Gender Readiness - a Gender Equality Concept for Värmland’s Smart Specialisations
About this good practice
Värmland does not have the best position when it comes to gender equality, but a lot of work is being done based on the idea of "Putting gender equality on the map of Värmland" and "Värmland on the gender equality map". This work is crucial for Värmland's attractiveness, to meet the need for skills supply and break the gender-segregated labor market.
The equality concept, Gender Readiness, works to ensure that 7 smart specialisations in Värmland integrate the gender equality perspective into their roadmaps and policies, and in the long term drive the work towards a more inclusive and equal working life. The project is based on the Gender Equality Readiness Level (GERL) concept, where 9 indicators are measured and followed up (organisation, goals, indicators, analyses, representation, resource allocation, communication and activities). Within the GERL, the different parameters are measured yearly within a range of 0-3, where 0 means not started, 1: Started, 2: Under development and 3: Completed.
The GERL checklist:
1. Gender-disaggregated statistics are available
2. Goals are set with a gender equality perspective
3. Indicators are based on gender classification
4. Gender analysis is conducted
5. Representation of women and men is within 40% in steering groups etc.
6. Resources for gender equality are allocated in the budget
7. Communication is gender-equal in both text and image
8. Activities aim to increase gender equality
9. Policies and governing documents are in place.
Resources needed
Selected representatives from Värmland´s 7 Smart Specialisations will carry out systematic Gender Equality (GE) development work within their own organisations and then with their member companies. This work is led by Region Värmland in cooperation with the research institute RISE.
Evidence of success
The Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions has a concept called "Model Region" in which the health care side of Region Värmland participates.
The Model Region concept means that all participating regions make a gender equality assessment and score their position. Measurements are then taken yearly. The concept has been successful, but it has never been used towards companies. Region Värmland is now testing the concept within 7 Smart specialisations with promising results so far.
Potential for learning or transfer
Those who work with innovation are often familiar with the expression TRL (Technology Readiness Level) or MRL (Market Readiness Level), but here Region Värmland instead uses GERL (Gender Equality Readiness Level) which will be implemented in the smart specialisations. It is partly a way to work systematically with improvements for increased gender equality, and partly a way to measure how the specialisations are moving by measuring and following up on several indicators.
All organisations in the smart specialisations start by setting the current situation, then this is followed up annually to measure the movement. Region Värmland will develop support materials and processes that can be used by all organisations in all regions. This will happen in an iterative process with the actors to create the best possible incentive for their implementation.
The Gender Readiness concept and the GERL have been transferred to other regions in Sweden and could be transferred further within Europe.