In order to effectively reduce poverty, a gender perspective must be integrated into all policy decisions and processes. The different interests and needs of women and men can be uncovered by gender-differentiated data. In this way, poverty-reduction strategies with positive effects for both sexes can be developed. Corresponding indicators measure the impacts of such strategies on men and women.

Government budgets do not have gender-neutral effects. We support the systematic integration of a gender perspective into the management of public finances. Gender-responsive budget planning takes into account the effects of government income and expenditure policies on women and men. This includes unpaid work in the household and agriculture, and raising children. Depending on the situation in the country, additional determinants of inequality, like race, age, place of residence, religion, or ethnicity are included. This form of budget planning produces starting points for overcoming discrimination. The objective is to reorganise budgets.

Our areas of activity are:

• Advising partner institutions on the preparation of gender-differentiated poverty-reduction strategies and policies
• Promoting women’s political participation and leadership
• Training decision-makers in the government and public administration, members of parliament, and civil-society actors
• Setting up gender units in ministries
• Supporting gender-differentiated user analysis of government services (survey of priorities and needs of different segments of the population)
• Supporting gender-differentiated analysis of government income (taxes, charges, and fees paid by different segments of the population)
• Supporting gender-differentiated analysis of the influence of the government budget on the time budget of women and men
• Setting up gender-differentiated financial planning and accounting.