Although the business case for diversity is stronger than ever, data shows that progressing towards a more equal, inclusive and diverse workplace is complex and a slow process, especially in Greece where discrimination in the workplace is still widespread and diversity management remains a new issue.
The PROGEDI project builds on the diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) experiences of the International Rescue Committee (IRC), KEAN and Generation 2.0 for Rights, Equality & Diversity, and aims to:
- Strengthen the capacity of HR staff of selected SMEs and of public sector officials in central and local government bodies in Greece on diversity and inclusion practices;
- Increase awareness on multi-dimensional diversity in business;
- Motivate and engage companies, public sector agencies and CSOs to further endorse the Diversity Charter in Greece;
- Strengthen national and transnational cooperation on diversity management among private companies, CSOs and community-based organisations.
These will be achieved by:
- Targeted needs-based trainings to 40 HR staff in SMEs through unconscious bias trainings and the creation of an Unconscious Bias in recruitment Guide;
- Targeted needs-based trainings to 30 public sector officials on DEI management and the adaptation of relevant curricula (specifically targeted to the public sector);
- Consultation workshops with 30 representatives from CSOs, policy makers, authorities, community-based organisations and businesses;
- 3 workshops with the roll out of six cross-company dialogue sessions with the participation of DEI experts among 60 employees and the creation of a relevant toolkit;
- 1 final Diversity Conference with 330 participants to disseminate lessons learned, toolkits and materials as well as results;
- 1 Diversity Career Fair with representatives from 20 companies and 100 diverse job seekers;
- 2 transnational webinars between 20 representatives of Diversity Charters from other EU as well as practitioners and entities interested in diversity management and inclusion.
Strengthen the capacity of HR and managerial staff of selected SMEs and of public sector officials in central and local government bodies in Greece on diversity management and inclusion practices
This will be achieved through targeted needs-based trainings to selected SMEs and public sector agencies to adopt an intersectional approach addressing inclusive leadership, unconscious bias, discrimination and equality issues in the in the recruitment process and in the workplace.
Increase awareness on multi-dimensional diversity in business through strengthened links between SMEs, CSOs, the academic and research community, underrepresented groups and policy makers
This will be achieved by creating spaces for exchange and strengthening links between businesses, groups that are underrepresented in the corporate world, policy makers and the research community via a three-tier approach: stakeholder consultative workshops and the piloting of informal cross-company dialogue sessions among employees and diversity experts from the academic and research community.
Motivate and engage companies, public sector agencies and organisations to further endorse the Diversity Charter in Greece
This will be achieved through targeted local communication activities promoting and highlighting the benefits of diversity in the workplace and PROGEDI activities as well as (a) and a diversity career fair bringing together diverse jobseekers and businesses and (b) final Diversity Conference organised by KEAN bringing together over 300 practitioners and business representatives in Greece to disseminate lessons learned from the action and the Diversity Charter. The support of the project by the Municipality of Athens, as well as the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Migration and Asylum will further support the dissemination of the Diversity Charter’s activities to increase the number of signatories.
Strengthen national and transnational cooperation on diversity management among private companies, civil society organisations and community-based organisations through the dissemination and exchange of best practices, resources and lessons learned
This will be achieved through the organisation of two transnational webinars with representatives of Diversity Charters across Europe. Specifically, the support of the project by Diversity Charters in Europe will further promote transnational cooperation between Greece and other European countries and solidify the base for further dissemination improving the sustainability of the projects’ results.
Project duration: January 2023 – April 2024
This project is co-funded by the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) Programme of the European Union.
Project partners
