GBWN joined forces again with European Gender Budgeting Network (EGBN) and European Women’s Lobby (EWL) to advocate for gender-responsive budgeting across the European Union and beyond.
At an energizing online meeting held last week, gender equality advocates, academics, and civil society representatives from across Europe expressed their shared determination to work together, exchange experiences, and demand more equitable and inclusive budgets at both EU and national levels.
As a result of this renewed commitment, two important and strategic decisions were made:
1. 📄 A Collective Call to the European Commission:
The coalition will prepare and submit a policy brief on gender budgeting to the European Commission, urging it to ensure that the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) — the EU’s long-term budget — truly prioritizes gender equality.
The paper calls for:
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✅ A clear target for financing gender equality
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✅ Gender-responsive budgeting (GRB) across all EU-funded programmes
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✅ Improved monitoring, evaluation, and transparency of results
👉 Want to join the movement?
Read the statement and sign before Friday, June 27, 2025 as a CSO or individual:
🔗 Sign here
2. 📅 Save the Dates for two important events
GBWN Forum on Gender Responsive Budgeting and Climate Change – TBD November 2025, Skopje Macedonia
The Gender Budget Watchdog Network (GBWN) will be organizing a high-level Forum on Gender-Responsive Budgeting and Climate Change, bringing together civil society, policymakers, researchers, and international partners to explore how public budgets can become more inclusive, transparent, and effective in responding to the climate crisis. The forum will highlight innovative practices, share lessons across regions, and strengthen advocacy for gender-just climate finance at local, national, and global levels.
European Conference on Gender Budgeting – Cyprus, March 2026
EGBN announced the organization of a European Conference on Gender Budgeting, scheduled for March 27–28, 2026, in Cyprus. The timing is strategic — it will coincide with the ECOFIN meeting of EU Finance Ministers, taking place during Cyprus’s Presidency of the EU Council. This conference will be a unique opportunity to bring together policymakers, civil society, and experts to advocate for transparent, inclusive, and equitable budgeting policies in Europe. It will also showcase the growing momentum of the gender budgeting movement across the continent.
We are deeply encouraged by this renewed energy and commitment across Europe. It is inspiring to see so many experts, practitioners, and organizations uniting around a common goal: to ensure that public budgets serve all people equally. As the Gender Budget Watchdog Network (GBWN), we fully support this initiative and look forward to strengthening our collaboration with EGBN and other allies working for fiscal justice, gender equality, and democratic accountability.
Stay tuned for more updates — and don’t forget to sign the joint statement!
