Gender Action Plans Survey of the Contact Point

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Gender Action PlansSurvey of the Contact Point
Women in European Research

• Nina Sartori
• EU-Büro des BMBF
• Frauen in die EU-Forschung (FiF)

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Why Gender Action Plans?

• To allow a better understanding of the gender
  dimension in research
• To raise gender awareness among different
  categories of actors.
• To increase womens participation at all levels
  of the research workforce.
• To highlight the responsibilities of all these
  actors in pursuing gender equality and
  implementing gender mainstreaming policies.

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Starting point

• GAPs part of NoEs and IPs
• Lack of experience with the instrument
• Projects have different commitment levels
• Insecurity influences implementation
• Theory is not connected to project activities

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Objectives

• What happens to the GAP during project
  implementation?
• Exchange of experiences
• Identification of information needs
• Further development of the instrument
• Development of support actions
• Recommendations to Commission

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FiF Survey

• NoEs and IPs in Contract Database
• (169 IPs 75 NoEs 244, Stand Feb.2005)
• Contact with projects with German coordination
  and need for GAP (38)
• Analysis of GAPs (27)
• Search for Contact person, Gender responsible
• Telefone interviews (30-45 Min.) (16)
• Focus on preparation and implementation phase,
  efficiency and development of the instrument

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FiF Survey Findings (1)

• Generally, planned measures include
• Recruiting strategies statistics on women
  participation in the project and related
  monitoring efforts to increase the numbers of
  women in management positions
• Creation of gender groups informational events
  monitoring of GAP implementation use of
  gender-sensitive language
• Contacts to schools and universities "Girls
  Day" training programmes

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FiF Survey Findings (2)

• Networking between women scientists platforms
  for discussion (Internet, newsletters) creation
  of databases on women scientists
• Measures to promote and facilitate balancing of
  work and private life (child care, telecommuting,
  flexible working hours and videoconferences)
  customised GAPs at partner institutions special
  mobility grants and prizes for women scientists.
• Gender-Aspekte kann man gut in das Projekt
  integrieren, zugleich aber auch leicht
  ignorieren.

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FiF Survey Findings (3)

• Lack of experience regarding gender mainstreaming
  in research projects. GAP implementation has
  proven to be difficult in practice
• Commitment to GAP varies widely
• Higher willingness to integrate gender aspects in
  research in projects in the 1st, 5th and 7th
  Priority Thematic Areas partially also in
  projects in the 6th Priority Thematic Area
• Scientific discussion on gender issues is seen to
  have little relevance to actual project practice,
  and it is carried out on a separate, theoretical
  level
• Wir sind nicht dazu da, um uns für die Politik
  zu engagieren.

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FiF Survey Findings (4)

• GAPs started process of creating awareness for
  gender equality in research projects
• There is a discrepancy between planned and
  actually realized measures (ambitious aims are
  not in practice implemented).
• The GAPs cause a conflict of interest for
  scientists between gender politics and scientific
  excellence
• (a common misunderstanding the goal is not to
  promote "bad" women scientists, but to have
  gender competence as criterion of excellence in
  and of itself, and that only a gender-sensitive
  project can be excellent).
• The success of the GAPs depends on the structure
  of the involved institutions and the composition
  of the consortium.

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Recommendations (1)

• Advice for successful implementation of GAPs
• GAP implementation should take the relevant
  project's individual circumstances (such as the
  field concerned, the number and type of partner
  institutions concerned, etc.) into account
• GAP measures should be integrated within the
  scientific discussion and never be separated from
  the research focus, in order to foster acceptance
  for gender-equality measures among scientists
• Gender mainstreaming should not be implemented
  and managed as special support for women. Men
  should be included in the gender-equality
  discussion and in planned and implemented
  measures

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Recommendations (2)

• It is very important for projects to have good
  communication regarding gender-equality issues.
  Such communication is best initiated via kick-off
  meetings and other types of project meetings.
• Contacts and exchanges of experience with other
  projects, especially projects from similar areas
  and disciplines, facilitate mutual learning and
  help projects to identify particularly suitable
  measures.

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FiF Conclusions (Seminar June 30, 2005)

• It is very important that the GAPs continue to be
  part of the gender mainstreaming strategy of the
  European Commission in the future.
• To ensure gender equality in EU-research
  programmes in the long run, however, more
  efficient support and control measures will be
  necessary (GAP reporting).
• Improved information (GAP guideline, GAP help
  desk)
• More exchange (GAP network)
• Der GAP bewegt etwas, indem er den Projekten
  eine Pflicht auferlegt, sich mit dem Thema
  auseinanderzusetzen.

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Contact
Nina Sartori Cornelia Schneider EU-Büro des BMBF
für das Forschungsrahmenprogramm Tel.
0228/447-635 / -632 Email nina.sartori_at_dlr.de
cornelia.schneider_at_dlr.de http//www.eubuero.de/