Mobilisation network launch: Keep gender equality in R&I
Mobilisation network launch: Keep gender equality in R&I
With a sense of urgency, we would like to share with you that GENDERACTIONplus is launching a new mobilisation network for future advocacy to protect and advance inclusive gender equality in European research and innovation. While the project is coming to a close at the end of May, our work continues, and we are inviting you to be part of it. This network will serve as a rapid response and coordination platform. It will: Whether you’re a gender equality practitioner, policy expert, researcher or academic, member of civil society, or part of a public authority or a research funding organisation, we invite you to join us. We need a strong, connected, and vocal community — and we need it now.
GENDERACTIONplus is presenting new guidelines for inclusive funding
GENDERACTIONplus is proud to present the new guideline, Inclusive Funding: A co-created guideline for mitigating bias along the research funding cycle! This document offers research funding organisations (RFOs) a clear overview to support the design and implementation of funding programmes that actively aim to mitigate gender bias and promote inclusivity. Developed through the GENDERACTIONplus project, it draws on shared expertise and proven practices to support equity, particularly for underrepresented groups, by offering actionable steps to reduce systemic bias in assessment and decision-making. The guideline was created within the GENDERACTIONplus Community of Practice of RFOs (RFO CoP) and reflects the project’s collective expertise, dialogue, and mutual learning. It was developed by JOANNEUM Research in close cooperation with RFO CoP WG leader Emer Cahill and with Vinnova, the RFO CoP lead, alongside all CoP members. It addresses each step of the funding cycle – budget allocation, programme design, call text development, call...
Integrating gender and intersectionality in research: from policy to practice
The integration of the gender dimension is increasingly required in research funding and evaluation – yet implementation varies widely. Many researchers and research professionals across Europe face challenges in understanding what it means in practice and how to apply it effectively, particularly from an intersectional perspective. Join us at an online event on Wednesday, 28 May at 14:00 – 16:00 CET to discover new tools, discuss benefits and learn how to integrate the gender dimension and intersectional analysis into research and innovation content – a key objective of the European Research Area (ERA). This event brings together key actors from EU-funded initiatives, including the ERA Forum Sub-group on Inclusive Gender Equality and the Horizon Europe GENDERACTIONplus project, to share new tools, policy frameworks, and real-world examples that support inclusive and impactful research. Whether you’re involved in designing research proposals, evaluating projects, or advising on content, this event offers valuable insights,...
GENDERACTIONplus consultation highlights challenges and opportunities for Gender Equality Practitioners
Gender Equality Plans (GEPs) and their implementation were at the heart of a GENDERACTIONplus stakeholder engagement event held online on Thursday 27 March 2025. Gender equality practitioners from 14 countries took part in the two-hour workshop aimed at gathering input on the draft policy brief “A new ERA for GEPS: Challenges for Gender Equality Practitioners.” The event was designed to create a collaborative space for sharing experiences and gathering insights into the everyday challenges faced by those implementing GEPs in Research Performing Organisations (RPOs). The consultation focused on how monitoring and evaluation of GEPs are currently being approached across Europe, and how these processes can be improved to better support gender equality practitioners. The session opened with an introduction to the GENDERACTIONplus project and the draft policy brief, presented by Dr Jennie Rothwell from the Higher Education Authority in Ireland, the partner leading the development of the policy brief. Participants...
Our objectives
1
Develop strategic policy advice on existing and emerging policy solutions in the five key thematic areas in the two Communities of Practice.
2
Enhance the policymaking process through engaging with stakeholders, CSOs and citizens, as relevant, in the five key areas.
3
Build capacities, competence and expertise for gender equality and mainstreaming in R&I, with special attention to countries with a less comprehensive policy.
4
Create impact through communication, dissemination and exploitation, including National Impact Plans and an EU impact plan.
Communities of Practice
Two Communities of Practice are active in GENDERACTIONplus, working to build shared understandings and insight; enable policy dialogue and practice on emerging topics; stimulate capacity building through mutual learning, mentoring and self-reflection, benchmark and diffuse existing knowledge. All this is geared toward designing policy solutions, achieving policy coordination and, ultimately, generating policy change.
The Community of Practice of Research Funding Organisations (the RFO CoP) is led by Vinnova, in close collaboration with Joanneum. The Community of national authorities (the Policy CoP) is co-led by the Institute of Sociology of the Czech Academy of Sciences and South Denmark University. The two CoPs organise bimonthly meetings for peer support and mentoring and organise online and onsite mutual learning workshops for the development of practical strategies and skills.
Intersectionality and inclusiveness
We wil explore the use of terminology, existing policies and practices on intersectionality, diversity and inclusiveness in research and innovation in the ERA, and ensure that the gender+ perspective is mainstreamed into GENDERACTIONplus topics.
We aim at policy coordination and capacity building on gender-based violence and sexual harassment in Research Funding Organisations, Research Performing Organisations and national authorities, through policy benchmarking and targeted mutual learning and development of strategic policy advice.
Gender-based violence
Gender dimension in R&I
We will enhance policy coordination across the EU Member States and Associated Countries to advance the gender dimension in research and innovation from an intersectional perspective through the whole cycle of research and innovation funding.
We will provide indicators for monitoring the implementation of inclusive gender equality policies at the national level. Presented through a dashboard on the project website, indicators will be advanced, and will complement the ERA scoreboard and the ERA monitoring.
Monitoring and evaluation of GE actions
Promoting institutional change
We will develop a system for monitoring and evaluating the implementation and impact of Gender Equality Plans in order to support institutional change as the main instrument to promote inclusive gender equality in the new ERA.
Outputs
- Policy mapping and benchmarking
- Strategic policy advice
- Mutual learning and capacity building
- ERA stakeholder and citizen engagement