Amman, April 22 (Petra) – The Civil Alliance for Gender-Responsive Budgeting launched in Amman on Wednesday as part of efforts to strengthen civil society engagement in public financial policy and promote more inclusive and equitable budget planning.

The initiative aims to enhance the role of civil society organizations in the general budget preparation process by integrating gender considerations into fiscal planning, ensuring that public spending better reflects the needs of both women and men, and strengthening transparency and accountability in the management of public resources.

The launch event was organized by Partners - Jordan with the participation of the Lower House of Parliament, civil society organizations, and international partners, including UN Women, the International Budget Partnership, and the Jordanian National Commission for Women, with support from the European Union and the French Development Agency.

Speaker of the Lower House of Parliament Mazen Qadi, who patronized the launch, said the initiative aligns with Jordan’s broader national modernization agenda under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II, which includes political, economic, and administrative reforms and places women’s empowerment at its core.

Qadi said ongoing reforms, including amendments to the Election Law and Political Parties Law, have strengthened women’s participation in public life and expanded their representation in political and legislative processes, contributing to more inclusive decision-making structures.

He added that gender-responsive budgeting represents a practical approach to improving fiscal policy by analyzing the impact of public expenditures on different segments of society and ensuring a fair distribution of resources based on needs and priorities.

Qadi also highlighted the growing role of civil society organizations in supporting budget transparency and policy development, describing the formation of the alliance as an important step toward institutionalizing their participation in financial decision-making processes.

Organizers said the alliance will work on conducting policy studies, building technical capacity, and engaging stakeholders to support the integration of gender-responsive approaches in national budgeting processes and to enhance evidence-based fiscal planning.

//Petra// AJ