Questions/Answers

The objectives of implementation Gender Responsive and Participatory Budgeting (GRPB) are as follows: - (i) To identify the different needs of different people in different communities and help to forge a closer relationship between MPSP and the people. (ii) To ensure the inclusiveness aspects are included during the policy making and budget allocations processes so that the needs of different members of community can be identified, prioritized and addressed. (iii) To benefits the users of public services, improve efficiency and accountability and enhances public engagement. (iv) To improve data collection and interpretation processes. (v) To integrate gender perspectives into good governance and best practices in MPSP. (vi) To mainstream gender elements into budgetary and development policy and planning processes. (vii) To initiate the modifications by the budgetary processes of incorporating gender needs and participatory decision making processes.

GRPB belongs to category 3 which is building and developing effective and accountable public institutions. The objective of implementation of GRPB is to enhance transparency and accountability of public services. GRPB integrates gender differentiated needs and participatory decision making in the budgeting processes by strengthening local democracy. GRPB also changes culture of work through training and capacity building and collaborate with communities to achieve vision and mission of MPSP. All the feedback, opinions and suggestions from people will be taken up to improve delivery of services. The process has been an eye-opener and has received very favourable feedback and publicity.

Applying GRPB in Seberang Perai significantly shows that Goal 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities in Sustainable Development Goals 2030 can be achieved, especially the target 11.3 and target 11.7. GRPB builds inclusive partnerships with stakeholders to ensure meaningful participation and engagement at all levels. GRPB also uses accessibility and universal design as core principles in planning and public facilities through inclusive, accessible and participatory processes and consultations with all group of gender such as women, older people, children and people with disabilities. GRPB requires community engagement in planning, implementation of project and budget allocation based on their needs and priorities in order to achieve sustainable city.

Before implementation of GRPB, MPSP followed the conventional budgetary process which is standardized by Ministry of Finance. Preparation of the annual budget never considers any feedback, opinion and suggestion from people of Seberang Perai. GRPB institutionalise a change of approach and has a positive impact to the community in term of active participation of people in budgeting process through dialogues. It increases community participation by allowing them to voice out their needs and aspirations which will eventually lead to a better budget allocation in improving living condition. This approach allows people to witness and feel the change that they want within their physical locale. At MPSP building itself, the stakeholders concerns including the public and the staffs are being taken into consideration. Here, we have lactation room for the nursing mother and reserved parking for disabled persons as well as for the pregnant ladies. Besides disabled people’s toilets, other facilities like a tactile paving are also provided to assist people with disability. Other than the facilities within the MPSP main office area, we also provide outdoor gymnasium that suitable for all ages from children to the elders. All these prove that the initiative to implement GRPB approach helps MPSP to identify unfulfilled needs of the stakeholders and to address them wisely by utilising the allocated budget which definitely gives the positive impact to the people of Seberang Perai.

The whole concept of GRPB is the innovation of budgetary practice in Malaysia. A successful GRPB represents a democratic exercise wherein stakeholders are provided with a platform to “voice out” their priorities and concerns. It is a “bottom-up” approach as opposed to the conventional “top-down” approach where the authorities make decisions on how limited resources are to be expended. Indeed, it is an exercise in people-centred participatory democracy which empowers the community. MPSP is the first local authority in Malaysia that implements GRPB.

Many countries implemented Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) such as Pakistan, Philippines and Nepal whereas Participatory Budgeting (PB) is applied in United Kingdom, United States of America and Canada. In Penang, Malaysia, the marriage between PB and GRB had been borne out of a desire to engage with the community. Therefore, we call it the “Penang Model” after the name of the state to distinguish with the others. It is to signify the communities are empowered and side by side together with MPSP to develop Seberang Perai to be people centric city.

Yes, the implementation of GRPB has been shared with other countries. In 2012, MPSP has been invited by Department of National Budget of Bhutan to talk on “Developing and Piloting GRB in Penang Local Government”. MPSP also got a chance to present the GRPB implementation during “National Workshop on Gender Responsive Budgeting” in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in 2016. A year later, MPSP are invited by University of Hong Kong to share the experience in doing GRPB during “International Forum on Gender Mainstreaming and Home Care”. In June 2018, Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development of Malaysia also visited MPSP to hear more on this applied GRPB approach.

In adopting GRPB, MPSP uses financial resources by utilising the fund as budgeted and projects are carried out based on their priority. Apart from that, people of Seberang Perai and MPSP personnel joined together to implement this approach. We conduct the survey, organize the focus group discussion and execute the project whereas the community of Seberang Perai will fill in the survey form, participate in the group discussion and enjoy the benefit of the project done. MPSP also empower the community to initiate this motion. To give example, in low cost housing, resident’s association will do the survey and get the people to come for focus group discussion.

GRPB can be sustained in social, economic and environmental aspects. From social aspect, MPSP provides convenience public amenities through public engagement and understanding what people need from the place they live and work. In term of economic aspect, MPSP provides job opportunities as what is concerned by the locals especially the woman. In PPR Ampangan and Aman Island, cleaning contract in low cost housing was given to resident’s association. Moreover, MPSP also conducted handcraft workshop to the PPR Ampangan residents. Various upcycle products are made during the workshop using the recycle material like newspapers. The end products such as basket, bag and pen holders will then be sold as souvenirs. From the environmental aspect, MPSP is heading towards the low carbon city by promoting climate friendly lifestyle. Bicycle lanes are designated at several places to facilitate the cyclist as well as to encourage the public to use bicycle as mode of transportation in reducing the carbon footprint. Besides, a number of tree planting activities were also organized throughout the year of 2017 and 2018 as part of the plan to give social, economic and environmental benefits.

Yes

Yes, the initiative has been formally evaluated through external evaluation. The evaluation was conducted in November 2013 by Dr. Regina Frey, a German Expert on Gender Mainstreaming and Gender Budgeting. The evaluation had four phases: - 1. Preparatory phase: The evaluator received 59 documents in preparation for her stay in Penang, they were partly analysed before travelling to Malaysia. Also there was email communication in preparation on the evaluation programme. 2. Field phase: 14th until 22th November 2013: After a first meeting with the GRB team, there were field trips and interviews. 3. Presentation phase: From 23rd to 24th November there was preparatory work for writing the report as well as preparing presentations for a) a technical workshop with the GRB team (25th November) and a presentation on preliminary results on 26th November for the administration staff involved in the GRB project. 4. After returning to Berlin, the final report was written; it was delivered on 23nd December 2013.

The indicators that were used are: - • Review all the activities and initiatives that have been undertaken under the GRB pilot from the initial ideas (2010) to its inception (2012) to end of Oct 2013; • Assess the relevance and success of the strategies, objectives, outputs and activities that have been developed and implemented to achieve the aims of the GRB pilot; • Identify the enabling and disabling factors from the political, social, economic and institutional context that have affected and will affect the achievement of the pilot expected results; and • Identify gaps and formulate recommendations for the improvement and continuation of the GRB project at the state and local levels.

The outcomes of the evaluation are as follows: - • The five outputs should be rearranged and prioritised. • GRB should be linked to the Penang Gender Policy. • There should be a ruling or resolution on GRB by policy makers - defining roles and responsibilities of stakeholders involved as well as providing a monitoring and reporting system. • An implementation strategy should be created which is in line with the budget cycle. • There should be a focus on capacity building with strongly follows the resolution and the implementation model as well as giving guidelines and checklists according with this implementation setup and process.

GRPB emphasizes on engagement with community in development, implementation of project or program and allocation of budget. For example, during preparation of annual budget, MPSP will distribute budget survey form to the people of Seberang Perai to get their feedback and opinion on satisfaction of services and area of services which need improvement based on their needs and priorities. The result from the budget survey will be presented to the community representatives, non-government organizations (NGOs) and government agencies during budget dialogue session. The objective of this budget dialogue is to enhance the role of communities in improving the services besides getting a closer relationship with MPSP. MPSP also uses GRPB methodology in the planning and upgrading of public amenities to empower the people about their rights. For example, during upgrading works of recreational park, MPSP conducts a survey with the users in order to get the feedback and needs of the users. Then, MPSP will organize focus group discussions with the residents, users and government agencies to prioritize their needs. During upgrading works, MPSP also will engage with expertise for disabilities facilities to make sure the upgrading works meet the needs of all gender groups. After the completion of work, MPSP will do a beneficial impact survey with the users. There is a good feedback on the methodology that have been used because it is more people centric and value for money.

The key lessons learned through the implementation of GRPB are as follows: - (i) GRPB has promoting greater equity in resource distribution and encouraging a more efficient, scientific and democratic budget process. (ii) GRPB processes stress on the need to involve residents and MPSP’s officers in a working partnership. (iii) GRPB also defined the priority needs and solutions for the community. (iv) Improving development impact, transparency, accountability and democratic governance. MPSP needs to further improve on data management in ensuring expenditure of projects and programs are inclusive and benefiting for every members of community without leaving anyone behind.