Technical Assistance to the Lombardy Region on equal opportunities and fundamental rights

This project provides long-term technical assistance to support the Lombardy Region in strengthening the integration of gender equality, equal opportunities, non-discrimination, and compliance with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights across the implementation, monitoring and communication of the 2021–2027 ESF+ and ERDF Regional Programmes.

The assignment includes technical and methodological support to the Equal Opportunities Authority and the Contact Point for the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, as well as the development of operational tools, monitoring and evaluation tools, complaints management activities, institutional capacity building and communication guidance to strengthen the effective mainstreaming of horizontal EU principles throughout programme governance and delivery, targeting both the regional administration and stakeholders involved in programme implementation.

The project specifically aims to:

• strengthen the integration of gender equality and equal opportunities across ESF+ and ERDF regional programmes;
• support compliance with EU non-discrimination principles and the Charter of Fundamental Rights;
• improve the quality of calls for proposals, selection criteria, and implementation tools through an inclusive policy lens;
• enhance monitoring, evaluation, and impact assessment systems related to gender equality and inclusion;
• build institutional capacity through tailored methodologies, tools, and training;
• support governance coordination and cross-institutional alignment on horizontal principles related to equality, inclusion and fundamental rights;
• promote inclusive communication approaches in programme implementation.

As lead partner of the project, Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini is responsible for its strategic, methodological and operational coordination.

In particular, FGB provides technical expertise in policy design, methodological development, monitoring and evaluation, institutional capacity building, stakeholder coordination, and the development of operational tools supporting the effective implementation of equal opportunities and fundamental rights principles within EU-funded regional programmes.