Define

In this phase, it’s recommended to gather information on the situation of women and men in a particular area. This means looking for sex-disaggregated data and gender statistics, as well as checking for the existence of studies, programme or project reports, and/or evaluations from previous periods.

Did you know that EIGE has a Gender Statistics Database? Check whether there are relevant statistics to feed into your analysis.

Examples of gender and education and training statistics

At the EU level, relevant databases and indexes have been developed to address the dimension of gender and education. Don’t forget to check databases that may also exist at the level of the Member States.

Examples of studies, research and reports

Example of a gender analysis

Example of a gender impact assessment

Examples of stakeholders that can be consulted

Consider consulting stakeholders (e.g. gender experts, civil society organisations) on the topic at hand, to share and validate your findings and to improve your policy or programme proposal. This will enhance the learning process on the subject for all those involved and will improve the quality of the work done at the EU level. Stakeholders consultation process will start in this phase, but could also be considered as an important method to be applied along all the policy cycle’s phases.

For a more detailed description of how gender can be mainstreamed in this phase of the policy cycle, click here.

Plan

In this phase, it’s appropriate to analyse budgets from a gender perspective. Gender budgeting is used to identify how budget allocations contribute to promoting gender equality. Gender budgeting brings visibility to how much public money is spent for women and men respectively. Thus, gender budgeting ensures that public funds are fairly distributed between women and men. It also contributes to accountability and transparency about how public funds are being spent.

Examples of gender budgeting in education and training

Examples of indicators for monitoring gender and education

When planning, don’t forget to establish monitoring and evaluation systems and indicators that that will allow measurement and compare the impact of the policy or programme on women and men over the timeframe of its implementation. Remember to define the appropriate moments to monitor and evaluate your policy.

Example of procurement

When preparing calls for proposals in the framework of funding programmes, or terms of reference in the context of public procurement procedures (notably for contractors to be hired for policy support services), do not forget to formalise gender-related requirements. This will ensure the projects and services which the European Commission will fund are not gender-blind or gender-biased.

For a more detailed description of how gender can be mainstreamed in this phase of the policy cycle, click here.

Act

In the implementation phase of a policy or programme, ensure that all who are involved are sufficiently aware about the relevant gender objectives and plans. If not, set up briefings and capacity-building initiatives according to staff needs. Think about researchers, proposal evaluators, monitoring and evaluation experts, scientific officers, programme committee members, etc.

Examples of capacity-building initiatives about gender and education

Example of gender language in education

For a more detailed description of how gender can be mainstreamed in this phase of the policy cycle, click here.

Check

A policy cycle or programme should be checked both during – monitoring, and at the end – evaluation, of its implementation.

Monitoring the ongoing work allows for the follow-up of progress and remedying unforeseen difficulties. This process should take into account the indicators delineated in the planning phase and realign data collection based on those indicators.

At the end of a policy cycle or programme, a gender-sensitive evaluation should take place. Make your evaluation publicly accessible and strategically disseminate its results to promote its learning potential.

Examples of monitoring and evaluation on gender and education

For a more detailed description of how gender can be mainstreamed in this phase of the policy cycle, click here.