MAINSTREAMING THE HORIZONTAL THEMES INTO THE SCOTTISH STRUCTURAL FUNDS PROGRAMMES GORDON McLAREN 1

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DEFINITION Definition of Sustainable Development ‘the Union’s financial instruments are required to work simultaneously and in the long term interest, towards economic growth, social cohesion and the protection of the environment; in other words Sustainable Development’. (Amsterdam Treaty) 3

DEFINITION Definition of Equal Opportunities “the prevention, elimination or regulation of discrimination between persons on grounds of sex or marital status, on racial grounds, or on grounds of disability, age, sexual orientation, language or social origin, or of other personal attributes, including beliefs or opinions, such as religious beliefs or political opinions.” ( Scotland Act ) 4

SCOTTISH APPROACH TO MAINSTREAMING Overarching aim is to encourage applicants to consider both sustainable development and equal opportunities in the design and delivery of their projects as a matter of routine Focused on facilitating cultural change on the part of organisations leading to improved practice and better outcomes 5

DUAL APPROACH MAINSTREAMING POSITIVE ACTION 6

DUAL APPROACH MAINSTREAMING make equality and environmental sustainability part of every stage of policy development and the implementation process all projects must demonstrate the ways in which equality and environmental impacts have been addressed 7

DUAL APPROACH POSITIVE ACTION specific innovative actions or demonstration schemes to redress existing inequalities, or underperformance in key areas of environmental sustainability such as renewables 8

SCOTTISH STRUCTURAL FUNDS PROGRAMMES From Policy to Practice Provide an Essential Vehicle and Play an Important Role in Helping Combat Inequalities, Promote Social Inclusion and Environmental Sustainability 9

SCOTTISH STRUCTURAL FUNDS PROGRAMMES From Policy to Practice Strong Economic Imperatives for Mainstreaming the Horizontal Themes Mainstreaming the Horizontal Themes can Ensure more Effective Delivery of Projects and Help Secure More Durable Benefits 10

MAINSTREAMING IN PRACTICE Strong commitment to Horizontal Themes explicitly embodied in; Programmes’ Strategic Aims Core and Measure-Specific Selection Criteria Programme Indicators and Targets Programme Management and Decision Making Structures 11

MAINSTREAMING IN PRACTICE Written guidance on integrating the Horizontal Themes into project design and implementation Action Plans developed for each Programme Targeted capacity building support to project applicants and Programme Committee members Identification and dissemination of good practice case-studies 12

Policy Overview and Advisory Role re New Policy Developments Dissemination of Good Practice Comprehensive Membership Drawn from Central Government, Competent National Bodies, Scottish Parliament and Programme Managers MAINSTREAMING IN PRACTICE National Forums 13

NATIONAL ADVISERS Sustainable Development Jointly funded by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Scottish Natural Heritage Equal Opportunities Funded by the Structural Funds Programme Management Executives and the Scottish Executive Equality Unit 14

NATIONAL ADVISERS Functions of the National Advisers Policy advice Targeted capacity building support Identify and publicise good practice Help to improve systems to monitor mainstreaming 15

MAINSTREAMING – A PARADIGM SHIFT Mainstreaming is underpinned by a recognition that not all groups or individuals in society have the same resources, situations and needs. Mainstreaming acknowledges that although real gains have been made in terms of legislation, the achievement of equality and environmental justice requires a shift or transformation in the policy-making process and ultimately behaviour and practice. 16

Scotland’s Structural Funds Partnerships have a continuing commitment to mainstreaming. Mainstreaming has raised the profile of the Horizontal Themes within the Programmes, leading to incremental but discernable cultural change on the part of stakeholders Policy emphasis on the Horizontal Themes is producing tangible project outputs and outcomes which add value to the aims of the Programmes The central mainstreaming challenge is to consolidate and broaden this process of cultural change during the current Programmes’ remaining life-spans THE ROLE OF PARTNERSHIP 17

Mainstreaming aims to make best practice commonplace. If we are to sustain economic growth we must do so in a way which respects social justice, promotes equality, and seeks to protect and enhance the environment for future generations. LONGER TERM GOAL 18