Government Commitment to Responsive Budgeting to Improve Gender Equality in City Government

This study aims to analyse the government's commitment to gender-responsive budgeting to improve gender equality in three cities governments. The method used is qualitative with a literature review approach and secondary data. Data were collected from various sources, including scientific journals, government reports, and policy documents related to gender-responsive budgeting. The results indicate that despite supporting local regulations, the implementation of gender-responsive budgeting varies across the three cities. In two cities, regulations exist, but the implementation is suboptimal; the allocated budget does not fully reflect a commitment to gender equality, and obstacles remain in transforming this commitment into local fiscal innovation. In the third city, the government's commitment is evident through various programs and training to enhance understanding and skills in preparing gender-responsive budgets. However, challenges like the lack of gender-disaggregated data and low political support persist. This research implies that improving gender equality requires greater commitment and understanding from all parties, as well as stronger gender-responsive budgeting policies and mechanisms. It also highlights the importance of cooperation between the government, civil society, and international institutions to overcome existing obstacles This research is novel in its comparative analysis of gender-responsive budgeting implementation across three cities and the identification of strategies to enhance its effectiveness and efficiency at the city level in Indonesia. It aims to significantly contribute to developing more inclusive and gender-equitable budgeting policies in the country.