Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) and Public Finance Research Support

Organizational Context

UN Women is dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, aligning with the UN Charter's vision. The India Country Office implements the GenderEqualityXcelerate project (2024-2028) across five states, aiming to strengthen women's leadership in economic, social, and political spheres. A key focus is deepening Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) at the local governance (panchayat) level to ensure gender equality outcomes are integrated into planning, budgeting, and monitoring processes.

Job Purpose

This research assignment supports UN Women India's GRB Unit by conducting qualitative and quantitative research on Gender Responsive Budgeting, fiscal devolution, and local governance structures. The role involves examining how fiscal devolution architecture, grants, and planning processes can better reflect women's priorities and gender equality outcomes at the grassroots level. The research will address the gap in gender integration within the Sixteenth Finance Commission's recommendations, aiming to inform policy and strengthen GRB implementation at the panchayat level. The assignment requires strong analytical and report-writing skills to synthesize academic literature, policy documents, and fiscal data.

Responsibilities

The Online Volunteers will provide research, analytical, and documentation support for a study on Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) and the Sixteenth Finance Commission. Key responsibilities include conducting extensive literature reviews on GRB, fiscal devolution, and local governance; preparing annotated bibliographies and literature matrices; reviewing national and state-level GRB practices; mapping the relationship between GRB, GPDPs, and decentralization; and identifying policy questions for government engagement. Responsibilities also encompass compiling and analyzing quantitative data from budget documents and fiscal reports, developing analytical tables and charts, and supporting the construction of analytical frameworks. Additionally, volunteers will assist in developing qualitative research tools, analyzing local governance practices from a gender lens, and preparing analytical notes on the interaction between Finance Commission recommendations and panchayat-level planning. High-quality written inputs for the research report, policy briefs, and other knowledge products are required, along with maintaining reference libraries and incorporating feedback.

Work Experience

Desirable experience includes 1-5 years in research, policy, program, consulting, academic, or field work related to public policy, economics, public finance, gender, governance, decentralization, Panchayati Raj, or local planning. Demonstrated experience in mixed-methods research, including literature review, policy analysis, secondary data analysis, and report writing is required. Prior experience with local governance institutions, finance commissions, fiscal devolution, or gender budgeting is advantageous. Proficiency in statistical software like R is desirable.

Skills

Strong analytical and report writing skills are essential. Proficiency in qualitative and quantitative research methods, including literature review, policy analysis, and data analysis, is required. Familiarity with public finance, fiscal devolution, gender-responsive budgeting, and local governance in India is highly desirable. Ability to engage with academic literature, policy papers, and government documents is crucial. Proficiency in statistical software (e.g., R, STATA, SPSS) is a plus. Excellent English communication and documentation skills are necessary.

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