Our work in this field is supported by a range of publications, toolkits, and resources designed to offer practical insights and guidance for organisations seeking to implement gender and DEI mainstreaming strategies. These publications reflect our expertise and the lessons learned through our involvement in structural change projects and capacity-building programmes. From comprehensive guides on Gender Equality Plans to specialised toolkits addressing gender-based violence in academia and research, our resources aim to support institutions in their journey toward inclusivity and equality. 

Explore our publications below to learn more and gain access to the tools and frameworks. 

Gender equality

The Gender Equality in Academia and Research (GEAR) tool provides universities and research organisations with practical advice and tools through all stages of institutional change towards gender equality. Yellow Window prepared the first version of the GEAR tool, which was launched in 2016.

Published in 2009, Yellow Window developed the toolkit ‘Gender in EU-funded Research’ together with Engender and Genderatwork. It comprises an overall introduction into gender and research and shows how gender is interwoven with all aspects of research. It then examines in pragmatic terms how the gender dimension of research content contributes to excellence in research. It also analyses case studies based on concrete examples drawn from nine specific research fields: health; food, agriculture and biotechnology; nanosciences, materials and new production technologies; energy; environment; transport; socio-economic sciences and humanities; science in society and specific activities of international cooperation.  

This toolkit has been developed to support higher education institutions and research organisations in addressing gender-based violence as part of the UniSAFE project. It offers a range of resources including: useful facts and figures, legal and policy framework on gender-based violence at national and international levels, theoretical and practical framework for the 7P theory; resources and capacity-building materials, inspiring practices and more. You can access the toolkit here or by downloading below.  

This article presents the development and piloting of an innovative tool to assess the sustainability and impact of institutional change towards gender equality, termed the Impact Driver model. It provides a description of the model and the resulting tool, as well as how it has been developed, based on earlier models. It also presents the revised model following a pilot test and accompanying workshop, which were carried out to gather feedback on the use and potential of the tool. In conclusion, the article provides recommendations for the use of the tool, considering the EU context and policy framework, which pushes towards the institutionalisation of gender equality in research and innovation. 

Mergaert, L.; Cacace, M.; Linková, M. Gender Equality Impact Drivers Revisited: Assessing Institutional Capacity in Research and Higher Education Institutions. Soc. Sci. 2022, 11, 379. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci11090379 

Leye, E., L. Mergaert, C. Arnaut and S. O’Brien Green (2014). Towards a better estimation of prevalence of female genital mutilation in the European Union: interpreting existing evidence in all EU Member States. Genus, [S.l.], v. 70, n. 1, aug. 2014. ISSN 2035-5556

Mergaert, L., & Lombardo, E. (2014). Resistance to implementing gender mainstreaming in EU research policy. In E. Weiner & H. MacRae (Eds.), The persistent invisibility of gender in EU policy (Special Issue 1) (pp. 1-21): European Integration online Papers (EIoP). https://eprints.ucm.es/29613/1/ArtResistMergaertLombardo_EIoP_14EN.pdf

Mergaert, L. and Minto, R. (2015). Ex Ante and Ex Post Evaluations: Two Sides of the Same Coin? The Case of Gender Mainstreaming in EU Research Policy. European Journal of Risk Regulation. Issue 1/2015, pp. 47-56.

Mergaert, L. and Forest, M. (2015). “Incorporating Gender and Diversity” in Dingwall, R. and McDonnell, M. (Eds.) The SAGE Handbook of Research Management, Sage Publications, pp. 124-143.

Lombardo, E. and Mergaert, L. (2016). “Resistance in gender training and mainstreaming processes,” in Bustelo, M., Ferguson, L. and Forest, M. (Eds.) The Politics of Feminist Knowledge Transfer: A Critical Reflection on Gender Training and Gender Expertise, pp. 43-61.

Walby S., Towers J., Balderston S., Corradi C., Francis B., Heiskanen M., Helweg-Larsen K., Mergaert L., Olive P., Palmer E., Stöckl H., Strid S. (2017). The concept and measurement of violence against women and men. Policy Press. https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/31892

Vilhena, F. C., Belloso, M. L., & Mergaert, L. (2023). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on institutional change processes and the collective capabilities of higher education and research institutions. Papers. Revista de Sociologia.

Mergaert, L., Linková, M., & Strid, S. (2023). Theorising Gender-Based Violence Policies: A 7P Framework. Social Sciences, 12(7), 385.

Public health

Denis, A., Mergaert, L., Fostier, C., Cleemput, I., Hulstaert, F., Simoens, S. (2011). Critical assessment of Belgian Reimbursement Dossiers of Orphan Drugs. PharmacoEconomics, Volume 29, Number 10, pp. 883-893(11).

Denis, A., Gruber, P., Raeymaekers, P. (2011). Recommendations and Proposed Measures for a Belgian Plan for Rare Diseases – Final Report. King Baudouin Foundation.

Christiaens, W., Kohn, L., Léonard, C., Denis, A., Daue, F., Cleemput, I. (2012). Models for citizen and patient involvement in health care policy – Part I: exploration of their feasibility and acceptability. Health Services Research (HSR). Brussels: Belgian Health Care Knowledge Centre (KCE). KCE Reports 195C. D/2012/10.273/105.

Anthierens, S., Willemse, E., Remmen, R., Schmitz, O., Macq, J., Declercq, A., Arnaut, C., Forest, M., Denis, A., Vinck, I., Defourny, N., Farfan-Portet, M.I. (2014). Support for informal caregivers – an exploratory analysis. Health Services Research (HSR) Brussels: Belgian Health Care Knowledge Centre (KCE). KCE Reports 223. D/2014/10.273/40.

Cleemput, I., Christiaens, W., Kohn, L., Léonard, C., Daue, F., Denis, A. (2015). Acceptability and Perceived Benefits and Risks of Public and Patient Involvement in Health Care Policy: A Delphi Survey in Belgian Stakeholders. Value in Health.

Farfan-Portet, M.I., Denis, A., Mergaert, L., Daue, F., Mistiaen, P., Gerkens, S. (2015). Implementation of hospital at home: orientations for Belgium. Health Services Research (HSR) Brussels: Belgian Health Care Knowledge Centre (KCE). KCE Reports 250. D/2015/10.273/68.

Deschodt, M., Claes, V., Van Grootven, B., Milisen, K., Boland, B., Flamaing, J., Denis, A., Daue, F., Mergaert, L., Devos, C., Mistiaen, P., Van den Heede, K. (2015). Comprehensive geriatric care in hospitals: the role of inpatient geriatric consultation teams. Health Services Research (HSR) Brussels: Belgian Health Care Knowledge Centre (KCE). KCE Reports 245. D/2015/10.273/48.