The starting point of the project were the tasks implemented under WP2. The project first performed an assessment of the procedures and practices already in place, together with an analysis of the context of national provisions, specific incentives, existing barriers, and bias at each ATHENA institution developing and implementing a GEP.
In parallel, within WP3, the outcomes of the WP2 activities served as input for the design and deployment of capacity building activities for the Gender Equality Plan Implementation (GEPI) Committees, established at each ATHENA RPO/RFO implementing a GEP. A total of 92 committed GEPI Committee members were identified and involved in ATHENA. The capacity building was successfully implemented. To complement these efforts, three mutual learning workshops were organised during the project in order to meet “peers” from the other consortium countries. Such events offered a space to share visions and experiences for continuous improvement and awareness.
Leveraging the outcomes of WP2 and WP3, the project implemented WP4 activities, which were the pillar for the consortium to reach the expected objectives and impacts. WP4 was devoted to the development and implementation of the GEPs in the 8 partner institutions. The work started with a best practices analysis about GEPs implemented in RPOs and RFOs all over Europe was performed. Additionally, a Toolkit for transforming the institutional culture in terms of gender aspects was developed, offering an array of tools and resources that may assist them with examples, guidance and inspiration useful for tailoring GEPs. Based on this common framework, ATHENA RFOs and RFOs developed, approved, and successfully implemented their GEPs.
WP5 was dedicated to continuous monitoring of the GEPs, while also ensuring periodic assessments and a final impact evaluation as summarised in D5.4 Impact report.
WP6 and WP7 were dedicated to make ATHENA experiences and results available to the external audiences and to sustain those in the long term. WP6 focused on a series of sustainability and exploitation tasks, from the development of a web-based community platform for action (www.gender-equality.eu) to the implementation of local sustainability workshops, the drafting of policy recommendations and position papers and the organisation of a high-level policy event in Brussels, which took place in May 2025. WP7 was devoted to dissemination and communication through diverse channels, such as website, social media, press releases, newsletters, events, and scientific publications.
