Equality Impact Assessment
Equality impact assessment is a way of examining policies, proposals and plans to detect and assess their differential impact on men and women so that any potential inequalities can be addressed before implementation.
Equality impact assessment provides a mechanism to build equality considerations into policy making and decision making, providing a clear and structured way to consider evidence about the needs of protected groups.
Under the public sector equality duty, public authorities are required to carry out equality impact assessment. This means that they must assess the impact of applying new, revised or existing or existing policy or practice.
Close the Gap guidance for public sector employers on the public sector equality duty includes information on equality impact assessment including a six-step process that may be used.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has produced guidance for public sector organisations on equality impact assessment including what is required by the Scottish specific duties, and a quick start guide.
As part of an ESRC funded research project with Women in Scotland's Economy research centre, Close the Gap has developed a tool for employers to carry out an assessment of the gender impact of skills and training programmes. It is a specialist type of equality impact assessment which includes elements of gender budget analysis.
Related publications
Close the Gap submission to the Scottish Expert Advisory Panel on the Collaborative Economy The problems associated with the gig economy, insecure work and bogus self-employment have a significant impact on women.
Close the Gap submission to the Scottish Government Consultation on the Review of the operation of the Public Sector Equality Duty in Scotland
Disproportionate disruption: The impact of COVID-19 on women’s labour market equality
Public sector equality duty: Guidance for reporting on gender and employment This guidance provides information to help Scottish public authorities meet the public sector equality duty as it relates to gender and employment.
Response to the consultation on the Equally Safe draft delivery plan Close the Gap's response to the Scottish Government consultation on the Equally Safe draft delivery plan.
Still Not Visible: Research on Black and minority ethnic women's experiences of employment in Scotland This report presents the findings of research which examined the experiences of Black and minority ethnic women in Scotland's labour market.
Submission to Economy Jobs and Fair Work Committee inquiry on Scotland’s Economic Performance: trends, challenges and future developments CLose the Gap's response to the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Committee's call for evidence on trends, challenges and future developments around Scotland’s economy.