The Marie Curie Alumni Association (MCAA) has adopted a Gender, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (GDEI) Strategy for 2026–2029. The new framework establishes the Association's strategic direction for the next few years while serving as its official Gender Equality Plan under Horizon Europe.
The strategy reflects the Association's dual responsibility as a representative voice for professionals funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) and its aspiration to model best practices and to commit to institutional accountability. Designed to embed equality and inclusion directly into the MCAA Long-Term Strategy, it ensures that inclusive practices guide every event, career initiative, and policy decision across the Association.
What this means for MCAA members
The more than 24,000 MCAA members in over 155 countries face vastly different barriers depending on their geography, career stage, and personal circumstances. As a member-led network rather than a traditional employer, the MCAA cannot mandate compliance from above; instead, the strategy transforms how the Association models best practices, ensuring equal access to funding, events, and career support opportunities while giving voice to underrepresented groups in European research policy.
Key strategic highlights
The strategy outlines several concrete, measurable actions across five core operational pillars:
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Global and third-country support: Dedicated microgrants for members in low- and middle-income countries, time-zone rotation schedules for recurring online events, and active policy advocacy to the European Commission regarding MSCA eligibility in non-associated countries.
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GDPR-compliant membership data collection: Launching a voluntary data collection initiative to establish the Association's first comprehensive demographic baseline across gender, nationality, career stage, and disability profiles.
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Targeted gender interventions: Monitoring of award and microgrant representation and setting an evidence-based gender balance target for Board and Executive Committee composition.
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Safety and accessibility: Adoption of an anti-harassment and safe reporting policy, designated contact persons at major in-person events, mandatory leadership Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) training, and a commitment to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 at Conformance Level AA (WCAG 2.1 AA).
The strategy will undergo annual progress reporting, a biennial inclusion survey, and a full mid-term review in 2028.
About the MCAA
The MCAA is a global network of researchers who have benefited from or are benefiting from the MSCA. The MCAA supports and contributes to advancing knowledge for a global, diverse, and informed society. Its primary focus is to support its members’ career development, offer networking opportunities, and contribute to shaping research and innovation policies in the EU. Currently, the MCAA has over 24,000 members from 155+ countries, at all career stages and from diverse research fields.
