Lessons and Challenges in Implementing Gender-ResponsiveBudgeting at the Local Level in Mongolia

Abstract

Gender-Responsive Budgeting (GRB) has emerged as a crucial policy instrument for promoting gender equity in public financial management. In Mongolia, despite relatively strong  gender  equality  indicators,  women  remain  underrepresented  in  leadership roles and continue to face structural barriers to accessing public services and economic opportunities. This article examines the lessons learned and challenges encountered in the local-level implementation of GRB in Mongolia from 2020 to 2023. Drawing on a pilot initiative supported by the MERIT project and implemented in four provinces—Dundgobi, Dornod, Sukhbaatar, and Tuv—the study analyzes the impact of capacity-building efforts, micro-projects, and intergovernmental collaboration on integrating gender perspectives into local governance and budgeting. Using qualitative analysis of training data, project implementation reports, and stakeholder reflections, the study identifies key enablers of GRB, such as gender-disaggregated data usage, institutional commitment, and civil servant engagement. However, it also highlights persistent challenges including limited analytical capacity, inadequate data systems, and policy fragmentation. The findings contribute to the broader discourse on public sector reform and gender mainstreaming by offering practical insights for scaling up GRB in decentralized governance contexts. The  article  concludes  with policy  recommendations  to  ensure  the sustainability and institutionalization of GRB in Mongolia and similar transitioning economies.