UNDP Sri Lanka 124d ago

Gender Responsive Budgeting | Fixing Budget Gaps for Women-Owned MSMEs in Sri Lanka Public budgets are not just numbers. They are powerful tools that shape who gets supported and how. In Sri Lanka, women-owned MSMEs play a critical role in driving economic growth, creating jobs, and strengthening community resilience. Yet, too often, national budgets fall short in intentionally reaching and supporting these enterprises. In 2024, UNDP and partners analysed national budget allocations to understand how much support actually reaches women-owned MSMEs. The findings were clear: funding is often too limited, too broadly defined, and rarely tracked through gender-disaggregated data. When enterprise support is bundled with social protection, goals become blurred. Without clear gender markers, dedicated tools, and measurable indicators, it becomes impossible to track impact or ensure accountability. So what needs to change? • Integrate gender into budget planning from the outset • Track allocations and results using gender-disaggregated data • Differentiate clearly between welfare and entrepreneurship support • Invest in infrastructure and services that directly benefit women-led enterprises • Follow good examples where gender-responsive budgeting aligns with national priorities When women-owned MSMEs are intentionally budgeted for, economies grow, jobs are created, and communities thrive. It is time to ensure that public finance works for women entrepreneurs. #GenderResponsiveBudgeting #WomenOwnedMSMEs #SriLanka #InclusiveGrowth #UNDP