FIFA and GIZ enhance collaboration, introducing Women's Empowerment Sports Program

Posted : 02 November 2023

The successful launch of the inaugural joint project under the Sport for Mental Health and Social Cohesion Program marked a significant milestone, resulting from a cooperative effort between FIFA, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) - on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development - and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD).

This project exemplifies how football and sports in general can bridge societal gaps, foster inclusivity, and bring communities together. Building on this achievement, FIFA and GIZ are introducing the Sport for Women’s Empowerment Program, with a primary focus on promoting gender equality. The AFD facilitated the initial connection between FIFA and GIZ, leading to their commitment to expand their partnership through the implementation of this initiative.

Starting from November 2, 2023, organizations from 30 partner countries of GIZ can submit project proposals within the program. To be eligible for consideration, projects must leverage sports as a means to:

Address gender inequality.
Combat gender-based and sexual violence.
Empower and enhance the role of women.
GIZ's Head of Program - Sport for Development, Jens Elsner, stated, "The Sport for Women’s Empowerment Program offers a valuable opportunity to contribute to empowering girls and women through the transformative and unifying influence of sports. Supporting projects that address gender disparities and encourage female leadership is a central aspect of Germany's Feminist Development Policy."

A total of 16 projects will be selected by the operating partner association, La Guilde, which will focus on reducing gender disparities and facilitating women's access to leadership roles, professional integration, life skills, and health through sports.

This initiative aligns with the eight objectives of the FIFA Women’s Development Program, which seeks to promote the growth of women's football, as well as Germany's Feminist Development Policy, which has been implementing a gender equality approach in sports for over a decade. GIZ and FIFA are joining forces to drive change on a global scale, advocating for gender equality as a fundamental human right and putting it into practice.

The application process for proposals includes consulting the regulations, verifying organizational and project eligibility, downloading the application tutorial, and accessing the application platform.

Three of the selected projects submitted by FIFA member associations will receive financial support from FIFA, while the remaining thirteen projects will be subsidized by GIZ, with at least 30% of the funding allocated to African organizations.

Eligible projects within the program should target both male and female participants, recognizing the roles boys and men play in advancing gender equality and fostering more equitable societies worldwide.

Preference will be given to projects that directly or indirectly address vulnerable women subjected to discrimination. Projects may pertain to any sport, with football projects backed by a FIFA member association receiving priority.

Sarai Bareman, FIFA's Chief Women’s Football Officer, emphasized the organization's commitment to advancing women's football and using it as a catalyst for broader societal change. FIFA's collaboration with GIZ, another organization dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls worldwide, holds great promise. It strengthens the work conducted with member associations under the FIFA Women’s Development Program, aimed at combating gender-specific disparities and harnessing the influence of women's football to make a meaningful impact.

FIFA and GIZ enhance collaboration, introducing Women's Empowerment Sports Program

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