The local women’s game is set to receive a timely boost with the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), initiating a Women’s Developmental Programme.
According to a release, the objective of the programme is to improve the quality of the sport amongst the respective member associations. The initiative will run for the cycle of 2020-2023 and is immediately available and eligible to each of the 211 member associations, following a thorough application process.
According to the world governing body, the programme aims to provide the respective member nations with access to detailed and tailored expertise to support the development of the women’s game.
Eight major projects will form the core of the Women’s Development Programme and they are; Women’s Football Strategy; Women’s Football Campaign; League Development; Club Licensing; Capacity Building for Administrators; Coach Education Scholarships; Coach Mentorship and Women in Football Leadership. Each project will receive funding to various levels
“FIFA has launched a programme for member associations (MAs) to further develop women’s football on a sustainable basis whilst simultaneously pushing it forward into the mainstream,” the release stated.
“In line with FIFA’s Women’s Football Strategy, the FIFA Women’s Development Programme aims to provide all 211 member associations with the opportunity to apply for and access additional resources and specialist expertise to develop women’s football at a national level,” it added. According to the correspondence, member associations will be able to apply for support across eight key areas of women’s football development during the 2020-2023 period. In addition to financial assistance to cover the costs in selected programmes, the FIFA Women’s Development Programme will also provide MAs with access to women’s football experts, additional equipment and technical support within FIFA in order to develop women’s football in their country.
The new developments come at an important time for the local women’s game which has been dormant for lengthy periods under different administrations.
The release also disclosed that the creation of the programme emphasizes and highlights the world governing body’s commitment to the development of women’s football internationally.
“The FIFA Women’s Development Programme underlines FIFA’s commitment to supporting MAs in developing the women’s game and builds upon the solid foundations laid by the FIFA Forward Programme. It also follows the recent announcement of an additional USD 500,000 grant per MA as part of the COVID-19 Relief Plan that will be specifically allocated to women’s football, “ the release concluded.
