The EC has published the Framework for the integration and evaluation of inclusive gender analysis in research and innovation content 

GENDERACTIONplus has collaborated in the development of this Framework by providing policy advice to the ERA Forum Subgroup on Inclusive Gender Equality. In February 2024, an ad hoc task force was created within the Subgroup and led by WP4 and RFO CoP leaders, which has fulfilled one of the expected outcomes of ERA Action 5 ‘Gender Equality and Inclusiveness’ of the ERA Policy Agenda 2022-2024. 

National authorities, funding agencies and umbrella organisations, along with the Gender Sector of the DG RTD, support an inclusive gender analysis in R&I content as the way to move forward this field of gender equality policies in R&I. An inclusive gender analysis means: 

• Sex/gender analysis in the content of research and innovation throughout the whole R&I project and the whole R&I funding process 
• Intersectional factors of inequality that may be intersecting with sex/gender in the object of study 
• Including diverse target groups and end-users in co-creation methods and innovation projects 

The principles agreed among the Subgroup for the design, implementation and evaluation of these policies include: 

• Embrace an inclusive gender analysis 
• Adopt a whole-sector approach through national guidelines 
• Effective monitoring and evaluation for qualitative, long-term impact 
• Consistency and comprehensiveness of RFOs’ policies 
• Harmonising procedures among RFOs to facilitate the work of the research and innovation community 
• Enhance capacities to increase creativity in knowledge production 
• Inclusive research content assessment 

GENDERACTIONplus is proud of having contributed to this outcome and hopes that all the relevant actors involved (national authorities, funding agencies, RPOs, scientific journals among others) will help us move forward in the application of these principles. 

In conjunction with the Framework Principles, GENDERACTIONplus has developed a position paper Driving Forward Inclusive Gender Analysis in R&I Policies: Recommendations for Framework Programme 10, that explains the concept and importance of inclusive gender analysis and outlines key recommendations for the next Framework Programme, including: 

• Make gender analysis in the content of R&I visible again 
• Coordinate and align policy on agendas in the ERA using a whole sector approach 
• Strengthen the evaluation procedure for the upcoming FP10 
• Use financial instruments to produce new knowledge and methods 
• Give the NCP system a boost 

Given the current debates around the priorities of the upcoming period for R&I funding, this work is more important than ever. Gender issues are not something that can be separated from research and innovation content, as inclusive gender analysis reveals. In fact, an inclusive gender analysis strengthens scientific excellence while also acting as a catalyst for social justice, making research more relevant, ethical, and impactful. The gender and science community working together to shape the research policy agenda pushes advances in the research community, bringing light to uncertain times.  

Yet even as this progress unfolds, we are witnessing backsliding on gender equality in research worldwide. Prioritising inclusive gender analysis in the ERA is now more urgent than ever. The Framework Principles and GENDERACTIONplus position paper on inclusive gender analysis are essential tools to uphold scientific integrity and ensure research serves everyone in the ERA. 

Read the full Framework Principles publication & explore our recommendations in the position paper Driving Forward Inclusive Gender Analysis in R&I Policies.