This chapter (from a World Bank collection on social accountability initiatives in Africa) seeks to flag lessons (context, processes, and results) for possible replication and further study from two social accountability initiatives in Zimbabwe: (1) the Child-Friendly National Budget Initiative being coordinated by the National Association of Non Governmental Organisations (NANGO), and (2) the Gender Responsive Budgeting Project by the Zimbabwe Women’s Resource Centre and Network (ZWRCN).
Although the initiatives continue, ZWRCN and NANGO have already made some notable impacts. By emphasizing the need for equitable distribution of resources, they have highlighted debate around these crucial issues. Both organizations have built expertise in reading and analysing budgets from a gender-sensitive and child-friendly perspective among national legislators, local government officials, CSOs, and other development practitioners. The results of the two initiatives can be categorized as increased transparency, accountability, and decentralization in policy making and budgeting processes; increased budget allocations; expanded participation and coalition building; and improved policies.
