GENDERACTIONplus Position Paper 12: Using the leverage effect of monitoring: strong monitoring to support effective gender equality policy

This position paper explains the need for strong monitoring that supports effective gender equality policy work. Work Package 5 in GENDERACTIONplus provided a set of indicators to monitor policy implementation at the national level. These focus on (1) the commitment to gender equality and the formulation of a national strategy or policy on gender equality in R&I, (2) the formulated gender equality objectives, (3) the implemented gender equality measures/policies, and (4) the existing monitoring of gender equality or gender equality policy implementation. Should this information be available in a comparable form for the MSs/ACs, it could be used to facilitate discussion on the progress that has been made, the measures that have contributed to this progress, the extent to which these measures of progress could be transferred to other contexts, and, where no progress has been made, what need for action still exists or arises due to current developments. A discussion based on monitoring results would allow mutual learning, which in turn would prevent having to reinvent the wheel and would make it possible to learn from the experiences of others. Thus, monitoring contributes to the efficient use of resources and coherent policy implementation.