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 were then divided into three smaller groups for focused discussions. The first round of discussions explored institutional challenges related to the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of GEPs. The second round concentrated on participants’ feedback on the policy recommendations.

Ground-level insights from experienced practitioners

Participants welcomed the opportunity to contribute to the shaping of policy that directly affects their work. The discussions highlighted that gender equality practitioners often operate in complex institutional environments with limited resources and support. Key messages that emerged from the breakout groups included:

• The importance of a strong institutional framework with embedded support systems for gender equality and diversity
• Recognition of the value of qualitative indicators alongside quantitative ones
• The need for transparency and clarity
• The value of including dedicated funding for gender equality and GEPs as a monitoring indicator
• The positive role of mandatory requirements in driving meaningful change

Participants appreciated the opportunity to connect with peers and learn from different national contexts. One noted that the workshop provided “a context for the future to use to motivate others,” while others highlighted the value of “good/bad practice sharing,” and “seeing that EDI representatives seem to face similar challenges across borders.”

Informing future policy and strengthening support

The consultation forms a crucial step in the development of the final WP6 policy paper, which aims to elevate the voices of gender equality practitioners and advocate for the structural support they need to the EC and national authorities. Discussions reinforced that effective GEP implementation requires leadership commitment, adequate resourcing, and opportunities for mutual learning. Participants also emphasised the need for clear guidelines to support monitoring and evaluation effort, an area previously addressed in GENDERACTIONplus WP6 reports and reiterated in the new policy paper.

“This workshop gave us a valuable opportunity to hear directly from those doing the hard work of implementing Gender Equality Plans on the ground and the feedback gathered will now be integrated into the final version of the policy brief, helping ensure it reflects the realities and needs of gender equality practitioners across Europe. Above all, the event reaffirmed just how crucial clear, top-down guidance from the European Commission is in supporting national and institutional efforts,” commented Jennie Rothwell.

The policy brief “A new ERA for GEPS: Challenges for Gender Equality Practitioners” will be published on the GENDERACTIONplus website in due course.

Existing GENDERACTIONplus recommendations on Monitoring and Evaluation: 

• A new ERA for GEPs: An active role for the European Commission
• A new ERA for GEPs: National level monitoring and evaluation