Periodic Reporting for period 2 - GENDERACTIONplus (Gender Equality Network to Develop ERA Communities To coordinate Inclusive and sustainable policy implementatiON)
Reporting period: 2023-06-01 to 2024-05-31
GENDERACTIONplus is a policy oriented project. Building on the Horizon 2020 project GENDERACTION (2017-2021), the overall goal of GENDERACTIONplus is to contribute to advancing gender equality and inclusiveness objectives of the European Research Area. Thematically, the project focuses on the following policy priorities: 1) intersectionality and inclusiveness; 2) gender-based violence; 3) gender dimension in research, innovation, and teaching; 4) monitoring and evaluation of ERA gender equality actions; and 5) supporting institutional change through Gender Equality Plans (which are mandatory for application to Horizon Europe).
Specifically, the project aims to: 1) Develop strategic policy advice on existing and emerging policy solutions in the five thematic areas; 2) Enhance the policymaking process through engaging with stakeholders, CSOs and citizens; 3) Build capacities, competence, and expertise for gender equality and mainstreaming in R&I among the Policy and RFO community members, with special attention to countries with a less comprehensive gender equality policy; 4) Create impact through communication, dissemination, and exploitation, including national impact plans and an EU impact plan, policy briefs and position papers based on the policy advice developed.
These aims are achieved through the work of two Communities of Practice, a Policy Community consisting of national authorities from 11 MS and 2 AC and 7 MS Associated partners and a Research Funder Community consisting of 8 MS RFOs and 2 AC RFOs and 6 Associated partners, and 3 RFOs joined through Memorandum of Understanding.
Throughout the life of the project, the GENDERACTIONplus is working toward the following impacts: 1) Advanced policy coordination among MS and AC and through stakeholder and citizen engagement; 2) Improved research careers and working conditions in European R&I, by developing policy dialogue and solutions on inclusion and intersectionality, combating gender-based violence and promoting institutional changes through GEPs; 3) Increased research quality and social responsibility of knowledge through the integration of gender dimension in R&I, and 4) Reduced geographic inequality by targeting less experienced/engaged countries and regions.
Specifically, the project aims to: 1) Develop strategic policy advice on existing and emerging policy solutions in the five thematic areas; 2) Enhance the policymaking process through engaging with stakeholders, CSOs and citizens; 3) Build capacities, competence, and expertise for gender equality and mainstreaming in R&I among the Policy and RFO community members, with special attention to countries with a less comprehensive gender equality policy; 4) Create impact through communication, dissemination, and exploitation, including national impact plans and an EU impact plan, policy briefs and position papers based on the policy advice developed.
These aims are achieved through the work of two Communities of Practice, a Policy Community consisting of national authorities from 11 MS and 2 AC and 7 MS Associated partners and a Research Funder Community consisting of 8 MS RFOs and 2 AC RFOs and 6 Associated partners, and 3 RFOs joined through Memorandum of Understanding.
Throughout the life of the project, the GENDERACTIONplus is working toward the following impacts: 1) Advanced policy coordination among MS and AC and through stakeholder and citizen engagement; 2) Improved research careers and working conditions in European R&I, by developing policy dialogue and solutions on inclusion and intersectionality, combating gender-based violence and promoting institutional changes through GEPs; 3) Increased research quality and social responsibility of knowledge through the integration of gender dimension in R&I, and 4) Reduced geographic inequality by targeting less experienced/engaged countries and regions.
The first year of the project focused primarily on benchmarking national and research funder policies in the five thematic areas; this served to establish the state of the art of policy implementation and to identify existing gaps. Secondly, it launched an initial round of capacity-building activities for the two Communities of Practice.
The second year developed further and reinforced the mutual learning and capacity building programme of the two Communities of Practice through regular bimonthly meetings and mutual learning workshops, to build a common discourse, share experience and discuss developments at the national level, and provide feedback on project outputs and policy advice being developed.
Furthermore, the project moved from policy benchmarking and gap analysis to developing policy tools and guidance, especially on gender-based violence and monitoring Gender Equality Plans. In addition, an online course for National Contact Points was developed in cooperation with the NCP Academy to be launched in autumn 2024. Also, the first policy advice was developed in the form of position papers, with the support of stakeholder engagement events.
Project partners designed and launched the implementation of their National Impact Plans, and a new NIP monitoring system started to be developed to be implemented in Year 3.
In relation to communication and dissemination activities, two social media campaigns were organised, one on the occasion of the mid-term conference ERA of Inclusive Gender Equality in February 2023 and the mutual learning workshop on resistances in May and June 2024. GENDERACTIONplus also launched a LinkedIn account in addition to X, and published two newsletters to report on its activities.
The second year developed further and reinforced the mutual learning and capacity building programme of the two Communities of Practice through regular bimonthly meetings and mutual learning workshops, to build a common discourse, share experience and discuss developments at the national level, and provide feedback on project outputs and policy advice being developed.
Furthermore, the project moved from policy benchmarking and gap analysis to developing policy tools and guidance, especially on gender-based violence and monitoring Gender Equality Plans. In addition, an online course for National Contact Points was developed in cooperation with the NCP Academy to be launched in autumn 2024. Also, the first policy advice was developed in the form of position papers, with the support of stakeholder engagement events.
Project partners designed and launched the implementation of their National Impact Plans, and a new NIP monitoring system started to be developed to be implemented in Year 3.
In relation to communication and dissemination activities, two social media campaigns were organised, one on the occasion of the mid-term conference ERA of Inclusive Gender Equality in February 2023 and the mutual learning workshop on resistances in May and June 2024. GENDERACTIONplus also launched a LinkedIn account in addition to X, and published two newsletters to report on its activities.
The benchmark reports prepared in the five thematic areas served in year 2 to identify and articulate policy gaps and needs. Overarching policy recommendations, in position paper no. 1, in the five thematic areas were prepared for the mid-term conference ERA of Inclusive Gender Equality organised on 13 February 2024. This position paper served to inform the policy debates with stakeholders at the conference, including the ERA Forum MS Co-Chair, the Chair of the ERC Working Group on Gender and Diversity or the Scientific Coordinator of the CoARA Working Group TIER. The advice was also shared with ERA umbrella organisations.
Two other position papers were developed, one on intersectionality and inclusiveness and the other on supporting gender expertise among NCPs for better results on inclusive gender analysis in R&I in Horizon Europe Position Paper. All three position papers are available online and are used by consortium members at the national level to advance gender equality agenda. The policy work will continue with a view to informing ERA Policy Agenda 2025-2027, especially ERA Action 4 on inclusive gender equality.
The project also works with the instrument of National Impact Plans which all project partners have designed, working on the assumption that the findings and recommendations developed in the project will be used at the national level, thus contributing to advance inclusive gender equality policy, coordinating this policy across Member States and building a common policy discourse across the EU.
Following the European Elections, increased efforts will be made to engage with the newly elected Members of the Parliament and the new Commission to deliver the main findings and recommendations being developed.
Two other position papers were developed, one on intersectionality and inclusiveness and the other on supporting gender expertise among NCPs for better results on inclusive gender analysis in R&I in Horizon Europe Position Paper. All three position papers are available online and are used by consortium members at the national level to advance gender equality agenda. The policy work will continue with a view to informing ERA Policy Agenda 2025-2027, especially ERA Action 4 on inclusive gender equality.
The project also works with the instrument of National Impact Plans which all project partners have designed, working on the assumption that the findings and recommendations developed in the project will be used at the national level, thus contributing to advance inclusive gender equality policy, coordinating this policy across Member States and building a common policy discourse across the EU.
Following the European Elections, increased efforts will be made to engage with the newly elected Members of the Parliament and the new Commission to deliver the main findings and recommendations being developed.