11 The European Social Fund & Gender Equality The French Evaluation Report (2010) JOINT COCOF AND ESF TWG MEETING February 13-14, 2012

2 The aim of the evaluation Key scope of the study : Evaluating the share and the results of the gender breakdown in the French operational programme Analysing successful strategies at the regional level Provide recommendations for the current and future programming periods Evaluation carried out in 2010 by Amnyos Edater 2

3 1. Progress in measuring and monitoring 2. Regional strategies

4 1. Progress in measuring and monitoring A/ At the programme level B/ At the project level 4

5 1. Progress in measuring and monitoring A/ At the programme level Implementation of a comprehensive information and monitoring system, including quantified objectives and gender segregated indicators (output and results)  gender split  outcomes by gender  specific objective and target 5

6 1. Progress in measuring and monitoring A/ At the programme level  Gender split 6

7 1. Progress in measuring and monitoring A/ At the programme level  Outcomes by gender

8 1. Progress in measuring and monitoring A/ At the programme level  Specific objective Specific target « fostering female entrepreneurship : Increasing the proportion of supported women up to 38% » Target achieved : 40%

9 1. Progress in measuring and monitoring B/ At the project level  Application process : gender requirements  « How does your project take into account gender equality? » Answers in three categories : - « specifically » - « secondary » -« none » As a whole 25% of ESF funds are allocated to gender specific operations  Gender budgeting Monitoring ESF amounts allocated to the project: a limited budgetary monitoring (estimated budget)

10 1. Progress in measuring and monitoring B/ At the project level  A financial incentive : ESF extra funding (15%). A limited use : less than 1% of the projects  Support to the project leaders : -Training, definitions -Awareness rising -Autoevaluation grids -Selection criteria -Evaluation of the results

11 1. Measuring and monitoring : conclusion 11 ● Improvement : identifying the respective positions of women and men ● A weak use of quantitative data at regional level ● Improvement in monitoring ● Project results expected ● Various use of tools ● Gender budgeting a first step

12 2. Regional strategies Few regional MA have implemented target-oriented strategies Focus on 3 examples out of 5 Gender glasses (Auvergne) Targeted call for proposals (Ile- de-France) Dedicated measure (Brittany) « Improving and developing women’s access and participation to the labour market » Partnerships with the regional Units « Women’s rights and Equality between women and men » (Ministry for Solidarity and Social Cohesion) 12

13 2. Regional strategies Auvergne 13 A comprehensive approach to all funding applications Quantitative and qualitative objectives with examples for each measure Extra ESF funding Involvement of the Women’s Rights Regional Delegate Tools Communication strengthened

14 2. Regional strategies Brittany 14 In favour of a specific approach Fighting professional stereotypes Enhancing women’s access to employment Work life balance High level political involvement of the Prefect “Bretagne the leading example of parity and equality ” Involvement of the WR Delegation all along the audit trail Tools

15 2. Regional strategies Ile-de-France 15 Call for projects : Support for business to achieve wage employment and equality Innovative child care support A specific advisor dedicated to this issue A collegial body to facilitate attention focused on the priority in all the Funds Involvement of the WR delegate

16 Conclusions and recommendations of the evaluators Continue the dual approach Promote a more effective use of incentives such as additional ESF funding Strengthen the monitoring : At the project level :  selection process and report  provide the required indicator At the programme level (AIR and assessment)  spread the successful regional strategies  maintain the regional awareness efforts Encourage the partnership with the women’s rights delegation teams 16

17 Recommendations from the French ESF Managing Authority For the current programming period :  Include gender equality in the whole regional monitoring including awareness and training sessions, and putting the issue on the agenda of the regional monitoring committees, build ad hoc partnerships  Better evaluate gender equality throughout the ESF project cycle  Call on the beneficiaries for qualitative results of their operations  Use the ESF extra funding This information was sent to the ESF regional staffs in

18 Recommendations from the ESF Managing Authority For  Mainstream the gender dimension through all investment priorities  Build adequate objectives and indicators  Set up an effective « gender budgeting » (estimated and spent amounts)

19 Thank you for your attention Any question ? 19