Gender Flagship: integrating gender equality into public policies and budgets

It has a clear ambition: 

• Raise awareness and cultivate a European ground for gender equality;
• Promote gender mainstreaming in public policies and budgets;
• Support public officials in implementing gender mainstreaming tools.

To this end, Expertise France works alongside the European University Institute (EUI), the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) and the European Commission’s Reform and Investment Task Force (SG REFORM) to support 12 beneficiary authorities in 9 EU Member States, at both central and decentralised levels.

The Gender Flagship project is based on a rigorous methodological approach, co-constructed with the beneficiary authorities. It combines:

• technical tools, such as gender-responsive budgeting, gender impact assessments and gender data analysis;
• tailor-made support, with local experts and a methodology designed to build capacity, decompartmentalise practices, and help concrete solutions emerge;
• constant dialogue between experts, institutions and practitioners, including thematic workshops, study visits abroad to identify best practices, and exchanges between administrations.

Gender mainstreaming is one of the European Union's priorities, and involves taking gender equality into account at every stage of public decision-making. To achieve this, Expertise France offers concrete tools that have been tested and adapted to the realities on the ground:

• Gender-sensitive budgeting: to analyse the effects of public budgets on inequalities, redirect spending if necessary, and improve transparency and accountability.
• Gender impact studies: to anticipate the effects of a policy on equality and adapt measures right from the design stage.
• Gender indicators and sex-disaggregated data: to better understand gaps and target public action.

These tools are mobilised, tested and shared by partner administrations, with expert support in the field.

The Gender Flagship project stands out for its methodology rooted in public action, and its ability to build bridges between experts, public officials and partner institutions.

Thanks to the project's support:

• Administrations are equipped to integrate gender into all stages of public policy, from design to evaluation;
• Cooperation between administrations is strengthened, including between national and local levels.
• Sustainable dynamics have been set in motion, as in Greece, where the project, initially national in scope, is now being rolled out at local level.
• Policies become fairer, more transparent and better aligned with European objectives.