responsive and economic policy management in all public institutions. Gender responsive is a global initiative under UN developed to enhance the equal share of socio-economic development benefits between women and men. It is sponsored by the European Union.The Director General of National Budget at MINICOFIN, Erias Bayingana, said that the move is aimed at responding to the gender gap in economic management that still exists in various public and private institutions. Bayingana, made the remarks, on Wednesday, while addressing participants at the workshop on gender responsive economic policy at the School of Finance and Banking (SFB). “Initially we didn’t have enough capacity to conduct training for all public planning and budgeting officers so that development is effectively done, but in collaboration with SFB, we will effectively accomplish this in all public institutions,” he said. Bayingana added that the policy is aimed at mainstreaming all budget agencies in public institutions. According to Diop Ngone, the policy adviser and poverty cluster leader at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in some countries, women are totally left out during the budgeting. “Rwanda is the only country in Africa that has the highest quality commitment in gender issues, which are addressed right from the constitution,” Ngone said, adding that the implementation of gender responsive economic management will be made easy. According to the Rector of SFB, Dr. Reid E. Whitlock, the policy, if well implemented, will incorporate all issues faced by women and girls at their respective work places. “The policy will somehow increase the level of prosperity equitably,” said Whitlock. SFB was selected to head the gender responsive and economic policy management capacity building for all public institutions. Ends