Gender Responsive Budgeting in Development Finance and Western Balkans

This chapter Development finance examines the integration of gender-responsive budgetingGender-responsive budgeting (GRB) (GRB) within multilateral development finance institutions and in the public finance systems of the Western Balkans. UsingWestern Balkans the SDG 5.c.1SDG 5.c.1 indicator, it assesses the Development financeWestern Balkansextent to Gender-responsive budgeting (GRB)development finance applicationswhich the EU, and UNDP, as well as governments in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North MacedoniaNorth Macedonia, and Serbia, have institutionalized GRB. The analysis reveals that while legal and policy commitments exist across the region and within international organizations, implementation is uneven. Progress has been made through gender budget statements, gender-responsive budget circulars, ex-ante gender impact assessments, and citizens’ budgets, but challenges remain in systematic monitoring, performance audits, and ex-post evaluation. The chapter highlights best practices such as Serbia’sSerbia annual GRB planning, Albania’s citizens’ budgets, Montenegro’sMontenegro gender-inclusive parliamentary budget proposals, and North Macedonia’s ex-ante gender analyses. It concludes with recommendations for strengthening transparency, embedding gender in fiscal strategies and EU integration frameworks, and ensuring accountability in both government and multilateral financing. Ultimately, embedding GRB systematically in development finance is essential to closing persistent gender gaps and advancing global commitments under CEDAW and the SDGs.