This brief explores the relevance of civil society budget analysis and advocacy (i.e., budget work) and its potential as a tool to hold governments accountable for their maternal mortality reduction commitments.

Examining the resources needed to implement Security Council Resolution 1325 at national level as well as the gains, gaps and glitches of financing the women peace and security agenda. Over the last decade the policy environment on women, peace and security has gained significant momentum.

Using country-level data, the paper estimates the costs of interventions aimed at promoting gender equality and women's empowerment in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ghana, Tanzania, and Uganda. It then uses these estimates to calculate the costs of such interventions in other low-income countries.