• Steps 2 and 3. Identifying and developing possible work-life balance interventions

    Table below categorises proposed interventions according to objectives in proposed funds’ regulations. It also adds a set of proposed actions that are not explicitly mentioned in legislative acts. These would support work-life balance by enhancing the quality and accessibility of care provision; supporting active ageing; strengthening integrated health care communication; advancing the integration of shared services; and enhancing the integration...

  • Step 1. Alignment with the strategic goals for gender equality

    The first step is to ensure alignment with the EU’s gender equality goals. These include the goals of the strategic engagement for gender equality 2016-2019 which, in turn, are aligned with the European Pillar for Social Rights: provide better work-life balance for parents and people with care responsibilities; ensure a broad policy framework to support parents’ participation in the labour...

  • Steps for enhancing coordination and complementarities between the funds

    This tool contains four main steps. Step 1: alignment with the strategic goals for gender equality (e.g. EU-level goals including the new directive on work–life balance with national gender equality policies and/or plans). Step 2: identifying possible interventions in the ESF+ and ERDF that can advance work-life balance. Step 3: developing interventions to advance work-life balance. Step 4: following up...

  • Examples of integrating gender equality as a horizontal principle in policy objectives and specific objectives

    Hypothetical case study: addressing identified gender equality gaps in an OP In southern Europe, a fictional country’s context analysis identified the potential to increase women’s presence in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). When the state’s managing authorities developed their PA, they chose policy objective 1, 'A smarter Europe by promoting innovative and smart economic transformation' as one of their priorities...

  • Checklist for putting the horizontal principle of gender equality into practice in Operational Programmes

    The CPR specifies that the content of each OP must contain the following elements [1] : Each programme shall set out a strategy for the programme's contribution to the policy objectives and the communication of its results. Checklist with questions on gender equality Does the strategy build on a gender-sensitive context analysis connected to the policy objectives? If not, identify...

  • Checklist for putting the horizontal principle of gender equality into practice in Partnership Agreements

    The CPR specifies that each Partnership Agreement (PA) must contain the following elements: The selected policy objectives, indicating by which of the funds and programmes they will be pursued and a justification thereto, and where relevant, a justification for using the delivery mode of the InvestEU, taking into account relevant country-specific recommendations. View the checklist with questions on gender equality...

  • General guidance on operationalising gender equality when developing policy objectives, specific objectives and measures

    The checklists below follow seven main steps: make sure that the required context analysis is carried out in a gender-sensitive manner; integrate other available information on existing gender inequalities, e.g. from country-specific recommendations; build on existing EU and national norms and requirements to integrate gender equality (see Tool 1) clearly link the horizontal principle of gender equality to priorities, objectives...

  • Steps for operationalising gender equality in Partnership Agreements and Operational Programmes

    This section contains two checklists: one on developing Partnership Agreements (PAs); one on developing Operational Programmes (OPs). Each of these checklists contains the steps defined by the CPR to develop these overarching EU Funds instruments, except for the EAFRD [1]. For each step, you will find a check box with questions and practical examples on how to identify, define and...

  • Additional resources

    Consult gender analysis tools: 4R method SWOT Consult further information on: Gender analysis Gender-mainstreaming concepts and definitions Gender implications for employment, labour market policies and reforms Gender mainstreaming and entrepreneurship Gender mainstreaming in agriculture and rural development Reconciliation of work and private life EIGE’s Gender Institutional Transformation Toolkit

  • Step 4. Draw conclusions

    Based on the data gathered, the gender inequalities and underlying causes identified, and the stakeholders consulted, the analysis can draw evidence-based conclusions to inform effective programmes and projects. It is important to link gender inequalities and needs to national and sub-national gender policies and goals. Key questions to ask are: What consequences will the intervention have on the target group...

  • Step 3. Consult directly with the target groups

    It is important to consider consulting directly with target groups. Above all, it is vital to ensure that women’s organisations are consulted and their views taken into account when developing OPs, creating programme intervention proposals and designing projects. Useful consultation questions include the following. What are the group’s lived realities, expectations and needs? Are these different for women and men...

  • Step 2. Identify existing gender inequalities and their underlying causes

    Once you have the data needed to form a clear picture of the target group, it is important to identify existing gender inequalities and the reasons why they exist. Use the key questions below to guide this step. These questions specifically aim to strengthen the focus on work-life balance. They can be used to complement general analysis to identify inequalities...