In the menu to the left you find more information about the participating countries. Below you find more information on how we work.
The the final composition of the network as of the 2nd of February 2011.
Managing Authorities:
- ESF Sweden (Lead Country)
- ESF Austria
- ESF Belgium (Flanders)
- ESF Belgium (French speaking)
- ESF Czech Republic
- ESF Estonia
- ESF Finland
- ESF France
- ESF Germany
- ESF Greece
- ESF Italy
- ESF The Province of Bolzano (Autonomous MA), Italy
- ESF Poland
- ESF Spain
Intermediary Bodies:
- The Women’s Institute, Spain
- Isfol, Italy
- Agency for Gender Equality within the ESF, Germany
- Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality, Portugal
- European Regional Development Fund in Sweden
- Process Support in Gender Mainstreaming within the ESF in Sweden (ESF Jämt)
- The Equality Ombudsman (DO) in Sweden
The commitment
In their letters of understanding, all partners have agreed
- To actively take part in the shaping and implementation of a common work programme through participation in the steering group
- To participate in the working groups set up by the network and to appoint appropriate representatives and experts
- To establish a common secretariat
- To support the operations of that Secretariat and of the common communication platform through secondment of staff and the provision of regular information concerning the issues raised within the community
How it all started
The first steering group meeting was held in Brussels in February 2010. Managing Authorities from Austria, Belgium (Flanders and French-speaking), Estonia, France, Germany, Spain and Sweden as well as Intermediary bodies from Germany, Italy, Portugal and Spain took part in the first meeting.
In April 2010 a steering group meeting was held in Madrid where ideas on work program and activities were further developed. In Madrid the ESF Managing Authority of Italy joined the Gender-CoP. The secretariat presented a project plan that the Steering Group agreed on at the following meeting in September in Rome. The outline and composition of groups was also decided. During the Rome meeting the Managing Authority from Poland also participated as an observer and joined the Gender-CoP later the same month.
Thereafter the Managing Authorities from Finland and the Czech Republic also expressed interest in joining the steering group of the network. In November it was confirmed that both countries will participate in the Gender-CoP.
Stengthen Transnational Cooperation at EU level
In the context of the Commission’s Action Plan to support Transnational Cooperation at EU level, a call was launched in June 2008, with the aim to facilitate and strengthen transnational exchange and cooperation funded under the ESF.
The present call intends to build on the experience of 2008 call in the development of sustainable networks on themes and issues relevant for delivering the Lisbon reform agenda, with the objective of improving the quality and efficiency of Structural Funds programmes and their impact on employment, social inclusion and training across the whole Union; and contributing to policy development at EU level.
Communities of Practice are defined as “groups of people who share a concern, a set of problems, or a passion about a topic, and who deepen their knowledge and expertise by interacting on an ongoing basis.”*
(*Definitions from the Equal DP POP UP GeM, Dorothea Sauer, Heide Cortolezis)
