Equality evidence strategy 2023-2025: interim review

4. Updates to Processes and Actions

This Interim Review is being undertaken at an approximate mid-point of the Equality Evidence Strategy. There is no intention to alter the overarching vision or Principles that were agreed for the Strategy. There is, however, an opportunity to learn from, and adapt to, insights gathered from lead action analysts and the EDIP Programme Board in order to optimise activity supporting achievement of the Strategy’s vision. Furthermore, there is a need to consider and flex to the changing context in which the Strategy is being taken forwards. Therefore, as part of this review, updates to current processes and actions were identified.

Updates to Actions

Through quarterly updates and conversations with lead analysts for this interim review, a subset of actions were identified that need minor amendments to wording or course corrections. Course corrections will outline a change in context for the action since the original data audit was carried out in 2021. Course corrections are required where the change in context has resulted in a need to amend the approach in order for an action to be completed. These amendments and course corrections will be included in the future highlight reports.

In addition to amendments and course corrections, a new category of ‘no longer feasible’ was applied to two actions which are no longer possible to complete due to lack of appropriate dataset. Prior to this being applied, analysts considered alternative methods or evidence to complete their action however none were identified. The new category was approved by the EDIP Project Board in the meeting held 15^th October 2024. These actions will be revisited in the evaluation of the Equality Evidence Strategy at the end of 2025.

Updates to actions can be found in Annex A.

Promoting Good Practice: a new Analytical Community of Practice

Lead analysts fed back that collaboration with, and guidance from, colleagues across the analytical professions was invaluable in applying good practice to work related to their action. To increase the opportunity for shared learning and promotion of good practice (feeding into Principle 3^[4]), a new internal Analytical Community of Practice group has now been established. This group is for those wanting to progress the use of and engagement with equality variables and protected characteristics data/evidence with Scottish Government. This group is intended to be a space for analysts working on equality data/evidence to share approaches, best practice, challenges, and receive feedback on their work.

This will be open to both the Strategy’s action leads and other analytical colleagues across Government to broaden the shared learning potential.

Communication and Engagement

EDIP continues to act as a governing board for EDIP actions, however greater engagement with the board could be facilitated more effectively across the remainder of the strategy to increase participation in EDIP meetings and offline discussions.

Similarly, staff changes within Scottish Government has shown that new action leads may be less confident in taking over work related to their action, as outlined in the challenges sub-chapter.

Therefore, communication and engagement with new EDIP board members and new staff taking over actions could be improved. This may be achieved through more regular communication and developing a handover note for any new board members or analytical leads to ensure better understanding of the Strategy and EDIP.