Towards Gender Justice: Assessing the Impact of Gender Responsive Budgeting in Local Communities

Gender responsive budgeting (GRB) is a governance approach that integrates gender perspectives into local budget planning, allocation, and evaluation. It helps local governments better understand the specific needs of diverse community groups, fosters trust through increased citizen participation, and promotes equal involvement of women and men in policy-making. GRB also improves the collection and use of gender-sensitive data, enabling municipalities to design services that address the real needs of their populations. This study examines the implementation of GRB in over 20 municipalities across North MacedoniaNorth Macedoniamunicipal case studiesNorth Macedonia. The findings show that GRBGender-responsive budgeting (GRB) has strengthened the knowledge and capacities of both municipal staff and local citizens, particularly in planning and allocating budgets for gender-sensitive programs. Its adoption has contributed to narrowing gender gaps, enhancing the effectiveness of public services, and increasing satisfaction among citizens and municipal employees. The research highlights those key factors supporting successful GRB implementation include political leadership, institutional capacity, civil societyCivil society engagement, and alignment with national and international frameworks. At the same time, challenges such as limited human resources, lack of gender-disaggregated data, and persistent patriarchal norms remain significant barriers. Successful examples, including municipalities like Kavadarci (2023), Gevgelija (2024), and Demir Kapija (2022), demonstrate the importance of cross-sector collaboration and citizen participation. Overall, the North Macedonian experience illustrates that GRB is most effective when it is institutionalized, supported by leadership, and embedded in local governance processes. Beyond improving gender equality, GRBGender-responsive budgeting (GRB) also generates efficiencies in resource use, time, and public service delivery, making it a valuable tool for advancing inclusive and effective local governance.