The Women4Sport project is a two-year initiative designed to promote gender equality in leadership and decision-making roles within the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) of the Western Balkans. By addressing structural barriers and cultural challenges, the project aims to increase the representation of women in key sports governance positions and ensure compliance with EU gender equality regulations.
Through five distinct work packages, Women4Sport engages in research, regional cooperation, and the creation of personalized strategies to advance women’s roles in NOCs across Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Croatia, and Slovenia. The project encourages sustainable change by working closely with sports federations and stakeholders to implement actionable strategies, training programs, and ongoing support.
By fostering regional collaboration and developing tailored action plans, Women4Sport aims to create lasting change in sports governance, enabling more inclusive leadership structures and contributing to a stronger, more equitable future for women in sports.
Work Groups
Project Management and Coordination (Work Package 1)
This group is responsible for overseeing the project’s implementation, ensuring effective communication among partners, and managing administrative tasks. It establishes roles and responsibilities, creates a detailed project timeline, and ensures timely execution of deliverables. Regular progress reviews and risk management strategies are also central to its efforts.
Research and Analysis (Work Package 2)
Dedicated to conducting an in-depth analysis of women’s involvement in management and decision-making processes within the NOCs of the Western Balkan countries. This group identifies cultural and structural barriers, collects baseline data on gender equality, and prepares reports to inform subsequent project actions.
Promotion and Awareness (Work Package 3)
This group focuses on disseminating the research findings and promoting the importance of women’s participation in sports leadership. It organizes regional meetings, encourages collaboration between NOCs and sports federations, and emphasizes the value of gender equality in fostering a more inclusive sports environment.
Strategy Development and Training (Work Package 4)
This group designs personalized strategies to enhance women’s roles in sports governance, tailored to each NOC’s unique context. It conducts training sessions to integrate these strategies into NOC work plans and provides hands-on support to ensure effective implementation.
Dissemination and Sustainability (Work Package 5)
Tasked with sharing project outcomes widely and ensuring their long-term impact, this group organizes a final symposium to showcase results and discuss next steps. It develops materials to ensure the project’s findings and tools can be utilized beyond its lifecycle, promoting ongoing progress in gender equality in sports.