1. Evaluation of ESF support to Gender Equality
ESF EVALUATION PARTNERSHIP MEETING WORKING GROUP ON ANTI-DISCRIMINATION
BRUSSELS, NOVEMBER 2010

2. PURPOSE
Assess ESF support to gender equality on the basis of programming documents and evidence from first stages of implementation
Examine “gender sensitivity” of programmes
Check attention to specific gender equality aspects
Identify Member States’ approaches
Test European Added Value

3. QUESTIONS
To which extent was gender equality taken into consideration during the programming process (and in particular the dual approach of gender mainstreaming and specific action)?
To which extent is a gender equality policy integrated into the ESF implementation, monitoring and evaluation processes?
Have the ESF interventions generated, or are they expected to generate, European Added Value as far as gender equality is concerned?

4. DELIVERABLES 27 country reports 6 thematic reports Synthesis report
(i) Access to employment (vulnerable groups)
(ii) Vertical segregation
(iii) Horizontal segregation
(iv) Work-life reconciliation
(v) Enterprise creation and growth
(vi) Education and training
Synthesis report

5. COUNTRY REPORT STRUCTURE
Gender disparities in country
Gender equality in ESF programming
ESF funding for gender sensitive actions
Gender equality in ESF implementation
Attention to gender issues in ESF monitoring and evaluation
Emerging good and promising practices
European Added Value
Conclusions and policy recommendations
Intervention Logic Table

6. THEMATIC REPORT STRUCTURE
Introduction (definition; focus; EU policy relevance; basic facts)
Situation and policy debate in EU 27 in relation to the issue
The theme in ESF programming
Gender sensitive measures and actions of this theme in ESF
Identification of interesting practices with impact potential
Conclusions

7. THE SYNTHESIS REPORT
Same structure logic as for country/thematic reports
Gives the general picture for the EU27
Highlights similarities and differences amongst MS
Conclusions by evaluation question
Recommendations
on current and next programming period
to Member States and to the European Commission

8. SELECTION OF PRELIMINARY CONCLUSIONS ON EVALUATION QUESTION 1
Importance attributed to gender equality varies according to
country situation (GEI ranking; policy tradition)
budget capabilities outside EU contributions
Decreased funding for specific actions (but not result of shift to mainstreaming)
Greater reliance on gender mainstreaming means that success depends on how well “gender mainstreaming” is understood and applied. Subject of concern!
Poor understanding (only definition of targets, content and selection criteria)
Dedicated support in programming stage not secured as permanent function
Staff training needs
No specific operational strategy
Fears for formal compliance only

9. SELECTION OF PRELIMINARY CONCLUSIONS ON EVALUATION QUESTION 1
Focus on employability objective (increasing labour market participation and reconciliation); implies poor understanding of multidimensionality of the gender equality objective
Focus on supply-side approach because of misperceptions on actual causes that perpetuate inequalities
However, advancement in a few countries in respect to gender equality objectives and strategies (e.g. work to directly target change in the way policy is conceived)

10. SELECTION OF PRELIMINARY CONCLUSIONS ON EVALUATION QUESTION 2
Slow progress of implementation especially in gender equality actions
resources shifted because of economic crisis
difficulty to implement strategy into action
lower priority to this policy
Gender equality representatives in all Monitoring Committees
gender equality interests not automatically guaranteed
potential leverage to discuss relevant themes
advise and channel important information to MA
opportunity to foster gender equality during implementation
Considerable attention to GE theme in evaluation activities
an important learning opportunity

11. SELECTION OF PRELIMINARY CONCLUSIONS ON EVALUATION QUESTION 3
Overall, a positive judgment on European Added Value
Mostly due to previous programming phase
Currently reinforcing existing national/regional strategies
and some innovation
But a compromised potential because of
not addressing certain aspects
insistence on supply-side
ESF losing its innovative drive
limited understanding of mainstreaming strategic and operational implications
Generation of significant European added value depends on whether important progress is made in the realm of gender mainstreaming

12. PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATIONS ON CURRENT PERIOD
Member States should strengthen implementation
Permanent structure/function on GE issues, where not yet in place
Clear picture on gender mainstreaming implementation
self-assessments; evaluations; structured reflection…
Actions to encourage participation of suitable applicants
European Commission should reinforce attention to GM
request strategic reporting on gender mainstreaming implementation
carry out evaluation on how GM has been implemented in MS

13. PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATIONS ON NEXT PERIOD
Category of expenditure for gender specific spending
Formally defined space for experimentation and innovation
Rebalancing the dual-approach
Define purpose of specific and mainstreaming approaches
Define a framework for the dual-approach
Mainstream the employability objective
Specific actions for more difficult objectives

14. FINALISATION OF EVALUATION
End of November – Beginning of December 2010