Applying Gender Responsive Budgeting to the HIV Response: A Case Study of Cambodia, Indonesia, and Thailand

The Asia-Pacific region has witnessed progress in ending the HIV epidemic, with a decrease in AIDS-related deaths, increased access to treatment, higher domestic financing, and notable improvements in addressing stigma and discrimination. Yet, challenges related to ending the HIV epidemic persist with respect to gender relations and inequalities. An adequate response to the gender dimension of the HIV epidemic requires public policies that include and prioritize women’s equality, and that of women and girls belonging to key populations including transgender women.

Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) is budgeting that integrates a gender perspective, and tracks how budgets respond to gender equality and women’s rights requirements. The use of gender responsive budgeting in the HIV response can facilitate equality and fairness in terms of HIV budget allocations and expenditures to ending the HIV epidemic, while also increasing transparency, accountability and efficiency. The emphasis on HIV budget allocations and expenditures is crucial, as inadequate funding hinders governments and other relevant actors from successfully implementing any policy or program.

This publication assesses and takes stock of the extent to which the national HIV responses in Cambodia, Indonesia and Thailand have prioritized gender equality interventions, including the empowerment of women and girls, and identifies strategic entry points and opportunities for further strengthening investments on gender equality in the HIV response.