• Child Wellbeing

The last three decades have witnessed remarkable achievements in reducing gender inequality among adults and children in a number of areas: legislation, social and economic spheres. Despite these encouraging developments, however, gender inequality is still pervasive and remains one of the main challenges of development in Africa.

Most African governments have ratified international and regional legal instruments relating to the rights of women and children, and their constitutions and national laws also promote non-discrimination on the basis of gender. Many have also taken policy and administrative measures to implement the provisions set-forth in these legally binding instruments. However, attitudinal and cultural practices relating to gender have not changed at the same pace as the changes in policy, legislation and institutional aspects. This has created a large gap in policy and practice and contributed to the perpetuation of discrimination against women and girls.

Further, macroeconomic and budgetary policies have different impact on women, men, girls and boys due to their varying roles, capabilities, power and participation in the social and economic sectors. A number of countries in Africa are trying to mainstream gender in their macroeconomic and fiscal policies to balance and create a level playing field for all. Budgets in particular are important instruments to this end and also to implement gender equality targets. Their sensitivity to gender needs and gaps, therefore, greatly determines the success in achieving concrete gender equality outcomes.