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Description
The Oeste +Igual Project intends to be a pilot project in the implementation of policies and good practices in the areas of Gender Equality and Reconciliation of Professional, Family and Personal Life. With OesteCIM as promoter and Center for Gender and Equality (Norway) as project partner, the project will promote a sharing of experience and good practices between the partner and the intercity structure of OesteCIM. This sharing will make it possible to design effective policies that meet the identified needs, optimizing the use of resources and constantly measuring the impact of the measures implemented.
The Oeste +Igual project aims to:
- Constitute itself as a pilot project in the development and implementation of effective policies and instruments in the areas of Gender Equality and Reconciliation of Professional, Family and Personal Life, in the 12 municipalities of OesteCIM, in partnership with CGE.
- Share experiences and good practices in the areas of Work-life Balance and Gender Equality between CGE and OesteCIM.
- Capitalize and promote the scalability of the results of projects previously promoted by the EEA Grants program, through the implementation of instruments and indicators provided by the Local Gender Equality project.
- Implement tools to promote equality between women and men in local and regional policies.
- Promote the scalability of the project''s results to the other intermunicipal communities (CIM).
- Implement joint measures and actions that contribute to the territorialization of ENIND (National Strategy for Equality and Non-Discrimination) and respective action plans.
Summary of project results
This project aimed to enhance gender equality and work-life balance in 12 municipalities. In partnership with the Centre for Gender and Equality (Norway), the project focused on reducing economic and social disparities by addressing key challenges such as the gender pay gap, higher unemployment rates among women, and their underrepresentation in leadership roles. It facilitated the exchange of best practices to design and implement effective policies, optimize resource allocation, and continuously measure the impact of the measures, contributing to a more equitable society.
The Oeste + Igual project implemented several key activities to promote gender equality and work-life balance across the 12 municipalities of the Oeste Region. The main initiatives included the creation of the Oeste Observatory for Work-Life Balance and Gender Equality, a collaborative effort between OesteCIM and Norway’s Center for Gender and Equality (CGE), to monitor and support policy implementation. The project also developed and implemented measures for work-life balance and gender equality, ensuring alignment with best practices. Additionally, it organized training sessions based on the LGE Training Framework to strengthen gender equality in municipal governance. Through the Observatory, the project provided ongoing support and monitoring for the implementation and evaluation of gender equality measures, ensuring their effectiveness and long-term impact.
The Oeste + Igual project made a real difference in promoting gender equality and work-life balance across 12 municipalities in the Oeste Region. One of its biggest achievements was the creation of the Oeste Observatory for Gender Equality, which now helps track progress and support fair policies.
A key focus was training local professionals to understand gender issues better. The project aimed to train 190 people but surpassed expectations by training 304 professionals—most women—to help spread knowledge and encourage change in workplaces and communities.
The project also made sure that gender equality was considered in different areas of local life, including education, health, work, transport, safety, culture, sports, and urban planning. Clear goals and local equality indicators were set to measure progress, ensuring real changes were happening.
Most importantly, over 75% of participants reported a positive change in their perception and knowledge of gender equality. The project also produced detailed reports to track progress and ensure transparency.
In the end, Oeste + Igual completed all six planned activities, achieving everything it set out to do and making a lasting impact on gender equality in the region.
Summary of bilateral results
The Oeste + Igual project achieved strong bilateral results through its collaboration with the Center for Gender and Equality (CGE) in Norway, strengthening ties between Portugal and Norway and establishing a solid foundation for long-term cooperation. A major achievement was the creation of the Oeste Observatory for Gender Equality, inspired by the Norwegian model, ensuring the continued collection, analysis, and monitoring of gender equality data in the Oeste Region beyond the project’s duration. Key phases of cooperation included the kick-off meeting with teams from both countries, the participatory diagnosis integrating methodologies from previous EEA Grants projects, and the development and implementation of the Action Plan, which involved training sessions, workshops, and partner meetings. The project also adapted Norway’s EQUALITYMONITOR tools, leading to the creation of 13 key indicators for gender equality in the Oeste Region. Experts such as Hanne Drangsholt from the University of Agder, Norway, contributed to consortium meetings, while online follow-up meetings helped establish the Observatory, define equality measures, and monitor progress. The final seminar featured key speakers like Claudia Klostergaard from the University of Agder and Gerd Pettersen, Deputy Head of Mission at the Norwegian Embassy in Portugal, further reinforcing the exchange of experiences and best practices. This collaboration expanded the project’s reach and effectiveness, ensuring that the knowledge and tools developed will have a lasting impact on gender equality initiatives in both Portugal and Norway.