<< Background >>As stated in the European Skills Agenda, the green and digital transitions are reshaping the way we live, work and interact. The EU’s move to a resource-efficient, circular, digitised and climate neutral economy are expected to create new jobs, while other jobs will change or even disappear. For these reasons, it calls for actions that support the twin transitions and that ensure that people have the right skills for jobs. At the same time, as the EU Gender Equality underlines, “gender equality brings more jobs and higher productivity – a potential which needs to be realised as we embrace the green and digital transitions and face up to our demographic challenges”.The European Green Deal sets Europe on the pathway to becoming the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, while the EU’s first-ever Gender Equality Strategy is designed to make gender equality a reality in the European Union. Building synergies between the two strategies is ever more important today in order to support Europe’s recovery from the Covid-19 crisis fostering green and digital transitions in an inclusive way.The pandemic has hit women particularly hard in several respects, and women’s participation in the labour market is no exception. As stated in the 2021 Report on Gender Equality in the EU, preliminary data on labour market trends shows that the impact of the pandemic’s first wave on the labour market was more significant for women than for men. Unemployment amongst women grew from 6.9% in April to 7.9% in September 2020, while male unemployment rose from 6.5% to 7.1% in the same period (EUROSTAT, 2021). In addition, the situation of women in the labour market is far from homogenous and inequalities are even wider amongst groups of women in disadvantaged or vulnerable situations, such as young and older women, women with disabilities, single mothers with dependent children, women with a minority racial or ethnic background and from migrant communities or other minority groups (EC, 2021).<< Objectives >>“Circular economy education for social inclusion of Women” (CECIL) is a 24 months Cooperation partnership aimed at promoting Circular Economy and Sustainability among women at risk of exclusion, by fostering a greater interaction between the European Green Deal and the EU Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025.As resulting from the needs analysis conducted by the Consortium, a greater promotion is needed of the positive social impacts that Circular Economy (CE) can have on Adults at risk of exclusion, and on women in particular. In fact, CE can foster not only employability but also social inclusion, by promoting a greater sense of social justice and social equity within the greater framework of sustainable development, satisfying the needs of present and future generations (Padilla-Rivera, 2020).In order to reach its core aim, the project has identified the following specific objectives:- providing Adult Educators and trainers with skills, competences and tools to engage women at risk of exclusion (35-45) and / or who did not complete their studies- creating upskilling pathways for women at risk of exclusion (35-45) and / or who did not complete their studies, and increase their take-up of new adult education opportunities in the field of circular economy and sustainability.<< Implementation >>In the 24 months of cooperation, CECIL Consortium will implement:-3 Transnational project meetings- 1 JSTE aimed at:a. providing comprehensive joint learning and exchange between the participants on tools and methodologies to foster Circular Economy and sustainability through art, craft and NFE methodologiesb. testing the Training Format produced in R1.c. Lay the foundation for the co-creation of the activities to be included in the R2 and tested in the local phase- Local workshops involving participants in the C1 as trainers and women at risk of exclusion (35-45), to test the activities to be included in the R2 and lay the foundation for the co-creation of the video-tutorials to be included in R3.<< Results >>Partners are expecting a set of tangible and intangible result to have matured by the end of the 24 months of the present cooperation. Tangible results:1. R1 – CECIL Guide, a practical resource for Adult Educators and Adult Education Institutions regarding tools and methodologies to foster Circular Economy and Sustainability within their organisations and in their work with the target group and beyond. A Training Format employing the tinkering methodology in synergy with NFE methods will be included, as a practical resource for direct application of said methods in future trainings or in the daily life of organisations. The TF will be based on the findings of a transnational research (which final report will be included in R1) identifying the needs and barriers, and societal exclusion factors of women at risk of exclusion, and the existing offer in the frame of Circular Economy Education and Plastic Craftwork.2. R2 - CECIL Interactive Toolkit, developed through a co-design process between the Adult Educators involved in the C1 and partner organizations, as a set of guidelines, workshops and video tutorials on tinkering and Non-Formal education activities fostering Circular Economy.3. R3 - CECIL Practitioners Network, developed around a web-platform, conceived as a comprehensive tool to foster Plastic Circular Economy through Recycled art/Craftwork and comprising a resources section for users approaching the field of Circular Economy and re-cycled art/craftworks, and a forum section where users / practitioners can exchange tutorials for Plastic Craftwork including information on the amount of waste avoided.Through the production of tangible results and the implementation of training activities at transnational and local level, CECIL will also produce the following outcomes:A. Stakeholders and policy-making authorities provided with meaningful insights and concrete pathways for the improvement of sectoral policies/offers in the field of adults education and women social inclusion.B. Operators from each partner country provided with the knowledge, competences, and methodologies to be active, in cooperation among them, in supporting the social inclusion and empowerment of women through Circular Economy Education and Plastic Craftwork.C. Women at risk of exclusion in partner countries sensitized to greater participation in education and social life in general, as well as stimulated in breaking the barriers of insecurity and self-loathing hampering their engagement in education and social participation.D. The general public in partner countries stimulated to develop more inclusive attitudes towards women and reject prejudices/stereotyped narratives about women.E. Consolidate framework of cooperation allowing partner organizations to be active on the topic exchanging information and proposing follow-up initiatives, also with the involvement of interested stakeholders.