Workshops held in Honduras, Panama, Colombia, Uruguay and Bolivia
Member associations draw up four-year plans
Objective is to encourage the development of football in a responsible, thought-out manner
The FIFA Forward programme is coming to the end of its first cycle. In this first period of the programme, Member Associations (MAs) have benefited not only from financial aid for football development projects, but also from the creation of a strategic framework established with FIFA’s support.
For the next FIFA Forward Programme (2019-2022), the MAs will have a global strategy that will serve as a foundation for the diverse projects that will be implemented during the cycle.
The strategy has been defined so that the federations can:
Improve their strategic planning
Establish and achieve key objectives
Have a clear vision to implement their medium and long term actions
Incorporate a culture of planning within the organisation in accordance with the MA’s priorities and necessities
Improve and professionalise their administrative and institutional structures
Improve efficiency in terms of operations and strategy
Boosting football growth in the Americas region Over the last few months, workshops have been held with a view to supporting associations in the Americas region in creating the aforementioned strategy and reformulating their organisational structures. The meetings took place with the active participation of FIFA's regional offices in Panama and Asuncion; Jair Bertoni, FIFA's Director of Member Associations for the Americas; and a consultant with extensive experience in strategic development.
The workshops took place in Honduras, Panama, Colombia, Uruguay and Bolivia with the participation of the respective secretary generals, presidents and staff members of the associations’ administrations.
The authorities of the alluded member associations strongly endorsed the work done and expressed their commitment to lead this process.
"This event was very beneficial because it really helped us to come up with a strategic plan for a complete four-year cycle that will allow us to implement our development projects," said Pedro Chaluja, president of the Panamanian Football Federation.
During the sessions at the workshop, the participants analysed the strengths and weaknesses of their respective organisations, identified their strengths and the opportunities that football offers both domestically and internationally and evaluated trends in the football industry. Subsequently, each association created and adapted a strategic plan that was then presented for endorsement to the presidents and executive committees of their respective institutions..
"With this strategic assistance, the Member Associations have identified their primary needs in different areas such as administration and governance, football development, infrastructure, marketing and communications," said Rafael Arias, head of the FIFA development regional office in Asuncion.
"Furthermore, they have become aware of the imperative need to reform and modernise their organic and administrative structures in order to appropriately tackle their needs, responsibilities and efficiently implement all projects that have a significant impact on football's development in the medium- and long-term."
Jose Rodriguez, head of the FIFA development regional office in Panama, said: "The development of football should take place in a responsible and thought-out manner. This type of initiative does just that by bringing together the stakeholders in local football in a bid to foster a federation's strengths in a local context.
"In carrying out this planning, the associations have a clear vision for the next four years and guarantee that they will be more efficient in their use of resources."
These meetings were received very positively by the member associations.
Satisfied with the workshop’s results Cesar Salinas, president of the Bolivian Football Federation said: “Today we are confident that the strategic plan our federation will implement over the next four years will be unlike any other and will be supported by the FIFA Forward programme,".
"As it is undoubtedly the case with everyone else, the Colombian Football Federation is deeply grateful to form part of the FIFA Forward programme," said its president Ramon Jesurun.
In summary, the global strategy will allow MAs to manage the game in a sustainable manner with a positive social impact across all levels, from grassroots to professional football, and disciplines, benefiting in an integral manner all stakeholders involved in this sport, players, referees, coaches, clubs, among others.
The ultimate goal is to boost the growth of football in each of the MAs’ countries by using the investments of the FIFA Forward Development Programme in an effective and responsible manner.