Prepare the evaluation strategy

arrow-right First, define the criteria that will be used to determine whether the gender equality action plan has successfully advanced gender equality in the parliament.

arrow-right Then, define evaluation questions to assess the inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes and impacts of a gender equality action plan.

Effectiveness (the extent to which the plan has achieved its objectives)

Have all measures within the gender equality action plan been implemented?

To what extent did the plan improve the degree to which:

women and men have equal opportunities to ENTER parliament;
women and men have equal opportunities to INFLUENCE parliamentary working procedures;
women’s concerns and interests have adequate SPACE on the parliamentary agenda;
the parliament produces gender-sensitive LEGISLATION;
the parliament complies with its SYMBOLIC function.

What were the main obstacles that hindered the achievement of the planned results and outcomes of the plan?

Efficiency (the relationship between the inputs and outputs delivered by the plan)

Were the resources (human and financial) allocated for the implementation and monitoring of the plan utilised in accordance with the budget?
Were the activities of the plan completed within the specified timeframe?
Were there any inefficiencies or bottlenecks identified during the process of implementation and monitoring?

Relevance (the extent to which the objectives and the design of the plan are relevant to the needs of the parliament (and/or society))

Was the plan relevant for the different groups in parliament (i.e. leaders, MPs, parliamentary employees, and staff of MPs)?
Was the plan relevant for groups that may experience gender and intersecting inequalities?
Was the plan relevant for different political parties in parliament?

Coherence (how well the plan fits within the broader gender equality objectives of the parliament)

To what extent did the plan’s objectives and actions align with:

the gender equality strategy of the parliament, or their broader strategic plan;
the national gender equality plan or strategy;
European and international commitments to gender equality.

Added value (the extent to which the plan brought about change that would not otherwise have occurred)

How has the plan improved the visibility of gender equality within the parliament and in society?
Has the plan introduced innovative approaches or practices that were not previously used by the parliament to address gender and intersecting inequalities?
How has the plan improved the accountability of the parliament to addressed gender and intersecting inequalities, both internally and externally?

arrow-right Next, design the approach that will be taken to assess the performance of your gender equality action plan. Evaluators typically adopt a mixed methods approach, collecting both qualitative and quantitative data (e.g. by reviewing progress reports and internal documents, reviewing sex-disaggregated data on the composition of the parliament, and data disaggregated by sex and other characteristics if available, as well as conducting interviews with leaders, MPs and employees).