My journey as a champion for Gender Responsive Budgeting, advocating for the recognition and inclusion of the LGBTIQ+ community, advocating for youth and disability inclusion and working towards a corruption-free Namibia, started in 2016 when I first joined UNDP Namibia as a general service staff. The journey has been nothing short of rewarding and complex.

As I watch and reflect on the final goodbye of the UNDP Administrator, Achim Steiner, who retired on 16th June 2025, the former Administrator reminded us that despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainty for  the UN we must always remember that “...UNDP is an institution that belongs to the future.” 

“UNDP belongs to the future” is a profound reminder to me that now more than ever, the relevance of the UN system and particularly UNDP is essential, particularly in advancing gender equality. My journey has been nothing short of complicated, enticing, passionate, and yes, bureaucratic, no lies there! But I have witnessed firsthand how gender equality is not just a moral imperative, but it is foundational for transformative governance and sustainable development. Today, more than ever, we must centre gender-responsive approaches in our policy development, budgeting, and governance to create societies where everyone can thrive. We need to look forward and ask the hard questions on whether the “construct” of Gender is understood as part of the future of development.

The Power of Gender-Responsive Governance

Gender equality in governance is not a distant ideal; it is a proven driver of inclusive, effective, and just societies. When women, men, LGBTIQ+ individuals, persons with disability and other marginalized groups are intentionally represented in decision-making, policies become more equitable, transparent, and responsive to diverse needs. Back in 2018, UNDP Namibia supported capacity building in the area of Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) to ensure that public resources are allocated in ways that address gender disparities, breaking cycles of exclusion and exacerbating poverty. Under the leadership of my mentor and dear friend, Dr. Adelasia Divona, we worked with fellow UN agencies and various public institutions to ensure more is done for inclusion from a gender perspective. But Gender Responsive Budgeting is only one tool for driving Transformative Governance.

Key Impacts of Gender-Responsive Governance include;

• Enhanced Accountability: Integrating gender perspectives in budgeting and anti-corruption efforts increases transparency and reduces opportunities for misuse of power.

• Inclusive Policy Outcomes: Policies shaped by diverse voices lead to more comprehensive solutions to complex social challenges.

• Economic Growth: Closing gender gaps in labor force participation and leadership can boost national GDP and foster innovation.

Data Speaks: The Gender Inequality Index

According to the latest UNDP Gender Inequality Index  (GII), significant disparities still persist globally and locally for Namibia. The GII measures reproductive health, empowerment, and labor market participation, highlighting the urgent need for targeted interventions. For example, countries with lower GII scores demonstrate higher levels of gender equality, correlating with stronger governance indicators and lower corruption levels.

For Namibia, Gender Equality and Governance are nothing short of our ranking the top 10 countries globally for gender equality, closing over 80.5% of its gender gap and achieving a GII value of 0.445, which reflects a low gender-based inequality in health, empowerment, and the labor market. As a Nation we stand out for our strong representation of women in governance, with women holding 50% of parliamentary seats and significant roles in ministerial and executive leadership, including a female president and vice president. 

Namibia’s gender-responsive governance and progressive policies have positioned it as Africa’s leader in gender equality, serving as a model for integrating gender parity in decision-making and institutional effectiveness. But why then do we still report incidences of Gender Based Violence in our local media almost daily? Where are we going wrong? And what should be done?

Representation Matters: Visualizing Gender Equality

We need more images of women and LGBTIQ+ leaders in governance, budget consultations with diverse communities, and anti-corruption initiatives led by gender-diverse teams that are powerful symbols of progress. These visuals not only reflect reality but also inspire future leaders to envision their place in decision-making spaces. Will we ever see these visuals in Namibia?

Drawing from my own experiences and insights shared on my LinkedIn Profile, I have advocated for:

• Intersectional Approaches: Recognizing that gender intersects with other identities, such as sexual orientation, ethnicity, and disability, ensures that no one is left behind.

• Community Engagement: Effective governance is rooted in listening to and empowering those most affected by policies, especially underserved groups of our community.

• Evidence-Based Advocacy: Leveraging data and research to inform policy recommendations and budget allocations drives measurable change.

UNDP has shared amazing and practical Best Practices in the use of Gender-Responsive Language in Governance. These include,

• The use of inclusive, non-binary terms such as “all genders” rather than “both sexes”.
• Highlighting contributions from women, LGBTIQ+ individuals, and other marginalized groups in other areas of work.
• Framing gender equality as a shared responsibility and for the greater good of society. 

True transformation in governance begins with a commitment to gender equality. By championing gender equality, by amplifying LGBTIQ+ voices, and by fighting corruption, we lay the groundwork for societies that are fair, prosperous, and resilient. Do we not need them? Let us continue to lead with courage, data, and compassion, because when governance is gender-equal, everyone wins.

Author: Ms. Geraldine A. Itana is a Portfolio Program Analyst with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Namibia, where she leads strategic initiatives under the Governance, Responsive Institutions & Civic Engagement (GRICE) portfolio. Passionate about democratic governance, human rights, gender equality and civic participation, Geraldine plays a key role in strengthening institutional partnerships that promote responsive and accountable governance.

Read more:

• UNDP Gender Inequality Index 2024. https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/thematic-composite-indices/gender-inequality-index 

• Inter-Parliamentary Union, Women in National Parliaments 2024. https://data.ipu.org/parliament/NA/NA-LC01/data-on-women/ 

• UNDP, Gender-Responsive Governance Best Practices 2025

• Afro Barometer. 2024. AD880: Namibians support equal access to jobs but say more needs to be done to protect women and girls from discrimination and harassment

 - https://www.afrobarometer.org/publication/ad880-namibians-support-equal-access-to-jobs-but-say-more-needs-to-be-done-to-protect-women-and-girls-from-discrimination-and-harassment/ 

• UNDP Namibia. 2018. https://www.undp.org/namibia/news/government-technical-staff-trained-gender-responsive-budgeting 

• LinkedIn. 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/geraldine-a-itana-057543a7/