Tools for Transformative Policy
Amid climate uncertainty, systemic inequalities, and growing economic pressures, gender equality serves as more than an aspiration. It is a strategic lens that shapes policy design, guides resource allocation, and drives inclusive development. Gender statistics and gender-responsive budgeting (GRB) serve as powerful levers for progress, inclusion, and systemic change, far beyond their technical function.
Gender Data Is Power
Policy without data is guesswork, and gender policy without sex-disaggregated data is a blueprint drawn in the dark. Gender statistics reveal where inequalities exist and how they connect to poverty, education, climate, and public services. They show how interventions are working and where gaps remain.
Governments use this data to understand what services women and men need. In addition, they identify how social and institutional norms shape access, outcomes, and choices.
Gender data highlights the full scope of inequality, from labor force participation to unpaid care. Moreover, it captures access to water, political representation, and participation in decision-making.
Together, these statistics form the foundation for inclusive, responsive policymaking. However, according to UN Women, over 100 countries still lack sufficient gender data to guide national strategies. Only 13% of countries currently have a dedicated plan for gender statistics in place.
Beyond Counting Women: The Political Value of Gender Data
Gender statistics go far beyond headcounts. They provide a lens to interrogate how power is distributed, how resources are controlled, and who benefits from development. Time-use surveys show the unequal burden of unpaid care and domestic work on women. This burden limits women’s access to formal jobs, leadership roles, and political participation.
These insights are essential for designing effective, gender-responsive policies. Examples include parental leave, flexible work rules, and targeted skills training programs. Such policies directly support women’s economic empowerment and participation.
Without these data, policy becomes reactive, blind to real-world dynamics. With them, governments are positioned to lead boldly, build equitably, and plan effectively.
Gender Budgeting: From Intent to Implementation
Gender-responsive budgeting (GRB) is the practice of planning, approving, executing, and auditing public budgets in a manner that advances gender equality and empowers marginalized groups. It’s about applying a gender lens to every line item and program to ensure that all resources contribute to equitable outcomes.
GRB translates political will into fiscal choices.
Importantly, it answers a core question in governance: Who benefits from public spending and who is left behind?
For example, countries like Rwanda, Mexico, Austria, and Uganda have made significant progress in embedding GRB into finance ministries, sector plans, and national agendas.
In Rwanda, the Ministry of Finance embeds gender-responsive budgeting in the annual budget call circular, requiring every ministry to submit gender-sensitive budget statements aligned with the national gender policy.
Climate, Crisis, and the Cost of Gender-Blind Budgets
Gender-blind budgeting is costly. When budgets exclude the needs of women, girls, and marginalized groups, they widen gaps in healthcare, education, water access, and livelihoods.
This urgency intensifies in the context of climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction.
In particular, climate impacts disproportionately affect women and girls, yet decision-makers frequently exclude them from shaping policies and accessing resources. According to the OECD, only 2.4% of bilateral aid to climate change programs targets gender equality as a principal objective (OECD DAC GenderNet).
To ensure impact, governments must integrate gender statistics and GRB into climate finance frameworks. This directs funds to the most affected communities and supports policies that are preemptive, equitable, and effective.
The Skills Gap Undermining Implementation
Despite growing awareness, many countries still lack the institutional capacity to fully integrate gender statistics and gender-responsive budgeting (GRB).
In many cases, governments underfund gender units, limit tools and training for statistical agencies, and treat gender budgeting as a compliance requirement instead of a strategic planning tool.
This is why capacity building drives progress. Strengthening statistical literacy, delivering targeted gender analysis training, and enabling cross-sector coordination empower institutions to act with intention. Government officers who apply gender indicators, implement budget tagging, and lead participatory planning directly shape policy design and expand its impact.
Strategic Focus Areas for Future-Ready Institutions
To fully institutionalize gender statistics and budgeting, governments, development partners, and civil society must invest in:
- Developing national gender data strategies aligned with SDG targets and national development plans
- Strengthening statistical systems for regular collection, analysis, and use of sex-disaggregated data
- Embedding GRB tools into fiscal frameworks, public expenditure reviews, and performance audits
- Building technical capacity across finance, planning, and line ministries
- Ensuring participatory budgeting processes that include women’s organizations, community voices, and grassroots networks
Why This Shift Matters
Gender statistics and budgeting are powerful tools for building inclusive governance, where policies reflect lived realities, budgets advance social justice, and institutions serve all citizens with transparency and equity.
Gender equality stands as both an economic priority and a governance cornerstone, shaping resilient systems and driving progress that benefits everyone.
McKinsey Global Institute estimates that advancing gender equality could add $12 trillion to global GDP by 2025 (McKinsey Report). Therefore, governments integrate gender data systems into core planning and evaluate budgets to ensure both efficiency and equity.
Looking Ahead: The Role of Data in a Just Transition
As countries strive to meet the Sustainable Development Goals and adapt to a rapidly changing world, gender data and budgeting must be central to how we define and deliver progress.
An era is emerging where inclusive development must guide every decision. As a result, governments integrate gender data systems into core planning and assess budgets for both efficiency and equity.
In climate policy, public service delivery, infrastructure planning, and education reform, the gender-responsive approaches define transformative leadership. They move institutions beyond transactions and toward inclusive, impactful governance.
Conclusion: Equity Needs Evidence and Investment
Gender statistics and gender budgeting are the tools of serious governance. The ability to see inequality clearly, to budget for inclusion intentionally, and to monitor impact rigorously is the mark of a capable, future-ready institution.
The next decade will reward governments and organizations that embed equity into every facet of planning. Those who ignore it? Risk deepens the very disparities they are tasked to solve.
At IRES, we support institutions and professionals in turning gender data into actionable policy. From strategic training to technical advisory, our work strengthens gender-responsive planning and budgeting across sectors.
Let the data speak. Let the budgets follow.
