Abstract

RIVM is taking part in Horizon Europe, the European Union’s research and innovation programme. Participants in this programme need to commit to gender equality in research and innovation. From 2022, organisations must have a Gender Equality Plan (GEP) in order to qualify for a grant.

RIVM has now drawn up such a plan. It demonstrates that RIVM is working to address the gender imbalance between men and women. Beyond that, RIVM subscribes to a broader definition of diversity. As far as RIVM is concerned, diversity covers all differences between employees.

A Gender Equality Plan must meet four requirements. The RIVM plan meets all four. First, it must be a public document that demonstrates the organisation’s commitment to gender equality. The RIVM will make its plan available online. Second, it must show which resources the organisation is making available to set, implement and monitor targets. To this end, RIVM has formed a core team to promote diversity and inclusion and gathered together a group of ambassadors who will make the topic more widely known and open to discussion. The core team is working on a long-term strategic plan for the period 2022–2025.

Third, it must describe the data gathering and monitoring process. This pertains to the data used to measure gender equality and make adjustments where necessary. One of the initiatives that RIVM took for this purpose was to conduct a baseline measurement of inclusion among its employees in 2021. It will use the outcomes to make improvements in this regard. Fourth, RIVM must show how it invests in developing gender equality and making the topic more widely known. It does this by offering training programmes and courses to promote diversity and inclusion.