The Widening Inclusion and Gender Equality Community of Practice (WIGE CoP) is a dynamic and growing network bringing together institutions from Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe to collaboratively advance Inclusive Gender Equality Plans (IGEPs) and strengthen gender-equal transformation in research and innovation environments. Established within the INSPIRE project, WIGE CoP plays a vital role in supporting organisational change and widening participation across diverse research landscapes.

Who Makes Up the WIGE CoP?

The WIGE CoP consists of 18 member organisations from EU widening and associated countries. These institutions are at different stages of GEP development and share common challenges and aspirations connected to gender equality work. 

The community’s broader structural composition includes research universities, applied research institutes, and national organisations from Cyprus, Hungary, Poland, Lithuania, Serbia, Turkey, Romania, and Slovenia.

Origins and Purpose of WIGE CoP

WIGE CoP brings together members from several earlier initiatives—such as the Gender Equality in Central and Eastern Europe (GEinCEE) CoP from the Horizon 2020 ACT project and partners of the Horizon Europe NEXUS project—creating a rich foundation of experience. Formally launched in early 2024, the CoP is dedicated to strengthening gender equality work through mutual learning, expert exchange, and community‑driven knowledge building.

What Does WIGE CoP Do? Key Objectives

The WIGE CoP focuses on five major objectives:

1. Supporting Inclusive GEP Development

Members receive training, expert guidance, and opportunities to exchange practices in designing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating inclusive and intersectional GEPs. This includes training on tools such as the Gender Equality Audit and Monitoring (GEAM) survey.

2. Building Networks and Collaboration

WIGE CoP fosters meaningful collaboration between organisations with varied experiences in gender equality work, enabling mutual learning and long‑term partnerships.

3. Raising Awareness and Debating Regional Challenges

The CoP creates spaces to discuss contextual barriers and opportunities for inclusive GEPs, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe, where institutional and political landscapes differ substantially.

4. Contributing to Policy Development

Through discussions, evidence gathering, and collective analysis, the CoP contributes to policy-making processes, including the production of policy briefs and other knowledge outputs.

5. Actively Supporting the INSPIRE Project

WIGE CoP participates in INSPIRE’s research, co‑creation events, knowledge exchange activities, and content production, ensuring that lived experience contributes to Europe‑wide knowledge and policy development.

How WIGE CoP Works

The CoP functions through a combination of regular online meetings, training events, joint workshops, and on‑site gatherings. Monthly or bi‑monthly meetings keep members connected, while structured events—such as trainings on GEAM, intersectional evaluation, and inclusive GEP development—provide targeted support.

Why WIGE CoP Matters

Across Europe, many institutions—especially in widening countries—are still developing foundational gender equality structures. WIGE CoP fills a critical gap by offering:

• A supportive, practice‑oriented environment
• Access to expertise and tools for inclusive GEP implementation
• Opportunities for mutual learning and shared problem‑solving
• A platform for influencing policy and shaping future gender equality strategies

Its work contributes to INSPIRE’s overarching mission to foster more inclusive, evidence‑based, and context‑sensitive gender equality ecosystems across research and innovation sectors.