Kick-off of the project EQUALIT-À

The project EQUALIT-À – Empowering Communities for Gender Equity & Enhanced Quality of Governance in Italy and Austria – has officially started its activities!

On February 10, 2025, the kick-off meeting took place at the historic Pedavena Brewery (IT), marking an important milestone where all project partners gathered to define the next steps. The main goal of the project is to address the lack of a cross-border governance framework on gender equality by establishing a permanent working group and developing a long-term strategic document, with the potential to extend it to the entire program area.

The launch event was attended by all project partners, including GAL Prealpi e Dolomiti, which opened the session and outlined the various phases of the project, the Chamber of Commerce of Treviso-Belluno, the Municipality of Belluno, and the Municipality of Feltre, along with the Austrian partners Gemeinde Irschen and LAG Großglockner/Mölltal-Oberdrautal. Additionally, the associated partners – the EGTC Euregio Senza Confini, the Veneto Region – Labour Directorate, and the Austrian Economic Chamber of Carinthia – joined remotely.

During the meeting, discussions focused on the establishment of the permanent working group on gender equality, the analysis of the current status, and the first pilot actions. The project aims to strengthen the role of women in the workforce and businesses, support public institutions and their gender equality commissions in developing new initiatives, and create a cross-border network of women living in rural areas. Another key aspect of the project is communication, for which the Chamber of Commerce of Treviso-Belluno presented the guidelines, ensuring compliance with European Union directives. The meeting concluded with a guided tour of the Pedavena Brewery, followed by a social lunch that provided an opportunity for further networking among partners and reinforced the collaborative spirit of EQUALIT-À.