GSS EU Science Funding Gateway

Proposals should analyse the role that women play and will play in the future of rural areas considering megatrends in European rural economies and communities in general and in farming in particular (proportion of official and non-official farm labour, involvement in innovative activities, role in social capital, specific social challenges and risks, relation to environment and environmentally-friendly farming practices etc.), highlighting differences between and within studied countries. They should analyse the specifics of women-led or gendered innovations in farming and in rural communities (specific needs and challenges, sectors and activities, scope, outcomes and benefits, hurdles and obstacles, knowledge and support sources and various forms of social capital involved), the relevance of the agricultural and rural knowledge and innovation systems for women, including education, training and advice. To this end, proposals should actively support a number of practical user-centred women-led interactive innovation initiatives to create knowledge of the specifics of women-led innovation processes, favour exchanges across initiatives and derive new knowledge and practical tools for women, support organisations and policy makers at national (including Associated Countries) and EU level to enhance change.

Proposals should benchmark EU and national policy and legal frameworks on farming and rural development for their gender equality performance, taking into account the new European gender equality strategy. They should also formulate recommendations on how to improve legal, policy or governance frameworks in rural economies in general and in farming in particular to support women-led innovation and women’s role in farming and rural economies. The consortia and practical innovation initiatives supported should be located in a set of different locations representing the diversity of European rural socio-economic conditions.