5. A Comparative Study of Gender Budgeting Processes and Procedures in Selected Maritime African and European Nations

The rigor and physical exertion needed in the maritime sector makes the maritime job description to be compatible with the male gender. This is why, over the years, the maritime sector has been male-dominated, hence increasing the gender lacuna. However, there is a change in the demographics, as women are now engaged in various aspects of the maritime domain. Women are indefatigable. Nevertheless, inequality still persists as there is a dearth in the skillset needed for women to perform excellently and professionally in the maritime space. This gap in capacity building can be closed effectively if the budget is more responsive and aligned to capacity building for women. This research is a comparison study that examines the process and procedure of gender-responsive budgeting in selected developing African coastal nations such as South Africa and Namibia and developed European coastal nations like Finland and Lithuania. The Gender budgeting, process that is geared with a view to reduce the gender disparity in capacity building in the maritime sector is quite pivotal to building nations. This research recommends that nations that have not adopted gender-responsive budgeting should align themselves by including gender budgeting in their legislation. Furthermore, the benefit of gender-responsive budgeting can be spread over the African nations if African Union makes it mandatory like their European Union counterpart.