Minister Tweah Envisions Gender-Sensitive Budget…For 2019/2020

Monrovia, Liberia - Finance and Development Planning Minister, Hon. Samuel D. Tweah Jr., has expressed his vision and determination for what he referred to as ”the most gender-sensitive budget in Liberia’s history” beginning 2019/2020 budget year.

He said, lot of work has gone into mainstreaming gender into Liberia’s development program. 

Hon. Tweah made the disclosure at the formal launch and opening of the Gender Responsive Planning Budget Policy and Gender Responsive Planning Budget (GRBP) National Coordination Unit at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning on Thursday, March 7.

The GRPB Policy according to him was achieved through ‘”efforts of extreme collaboration’’ with development partners. He also lauded development partners for their support in mainstreaming gender in Liberia’s development approach.
Hon. Tweah assured partners that government’s development programs will reflect gender balance.

“We are going to do our best on this. Anything we do will reflect gender balance. Whether it is budget planning, execution, road development, education, and health, this will be a guiding framework”, Hon. Tweah assured.
He informed partners that government in the execution of its people-centered Pro Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development will prioritize girls’ education and the Gender Responsive Planning Budget Policy will be used as an instrument for such purpose.

Also speaking, Deputy Minister for Budget, Hon. Tanneh G. Brunson, who gave an overview of the GRPB, said the policy has defined a clear roadmap for mainstreaming Gender Responsive Budget into government’s PFM processes.
Deputy Minister Brunson said it was necessary to advocate for gender mainstreaming and equity as government implements its national development plan, the Pro Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development.

She expressed the need to integrate gender equity and to align the policy objective with the country’s development agenda and processes. The Deputy Minister added that Liberia has come a long way in understanding the concept of gender-responsive budgeting and in recognizing the importance to adopt the implementation of GRB.

Hon. Brunson also expressed delight and said that strong commitment and determination was shown in the policy design and institutional structures to address gender inequalities in the country PFM practices.
For his part, UN Resident Coordinator and Assistant Secretary-General Yacoub El Hillo thanked MFDP for leading the GRPB process.

H.E. Yacoub said Gender Responsive Budget is an important mechanism for ensuring greater consistency between government PAPD, economic growth and social commitment.
He stated that the GRB serves as a framework for the implementation of gender inclusive budgeting at the national and sub-national levels.

The UN Resident Coordinator indicated that the GRB also brings about gender equality in public financial management. The GRB he added is important because it determines how public funds are generated, used and who benefits from public spending.

The Gender Responsive Policy Budget and National Coordination Unit will be located at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning.