Gender Responsive Budgeting Practices as a Feminist Democratic Innovation

Gender responsiveBarcelona budgeting is a publicBarcelonademocratic innovation in policy instrumenBarcelonafeminist governance transformationt whose benefits impact gender Democratic innovationrelations and, in turn, the common Barcelonaparticipatory budgetinggood. This chapter aims to identify the defining characteristicsDemocratic innovationfeminist democratic innovation of Gender responsive budgeting as a practice of feminist democratic innovation. This is achieved on the basis of the critical experience of those who have been involved in the eight years that the Barcelona City Council has been incorporating gender mainstreaming into its gender-based policy strategy. A synthesis of the literature on Gender responsive budgeting and democratic innovation, situated within the context of gender mainstreaming strategies, reveals the emergence of transformative elements in three key areas: (i) governance and structures, (ii) participation and transparencyBarcelonatransparency reforms, and (iii) public policies and their objectives. A time series analysis of Barcelona’s incorporation of these elements demonstrates a commendable level of advancement, while also exemplifying their practical implementation. Besides, the analysis also illuminates the challenges and difficulties that remain.