September 25, 2025 (Machakos, Kenya): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has successfully concluded a three-day Gender-Responsive Budgeting (GRB) and Tracking Skills Training for programme and procurement staff, held from 23–25 September 2025 in Machakos, Kenya.
Organised under the Institutional Strengthening Programme, the training strengthened the capacity of IGAD staff to integrate a gender lens in programme planning, budgeting, procurement, and reporting. It responded to findings from a 2024 monitoring exercise, which revealed limited allocations targeting gender equality across IGAD divisions and offices.
In her opening remarks, Ms Amina Farah, Head of Mission to Kenya IGAD Gender Programme Manager, underscored the need for inclusivity in resource management:
“This training is not only about figures; it is about fairness, equity, and impact. It ensures that our policies and programmes genuinely serve the people of our region.”
Dr Fatuma Adan, IGAD Head of Mission to Kenya, further emphasised:
“Our programmes and resources must respond to the realities of all genders — with particular attention to women, whose unique challenges demand tailored solutions at every level.”
Over three days, participants engaged in interactive sessions covering the foundations of GRB, regional frameworks and case studies, and practical tools for application in both programmes and procurement. They also explored methods for tracking and reporting gender-sensitive expenditures and developed draft action plans to implement GRB within their respective functions.
By the close of the workshop, participants committed to championing gender-responsive Budgeting in programming and procurement processes. To ensuring that institutional policies and programmes better reflect the diverse needs of women, men, girls, and boys in the region.
The outcomes of this training mark another step forward in IGAD’s ongoing efforts to mainstream gender, strengthen institutional accountability, and advance inclusive development across the Greater Horn of Africa.
