Introduction to the Fifth Women’s Budget Initiative

The South African Women’s Budget Initiative is a collaborative project of national parliamentarians and nongovernmental organizations. This piece looks at the themes discussed since the first initiative took place and evaluates the use of revenue analysis in international budget work.

What is a Gender Audit?

Overview of a gender audit, understood as a way to “locate women” in the national budget as well as in the economy. The author highlights the importance of a gender audit to ensure that men and women benefit equally from budget allocations, to raise women’s awareness of economic issues in order to stimulate their involvement in the budget-making process, and to promote a more efficient use of the resources committed to areas relevant to women. The paper draws primarily from the Israeli context but also presents brief examples from Australia, Canada, England, France, and South Africa.