The success of the first co-funded project under the Sport for Mental Health and Social Cohesion programme was the result of joint efforts between FIFA, the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the French Development Agency (AFD). The above projects show that football, and sport in general, can bridge social divides, bring people together and make societies more inclusive. Following this initiative, FIFA and GIZ will launch the Sport for Women’s Empowerment programme, focusing on gender equality. FIFA and GIZ were in contact through AFD and committed to expanding their partnership through the implementation of this project. Starting from 2 November 2023, organisations from GIZ’s 30 partner countries will be able to submit project proposals under the programme. To be considered, projects must use sport as a tool to:
“The Women’s Empowerment through Sport programme is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to the empowerment of girls and women through the transformative and bridging power of sport. Supporting projects that address gender inequalities and foster female leadership is at the core of Germany’s feminist development policy,” says Jens Elsner, Head of the Sport for Development Programme at GIZ.
A total of 16 projects will be selected by the operating partner association La Guilde, focusing on eliminating gender inequalities and promoting women’s access to leadership positions, professional integration, life skills and health through sport. The initiative is aligned with eight activities of the FIFA Women’s Development Programme, which aims to promote the growth of the women’s game, as well as Germany’s feminist development policy, which has implemented and developed approaches focused on gender equality through sport for over 10 years. GIZ and FIFA will work together to create change in societies around the world to recognise gender equality as a human right and put this principle into practice. Call for proposals – application process: – Consult the rules to ensure your organisation and project are eligible – Download the application tutorial – Go to the application platform Three of the selected projects submitted by FIFA member associations will receive financial support from the world football governing body. The remaining 13 projects will be subsidised by GIZ, with at least 30% of the funds to be allocated to African organisations.
Projects eligible for this program must target both male and female participants, recognizing that boys and men have a role to play on the path to gender equality and in achieving equal societies globally. Preference will be given to projects that directly or indirectly target vulnerable women who are victims of discrimination. Projects can be related to any sport. For football projects, priority will be given to projects supported by FIFA member associations. “FIFA works every day to accelerate the growth of women’s football, and a large part of our focus is to leverage women’s football as a driver of greater social change,” said Sarai Baereman, FIFA Chief Women’s Football Officer. “It is very exciting for me to team up with GIZ, another organization committed to improving the lives of girls and women around the world. This relationship will only strengthen the work we are doing with our member associations under the banner of the FIFA Women’s Development Programme. This initiative aims to combat gender inequality, and we look forward to working closely with GIZ and harnessing the power of women’s football to create real change.”
About GIZ As a service provider in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development and international education activities, GIZ is committed to shaping a future worth living in worldwide. GIZ has more than 50 years of experience in various fields, including economic development and job promotion, energy and environment, and peace and security. The diverse expertise of its federal operations is sought around the world, including by the German government, the European Union institutions, the United Nations, the private sector and other governments. GIZ works with companies, civil society actors and research institutions to promote effective interaction between development policies and other policy areas and areas of activity. GIZ’s main client is the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.
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