Africa-Press – Namibia. Speaker of the National Assembly Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila on Tuesday called for a stronger commitment to gender-responsive budgeting and inclusive policy frameworks, saying these are essential tools for advancing equality and sustainable development.
Speaking at the Second P20 Meeting of Women Parliamentarians meeting in Kleinmond, South Africa, Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said that while Namibia has made progress, much more needs to be done to transform gender equality commitments into lived realities.
She explained that Namibia adopted Gender Responsive Budgeting Guidelines through a Cabinet decision in 2014. However, she said that the implementation of these guidelines remains limited, with only 1.5% of the national budget confirmed as gender-specific expenditure.
The speaker noted that over 95% of budget allocations are channelled through mainstream programmes without explicit gender impact considerations.
“We must push beyond ad-hoc approaches. Our experience shows that when the Ministry of Gender Equality allocates 50% of income generation grants to women, and when health and social services specifically budget for maternal health and contraceptives, real change happens. But sporadic success isn’t systemic transformation,” she said in the statement.
She added that systemic change requires institutionalising gender-sensitive budgeting across government agencies, and ensuring resources reach marginalised groups such as rural women, indigenous communities, and young women affected by teenage pregnancy.
On inclusive policy and legal frameworks, Kuugongelwa-Amadhila highlighted Namibia’s National Policy on Gender Equality (2021-2031), which prioritises women’s and children’s rights.
“There is, however, a need to strengthen its implementation, and we can learn from the experience of other countries in this area,” she cautioned.
She emphasised that constitutional guarantees and policy frameworks are not enough without practical enforcement and constant parliamentary vigilance.
She stressed that “gender-sensitive legislation demands more than good intentions. It requires systematic gender impact assessments for every new law we pass.”
The meeting brought together women legislators from G20 countries to share experiences and shape solutions in preparation for the 11th P20 Speakers’ Summit, scheduled to take place from 1 to 3 October 2025.
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