June 25 – With the Women’s World Cup in Canada the focus of world football attention, FIFA has launched the first edition of the Female Leadership Development Programme with the first module scheduled to kick off in Vancouver July 4, just before the Women’s World Cup final.
The nine-month programme will accommodate 35 female leaders from around the world who will meet for three separate workshops. Outside the workshops participants will be required to complete extensive fieldwork as well as an “individual project that has the potential to transform the state of girls’ and women’s football.” Mentors will be paired with the participants to advise on leadership and skill development.
The programme is part of FIFA’s ten key development principles for women’s football and follows on from the inaugural FIFA Women’s Football and Leadership Conference held in March 2015, when experts from football, business and wider society discussed ways to improve the representation of women in leadership.
“The objective of the FIFA Female Leadership Development Programme is to increase the number of female leaders and role models in football,” said FIFA President Sepp Blatter. “It is crucial for the development of our sport to support the emerging generation of female leaders in football. We are also hoping to see more former players involved in leading roles.”
The programme is intended to help provide a pathway through the game for female players, coaches, officials and administrators. It’s aim is to show a career path as well as attract high-calibre individuals.
Moya Dodd, FIFA Executive Committee co-opted member and chair of FIFA’s Task Force for Women’s Football. “As reflected in FIFA’s ten key principles for women’s football development, improving the gender balance in football decision-making – including at executive committee level in all governing bodies – will enhance football governance and improve the game overall.”
The course curriculum has been designed by the THNK School of Creative Leadership. “THNK is excited to collaborate with FIFA to help build a generation of female leaders who will change the world of girls’ and women’s football as well as football at large, thereby making a positive contribution to societies across the globe,” said Natasha Bonnevalle, THNK Expert on Women’s Leadership.
The first participants have all been involved in women’s football either in key roles at member associations or at FIFA itself. The next two workshop modules for the 2015/16 course (after the Vancouver meetings) will take place at the Home of FIFA in Zurich from 28 September to 2 October 2015 and from 29 February to 3 March 2016.
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