Debbie Budlender is the leading international adviser on gender responsive budget initiatives and has worked in this field in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe and Americas. Diane Elson has written numerous books and articles on gender equality and economic life. She was Coordinator for Progress of the World's Women 2000, the UNIFEM biennial report, and co-editor of a special issue of the World Development Journal (July 2000).

• Foreword  Executive Summary   Abbreviations   Integrating Gender into Government Budgets within a Context of Economic Reform Introduction The Economic Costs of Gender Inequality The Economic Gains from Gender Responsiveness Macroeconomic Policy and the National Budget Integrating Gender into the National Budget: Applying Analytical Tools Taking Action Conclusion Annex: Gender Responsive Budget Analytical Tools   Promoting Gender Equality through Public Expenditure Introduction Background What are Gender Responsive Budgets? The Rationale for Gender Responsive Budgets Commonwealth Country Experiences Lessons Learned: Opportunities and Challenges Future Programme Directions Conclusion   A Global Assessment of Gender Responsive Budgets Initiatives Introduction A Strategy to Mainstream Gender into Economic Policy Goals and Objectives The Role of International Agencies The Role of Country-Level Actors Working at Difference Levels of Government Implementation Strategies Links to other Developmental Initiatives Forward to Sustainability   A Profile of Country Activities Introduction Profiles by Region Africa The Americas Asia Europe The Middle East Pacific   Composite Bibliography   Glossary of Terms