How the omnibus spending bill will affect US gender-related efforts

Next year's U.S. spending bill allocates the same level of funding for efforts against gender-based violence. But a slight change in language ensures the money is explicitly authorized, Women Thrive Worldwide’s senior policy manager tells Devex.

By Anna Patricia Valerio // 22 December 2014

The Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act 2015 could spell a difference in how the United States integrates gender into its development assistance.

Section 7059 of the omnibus spending bill states that at least $50 million will be devoted toward promoting women's leadership and at least $150 million will be channeled toward implementing a multiyear strategy to prevent and respond to gender-based violence.

These funding levels are equal to last year’s appropriations. A slight but significant change in language in the spending bill, however, ensures that the $150 million for efforts against gender-based violence is an express authorization, not a mere nonbinding mandate.

About the author

Anna Patricia Valerio
Anna Patricia Valerio is a former Manila-based development analyst who focused on writing innovative, in-the-know content for senior executives in the international development community. Before joining Devex, Patricia wrote and edited business, technology and health stories for BusinessWorld, a Manila-based business newspaper.