Gender Budgeting

Does the strategy build on a gender-sensitive context analysis connected to the policy objectives?

• If not, identify relevant analysis to make the case specifically.

Does the strategy include words such as equality, equity, gender, women, men, girls, boys, sex, age, race, ethnicity and/or diversity?

• If not, it will most likely not comply with the mandatory obligation of integrating the horizontal principle of gender equality. Therefore, the strategy will require revision.

Does the communications strategy include references to how women and men – in all their diversity – will be addressed as targets of communications? Can the roles that women and/or men play in the Member State influence how results are communicated? Is it clear how the communication of results will include potential differences in results between women and men?

• If not, consider specifying these points to comply with horizontal principle requirements.

Can you clearly identify the horizontal principle of gender equality in the priorities?

• If not, consider revising the priorities so that this principle is clearly put into practice. This can be done by making concrete references to gender equality obligations and commitments (see Tool 1).

Are the chosen priorities connected to advancing the situation of women and men in their diversity (i.e. considering not only their sex but also age, race, ethnicity, socio-economic situation, religion, rural or urban location, etc.) in the Member State?

• If not, consider explicitly specifying this connection.

Are the priorities connected to the gender equality objectives as defined in legal and policy commitments?

• If not, consider explicitly specifying this connection.

Are there challenges related to gender inequalities in any form? These can be inequalities between women and men, or between women and men of different ages, different races or rather ethnicities, different sexual orientations and other characteristics. Are these challenges mentioned in the summary?

• If not, consider revising the summary to comply with the obligation to put into practice the horizontal principle of gender equality.

Have economic, social and territorial disparities been analysed considering women’s and men’s different roles and responsibilities in the Member State? (See Tool 2 for more information on socioeconomic analysis from this perspective.)

• If not, either consider carrying out such a gender analysis or include findings from available analyses (e.g. research and other policy analyses).

Have market failures and investment needs been analysed at a micro level, considering how they may influence the situations of women and men? Has such an analysis considered the needs of women and men in all their diversity to address these market failures and investments?

• If not, either consider carrying out such a gender analysis or include findings from available analyses (e.g. research and other policy analyses).

Are there recommendations from the EU and/or lessons learnt from past experiences related to gender inequalities in any form? These can be inequalities between women and men, and between women and men with different characteristics (age, socio-economic background, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, location, etc.). Are these included?

• If not, consider including these. If necessary, draw on expertise from gender equality institutions, NGOs or gender experts.

Is the justification for the selected policy objectives, corresponding priorities, specific objectives and the forms of support based on addressing gender inequalities in any form and/or advancing gender equality?

Are references made to national gender equality policies, strategies and/or regulations to justify the selection?

• If not, make sure to revise the draft to include these references. If necessary, draw on expertise from gender equality institutions, NGOs or gender experts.

Will the actions take into account possible differences in situation between women and men and contribute to more equality between women and men in all their diversity, and thus contribute to both the EU's overarching goal of gender equality and the country-specific national gender equality goals?

• If not, revise the actions to make sure that they comply with the horizontal principle of gender equality.

Are indicators disaggregated by sex? Are they disaggregated considering other socio-demographic factors such as age, location, race or ethnicity, disability and education?

• If not, disaggregate all indicators by sex where meaningful and possible. Include further disaggregation as needed.

Is the main target group identified as women and/or men? Are other socio-demographic factors considered for the target group?

• If not, specify target groups at least as women and/or men – and, where possible and meaningful, by further disaggregation.

Are specific territories targeted considering their possible vulnerability to exclusion and/or marginalisation from a gender perspective?

• If not, make sure to include this based on relevant analysis and/or expertise from gender equality institutions, NGOs or gender experts.

Are community-led local development tools designed in a gender-sensitive way?

• If not, consider revising the draft to integrate gender equality in local development tools, for example, by building the tools based on the needs of women and men, or ensuring gender equality in participation and implementation.

Will the planned use of financial instruments allow for clear follow-up on indicators related to gender equality?

• If not, consider elaborating a monitoring tool to enhance follow-up on gender equality.

Do the financial instruments proposed address the needs of the target groups, including in a sex-disaggregated way?

• If not, consider revising these financial instruments to comply with the obligations of the horizontal principle of gender equality.

Can you clearly connect the indicative breakdown of the programmed resources to the target groups of women and men?

• If not, break down the target groups by women and men (and other disaggregation, where relevant). Link this to the breakdown of programme resources.

Is (gender) equality mentioned in the planned use of technical assistance? This is highly relevant, as technical assistance can contribute to building a body of very practical knowledge on gender equality in the funds.

• If not, consider taking advantage of technical assistance resources to build a body of knowledge on gender equality as a horizontal principle. This can be done by, for example, mobilising technical assistance resources for specific studies, expertise related to gender equality, pilot work on gender equality assessments and tools, or using funds to establish gender equality support structures.

Does the financial plan reflect the findings of the gender impact analysis?

• If not, consider revising the financial plan to include these findings.

Has the financial plan considered:

• the identified target groups of women and men in all their diversity?
• its impact on women and men’s live;
• women’s and men’s use of time, in terms of their unpaid labour and volunteer work;
• the private economic sphere in terms of fees and/or costs;
• other public budgets, such as transport?
• If not, consider revising the financial plan to include these elements.

As per Article 6 'the partnership shall include at least the following partners: ... relevant bodies representing civil society, environmental partners, and bodies responsible for promoting social inclusion, fundamental rights, rights of persons with disabilities, gender equality and non-discrimination'. Are partners and bodies responsible for gender equality clearly included and described?

• If not, carry out a mapping of relevant partners working on gender equality and consider their inclusion and full participation.
• Consider mobilising resources to provide capacity building for these partners on the funds and related processes. This is important because they can provide strong expertise on gender equality but may lack sufficient expertise on the EU Funds.

Has an assessment been undertaken on how enabling conditions related to gender equality have been fulfilled?

• If not, undertake such an assessment and integrate it.

Does the approach to communication and visibility include a strategy on how to promote gender equality and ensure gender-sensitive communication? Does it clearly communicate that gender equality is a horizontal principle? Does it clearly communicate that project applicants, and programme's monitoring requirements, must provide evidence of gender equality objectives and outcomes?

• If not, revise the approach to clarify the links between gender equality as a horizontal principle and the communication strategy.

For further information about gender and communication please have a look at the corresponding EIGE toolkit or the summary on gender-equal communication of the Swedish Secretariat for Gender Research.

Do staff at the managing authority, and any other body involved in the EU Funds’ management understand the horizontal principle of gender equality? What information and guidance is offered internally and to partners?

• If not, consider capacity building activities and support structures related to gender equality by mobilising technical assistance resources.