In a renewed effort to have responsive gender budgeting at state levels , the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) in conjunction with Spotlight Initiative has trained senior government officials and Civil Society Organisations in Adamawa.
The training held at Murtala Nyako training centre, was aimed to have responsive budget that could help in the fight against gender violence plaguing the society.
Speaking earlier, Bar Fabaryu Alfred representative of the FIDA Chairperson stated that,’’ The project intends to consider what contributes to effective targeting of women and girls in budget design and implementation and accompanying challenges, and the validity of Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) as a step towards gender mainstreaming and institutionalization by explaining practical ways to improve targeting in specific government processes, policies and programmes..
‘’To achieve the aforementioned, FIDA Nigeria seeks to train CSOs, government officials, and other stakeholders on the National Action Plan (NAP), the Government’s accountability for budget allocation and release, monitoring of the budget’s utilization and Gender Responsive Budgeting for VAWG/GBV/HP to enhance their advocacy skills.
‘’Training Manual Gender Responsive Budgeting and capacity to demand accountability placing it at the centre of a collective drive for gender equality and women’s empowerment, in line with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
‘’This training will sensitize and raise awareness on the concept of gender responsive budgeting and gender-responsive budgeting tools to enable participants to carry out gender-responsive budgeting analysis and to apply the tools appropriate for their purposes.
Also corroborating, the FIDA programme officer, Bar. Lubna Dodo explained that , ‘’The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria’s primary role is to protect, promote, and preserve the rights of women and children in Nigeria. FIDA Nigeria is implementing a 4-year project titled “United Nations Spotlight Initiative” in partnership with UN Women.
Bar. Lubna Dodo, FIDA Program Officer
‘’The project aims to end all forms of violence against women and girls. The initiative seeks to respond to all forms of violence against women and girls, with the particular focus on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Harmful Practices (HP), by beaming a spotlight on existential issues, while placing it at the center of a collective drive for gender equality and women’s empowerment, in line with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals,’’ she said.
In her words, ’’The main objective of this training is to see how Government will provide a budget line that will take care of gender issues in Adamawa State. Indeed, most of the time survivors suffer rejection, stigmatization and hurt from violence.
‘’As a result, they always need safe homes and/or victim support funds where they will be managed to re – integrate back to their families or learn a trade that will provide sustenance for them to be independent as the case may be. It is expected that all MDAs will make budget provisions that will carter for SGBV/VAWG/HP/SRHR of women and children.
The special guest of honour and Head Of Service in the state Dr Edgar Amos who was represented by permanent secreatay administration,Ahmad Dada said Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Harmful Practices (HP), are serious matters of everyone concern hence the coming together of stakeholders to brainstorm.
Dada, commended FIDA and Spotlight initiative for the training which he said ,’’ Gender based violence training at this time is crucial, and as responsive government no stone will be left unturned in the fight against gender based violence.
‘’ I am optimistic that after this training all MDAs in Adamawa will make budget provisions that will carter for Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Harmful Practices (HP), of women and children.
‘’We are glad that ministry of finance and permanent secretary budget are all in attendance,’’ the permanent secretary noted.
The training had enabled participants to know and understand responsive budget that could help in the fight against all forms of gender violence.
