Fourth Industrial Revolution and gender-responsive budgeting in South Africa : policy challenges and alternatives

Abstract

Gender-responsive budgeting (GRB) is becoming a necessary instrument that the government needs to employ to engender gender equality across all spheres of society. Pledging to erase the gender gap is not enough, as implementing active instruments to correct gender inequalities is the right step. This need is why several countries embrace active instruments in their fight against gender inequality, such as gender mainstreaming as a targeted measure to achieve this. Weaponising gender mainstreaming enables the government and relevant stakeholders in society to direct specific instruments towards addressing the gender imbalance across all spheres and to dedicate resources to ensuring the success of such policy. Gender budgeting, which falls under the gender mainstreaming strategy, allows for the equitable allocation of resources based on gender. It is one of the numerous instruments often used to actualise gender mainstreaming, primarily within the government’s fiscal policy. It deals with allocating resources to address the gender imbalance within society.