National Commitment to GRB: Policy actors in government ministries
Keywords:
Gender-Responsive Budgeting (GRB), Gender Equality, , gender consciousnessAbstract
Gender-Responsive Budgeting (GRB) was first introduced in Malaysia’s government machinery in 2003 with a pilot implementation in four ministries and of the introduction of a manual on gender budget analysis. After 20 years, its continued implementation is unclear in these ministries. This article examines the adoption and application of GRB among policy actors in selected government ministries of Malaysia. . Using Rao’s Gender at Work Analytical Framework, it identifies low individual gender consciousness and unequal deep structures as key factors hindering full GRB implementation. The study finds that political will and a deep understanding of gender concepts are crucial for effective GRB. It highlights the importance of GRB for promoting gender equality in Malaysia.
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