Ongoing work

This section provides you with summary information regarding research projects that are currently underway.

Employment Inequalities in Northern Ireland
Monitoring Implementation (public policy and programmes) of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities ("UNCRPD") in Northern Ireland
Indicators of Equality of Opportunity and Good Relations in Education

A number of other projects are in development and details will appear here in due course. Please see our ‘Invitations to Tender’ for opportunities to undertake work for the Commission.

Please note – the above are the working titles of ongoing projects and are subject to change prior to publication.

1. Employment Inequalities in Northern Ireland

Aim: To provide an up-to-date evidence base alongside identification of new, emerging and/or persistent key inequalities in employment and non-employment in Northern Ireland for each of the nine equality grounds.

Objectives:

The key objectives are summarised as follows:

To provide a comprehensive and updated picture of patterns and trends in employment and non-employment in Northern Ireland, establishing any key inequalities (data permitting) evident in Northern Ireland for each equality ground identified by Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.
To acquire an overview of potential barriers and enablers to labour market participation (entry, retention and progression), including an assessment of any changing dynamics (e.g. the effect of the economic downturn) for each equality ground.
Involvement of relevant stakeholders via an expert seminar to explore and refine emerging draft findings of the research, with a view to informing the final report and associated recommendations.
To provide a distillation from all of the above, of the most substantive / overarching key employment inequalities / dynamics (across all equality grounds) in Northern Ireland.
To provide a summary of any relevant wider observations noted during the project - including any views regarding data; analysis or policy relevant issues that emerge through the course of the research.

Contractor/Author:
Employment Research Institute, Edinburgh Napier University.

Time Line: June 2013

Further information:
If you require further information regarding this work, please contact Laura McQuade: research@equalityni.org. If you would like to speak with the researchers at Employment Research Institute, please contact: R.McQuaid@napier.ac.uk

2. Monitoring Implementation (public policy and programmes) of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities ("UNCRPD") in Northern Ireland

Aim: An ´expert paper´ that will present robust evidence of any substantive shortfalls in public policy and programme delivery in Northern Ireland relative to the key requirements of the UNCRPD (articles 5-31); highlighting any key issues / barriers to full implementation.

Objectives:

identify the key requirements of public policy and programme delivery that would fulfill UNCRPD articles 5-31. Having done so, then identify which key policies and programmes in Northern Ireland are most relevant to fulfilling these key requirements;
identify any substantive shortfalls between public policy and programme delivery in Northern Ireland relative to the key requirements identified in objective 1; and where gaps exist, present robust evidence of the shortfall;
present an assessment of any key areas of non-compatibility of public policy and programmes in Northern Ireland relative to Convention articles 5-31, highlighting any key issues/barriers to full implementation.

Contractor/Author: Disability Action

Time Line: March 2011

Further Information: If you require further information regarding this work, please contact: research@equalityni.org. If you would like to speak with the researchers, please contact: simonmcclenahan@disabilityaction.org.

3. Indicators of Equality of Opportunity and Good Relations in Education

Aim: To develop a framework of indicators and associated measures of equality of opportunity and good relations in education for each of the three overarching goals specified in Every Child an Equal Child. These are as follows:

Every child has equality of access to a quality educational experience.
Every child is given the opportunity to reach his or her full potential.
The ethos of every school promotes the inclusion and participation of all children.

Objectives:

The objectives of the work will be to:

Identify relevant key issues and criteria for the development of a robust framework, by way of literature review; engaging with key stakeholders and evaluating available data.
Develop a framework of indicators and associated measures of equality of opportunity and good relations in education for each of the three overarching goals specified in Every Child an Equal Child. The framework must be capable of tracking progress relevant to the three goals in general and across all relevant Section 75 equality grounds (further disaggregated by gender), thus enabling the identification of new or persistent priority groups or issues.
Use the framework to establish specific baseline positions (where currently available data allows) for each of the 8 priority groups listed in Every Child an Equal Child as well as a baseline position by gender.
Make recommendations for ongoing indicator development work in this area and/or actions required to address any identified data gaps.

Contractor/Author: Equality Company

Time line: Project will conclude in July 2010

Further information: If you require further information regarding this work, please contact: research@equalityni.org If you would like to speak with the researchers, please contact: info@equalitycompany.com.