Role of the Equality Advisory Group
Following is a brief outline of the primary role and purpose of the East of England Structural Funds Strategy Group Equality Advisory Group.
The primary focus of the SFSG Equality Advisory Group (EAG) has continued to be on gender equality mainstreaming policy within the region in accordance with the principles set out in the Treaty of Amsterdam articles 2 and 3.
Equal Opportunities Mainstreaming Strategy and Action Plans
For some time European Institutions and Member States have made a clear commitment to enabling Equal Opportunities (EO) for women and men in the Structural Funds, and in the activities the funds finance. This has been often been interpreted as 'vertical' priorities; targeting positive action measures, e.g. developing projects which address barriers in accessing education, training or employment opportunities.
The commitment to EO is reinforced and strengthened by the Amsterdam Treaty (Article 13), and it is now a question of how successfully we integrate or mainstream equality of opportunity into objectives and priorities during 2000 -2006 that the European Commission intends to assess.
The European Commission definition of Mainstreaming, in its simplest terms, means integrating equality at all levels and in all processes within the Structural Funds.
The EAG has developed a cross programme strategy and action plan to achieve gender mainstreaming across all of the region's European programmes. The strategy includes a programme of training activities to ensure awareness is raised in respect of project development. The strategy and action plan has been presented to and agreed by the SFSG.
Mainstreaming of equal opportunities is a key issue both within Department for Children, Schools and Families and The European Commission. It is not only a requirement under programme regulations but is a matter of social justice and can help increase the effectiveness and sustainability of development. This paper sets out the proposals for ensuring that the mainstreaming of equal opportunities takes place across all programme activities in the UK. Each individual programme monitoring committee in the UK will be responsible for preparing a more detailed equal opportunities mainstreaming action plan for its specific programme.
Action Plans
The individual action plans for the following programmes are available via this webpage – (see ‘Related Documents’ at towards the end of this page)
- Objective 2
- Objective 3
- URBAN II
- LEADER+
Monitoring of gender mainstreaming in the region's European programmes
This forms part of the implementation phase of the programme. Mainstreaming requires that those involved in the process of managing and implementing the programme know how to apply equality considerations and frameworks to the process. In addition, mainstreaming also requires that target groups participate in the process - this means changing both programme committees and management processes to accommodate a range of participants and views.
Based on data and analysis provided by the Government Office for the East of England European Secretariat, the EAG are responsible for monitoring the implementation of the gender mainstreaming strategy across the region's programmes. The Chair of the EAG provides and presents a quarterly progress report to the SFSG.
Monitoring of the region's programmes to ensure that wider social inclusion issues are taken into account in both project development and implementation
The EAG also has a remit to look at wider issues of social inclusion and how these are being addressed in the region's programmes.
The main basis of these projects is that they should improve basic, key and vocational skills to meet the needs of employers and enhance employability Initiatives have been created to build on a strong local skills base and community-based businesses. Listed below are some of the key issues involved:
- Projects identified have been set up to meet the voluntary and community sectors training needs.
- Employer supported initiatives designed to tackle labour market discrimination and reduce occupational segregation are encouraged.
- Technology based provision should be used to ensure that provision reaches remote areas.
- Flexible provision which can access support relating to culture, family circumstances, transport and personal finances should be encouraged.
- A mainstreaming approach to equal opportunities should be re-inforced.
- Projects which provide locally based services should be encouraged, and where necessary, should contain an element of capacity building.
- Encouragement should be given to projects which exclusively or primarily target over 50s, lone parents, people with disabilities and those who have been out of work for three years or more.
- Projects which demonstrate that benefits will accrue to those at greatest disadvantage in the labour market will be prioritised.
- When considering basic skills provision the key priorities should include the development of adult skills, particularly ICT.
- Local Learning Partnerships should have a key role in planning basic skills provision.
- Advice, guidance and information services should only be provided by people with relevant expertise.
Who are the Members of EAG?
As well as Regional Facilitators and representatives from the GO-East Secretariat, membership of the group includes representatives from key stakeholders in the region's programmes. Ideally members will have the following:
- Experience/knowledge or understanding of equality of opportunity and social inclusion issues;
- Experience of working with European Structural funds.
Membership of the group is on a strictly voluntary and unpaid basis.
Current Members are:
- Andy Edwards, Government Office for the East of England
- Paula Grayson (Chair), Beds & Luton Fair Play
- Karen Keeler, Objective 2 District Facilitator
- Sue Wainwright, Jobcentre Plus
- Pam Walton, East of England Regional Assembly
Minutes of Previous Meetings
Minutes of the most recent EAG meetings can be accessed from this webpage – see ‘Related Documents’ below. Archive documents can be requested from GO-East.
