Chihuahua Municipality adopts gender-responsive PEFA evaluation

The Municipality of Chihuahua has adopted the Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) methodology with a gender perspective. This international framework aims to strengthen public finance management by analyzing how municipal resources address the distinct needs of women and men.

Sirinivas Gurazada, head of the PEFA Secretariat, described the municipality's decision as “innovative and extraordinary,” noting that Chihuahua is among the few municipal governments globally to integrate gender sensitivity into its budgetary systems. Gurazada emphasized that for gender policies to be effective, they must be explicitly linked to the budget.

The evaluation focuses on whether financial management systems include mechanisms to consider gender perspectives during the planning and budgeting processes, rather than judging the specific gender policies themselves. This initiative involves coordination between the municipal planning department and the Municipal Institute for Women to improve transparency, accountability, and the efficiency of public spending.