Award of research contracts
Award of research contracts
The implementation of Gender Mainstreaming is one possibility for developing quality in the award of research contracts. Studies and expert reports commissioned by the Federal administration as part of departmental research help for example in the preparation of legislation or in getting information on current issues in the shaping of policy. GM helps to enhance the usefulness of their information value. For example, the quality of the collected data is improved by evaluating gender-differentiated data that has been collected meaningfully according to other criteria as well. In this way they adequately record the lives of men and of women in various life situations and show clearly whether and in what form they are affected by the subject of research. Furthermore, Gender Bias is avoided and the reliability of the findings gained is optimized.
Another point of reference for GM is the fact that fewer women than men still currently take part in research projects. The European Commission has therefore developed a Gender Action Plan for the Sixth Framework Programme for Research, which pursues the two aims of
1. integrating gender aspects into the research project and
2. promoting the participation of women in the various areas of the Framework Programme for Research. For example, 40 % participation by women is aimed for in management and evaluation committees and mobility measures.
Gender relevance of the program or project:
In order to integrate Gender Mainstreaming into the research contract award process in a sustained way, the gender relevance of a research program of project should be examined at the planning stage. Such a relevance check can be carried out using a few questions. Essentially it should be asked whether and in what way men and women could be affected differently by the research questions or the subject of research. It is conceivable that they are directly affected as the direct target group of the research project. But it is also conceivable that they will be indirectly affected by the findings of the research project in their daily lives (cf. Working Aid on Departmental Research 2002, 6).
Contents of the program or project:
The description of the project establishes its strategic direction and forms the basis for the content of the invitation to tender bids as well as for the quality criteria for the assessment of the bids and the final evaluation. So it is necessary to establish explicitly when writing the description of the subject of research and determining the objectives that taking account of the category Gender should be an integral part of the research project. Possible points of entry for this are references to gender aspects that may have emerged in the relevance check.
Invitation to tender:
Inviting bids for a research project is a decisive basis for the way the content of the research subject is shaped. It must be made clear in the documentation, therefore, that it is expected that the entire research process will be oriented to gender equality at all stages from research design and choice of methods through data collection to the evaluation of the findings.
Award of the project:
The implementation of Gender Mainstreaming in the research project can only be guaranteed if taking account of gender aspects is incorporated as a criterion in the selection process. Taking account of Gender Mainstreaming as a quality criterion can be included in the assessment checklist in two ways,
Evaluation:
Evaluations provide information as to whether and in what way the requirements that have been set for research projects have been met. It is therefore vital that at this stage the question of the gender equality orientation of the design of the research process should be raised. It is important not to ask abstract questions about the implementation of GM but to develop concrete indicators for all relevant areas of analysis. For example, regarding methods, it should be asked whether the data were collected in a differentiated way in respect of gender and other features.
Tools for implementing GM in the award of research contracts
Another point of reference for GM is the fact that fewer women than men still currently take part in research projects. The European Commission has therefore developed a Gender Action Plan for the Sixth Framework Programme for Research, which pursues the two aims of
1. integrating gender aspects into the research project and
2. promoting the participation of women in the various areas of the Framework Programme for Research. For example, 40 % participation by women is aimed for in management and evaluation committees and mobility measures.
- Here you can find further information on the Gender Action Plan for the Framework Programme for Research of the European Union.
Gender relevance of the program or project:
In order to integrate Gender Mainstreaming into the research contract award process in a sustained way, the gender relevance of a research program of project should be examined at the planning stage. Such a relevance check can be carried out using a few questions. Essentially it should be asked whether and in what way men and women could be affected differently by the research questions or the subject of research. It is conceivable that they are directly affected as the direct target group of the research project. But it is also conceivable that they will be indirectly affected by the findings of the research project in their daily lives (cf. Working Aid on Departmental Research 2002, 6).
Contents of the program or project:
The description of the project establishes its strategic direction and forms the basis for the content of the invitation to tender bids as well as for the quality criteria for the assessment of the bids and the final evaluation. So it is necessary to establish explicitly when writing the description of the subject of research and determining the objectives that taking account of the category Gender should be an integral part of the research project. Possible points of entry for this are references to gender aspects that may have emerged in the relevance check.
Invitation to tender:
Inviting bids for a research project is a decisive basis for the way the content of the research subject is shaped. It must be made clear in the documentation, therefore, that it is expected that the entire research process will be oriented to gender equality at all stages from research design and choice of methods through data collection to the evaluation of the findings.
Award of the project:
The implementation of Gender Mainstreaming in the research project can only be guaranteed if taking account of gender aspects is incorporated as a criterion in the selection process. Taking account of Gender Mainstreaming as a quality criterion can be included in the assessment checklist in two ways,
- Direct system: The implementation of GM in the research project is included in the assessment checklist and contributes directly to the points score or percentage.
- Bonus system: Bonus points are awarded for the implementation of GM and applications can rise in the list with a gender bonus.
Evaluation:
Evaluations provide information as to whether and in what way the requirements that have been set for research projects have been met. It is therefore vital that at this stage the question of the gender equality orientation of the design of the research process should be raised. It is important not to ask abstract questions about the implementation of GM but to develop concrete indicators for all relevant areas of analysis. For example, regarding methods, it should be asked whether the data were collected in a differentiated way in respect of gender and other features.
Tools for implementing GM in the award of research contracts
- The “Working Aid for Section 2 of the Joint Rules of Procedure for the Federal Government (GGO) entitled Gender Mainstreaming in Research Projects (Departmental Research)” has been developed by the Federal Government. It supports the work in the policy field Award of Research Contracts, specifically in departmental research and is accordingly directed especially at the ministries and departments of the Federal Government. You can download the tool under
/w/files/gkompzpdf/instr_aha-forschung.pdf [German]
- The guideline “How does Gender get into Research?” has been developed by Dr. Ilse König and Ursual Brustmann for the Austrian Federal Ministry for Education, Science and Culture. It gives support in the policy field Research from the award of research contracts to the evaluation. You can download the tool under
http://www.bmbwk.gv.at/medienpool/12370/gmforschung.pdf [German]
Further reading
- Wissensnetz Gender Mainstreaming für die Bundesverwaltung. Kap. IV.2.5. Die Gestaltung der Ressortforschung, Frankfurt a.M. / Berlin 2003, S. 165 - 166
- European Commission: „Gender Action Plan in Integrated Projects and Networks of Excellence - Compendium of Best Practices“, Brüssel 2004
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02.01.2010 20:07
