Commitment towards Equality and Inclusion
In 2017, with the support of Emakunde (the Basque Institute for Women) and their recommended methodologies, we embarked on an internal analysis and reflection process. Our goal was to enhance our policies and organizational culture to better foster equality. Every staff member participated in at least one of the workshops, surveys, or working groups created to develop this initiative. Conducted between June and November, the process was structured into three distinct stages: an initial diagnostic analysis, a design phase, and a final training and dissemination stage. This culminated in the launch of our first Equality Plan (2018–2021).
To follow up the Plan we set up an Equality Committee. It includes representatives from every functional area, career stage, and gender, ensuring diverse perspectives as we implement and track our progress.
After that first Plan, we defined a second (2022-2025) rooted in gender equality, and fixed in the scope of the first one, to address all forms of potential inequality, including ethnicity, religion, and other diverse backgrounds.
Our current plan (2026-2029) defines three main objectives or areas of improvement:
- Transversal Governance and Organizational Culture
- Emotional health, Co-responsibility and Work-Life Balance
- Research and Knowledge Transfer with a Gender Perspective
The latest Plan incorporates the legal requirements of LGTBIQ+ and diversity protection and management.
Evolution of gender balance ratios in research leadership
COLLABORATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS
Emakunde entitled ACHUCARRO in 2020 as the first research organisation recognised with the distinction «Collaborating entity for equality between women and men» in the Basque Country. In 2023 we renewed this distinction.
Basque Pact for Equality and Living Free of Violence Against Women
Emakunde, the Basque Women’s Institute developed, in the framework of UN Women’s international initiative «Generation Equality» a pact to show the commitment of individuals and collectives in our region towards equality and free of violence against women.
This Pact was presented in Bilbao, on June 15th 2022, and ACHUCARRO is one of its signatories.
RESOURCES
Over the years, we gathered some valuable Resources on Equality, Equity and Diversity that we want to share and maintain to help us and other.