The sports mentorship programme will be part of Speak Up Africa’s ‘African LeadHERs’ movement and BAL’s BAL4HER platform, with the aim of boosting gender equity, as well as women’s leadership and employability in the African sports industry. 

According to BAL and Speak Up Africa, there are very few women in decision-making roles such as head coach, club manager or referee. There is even less representation in management, marketing or other disciplines in the sports industry. 

The scheme will focus on leveraging sport as a key driver of gender equality, as well as social and economic transformation in Africa. Six young female athletes from Senegal, Egypt and Rwanda will benefit from leadership and networking experience from those already in the sports industry. Over six months, they will gain knowledge on issues such as gender inequality in sport, mental health, public speaking and more. 

Amadou Gallo Fall, Basketball Africa League President said: “The overarching goal of our league is to provide a platform in which young women and girls can take full advantage of the transformative power of sport. This mentorship programme is an ideal springboard to increasing women’s representation and give a new lease of life to the sports industry.” 

Yacine Djibo, Executive Director of Speak Up Africa, added: “Young Africans, and young women, are key agents of change at the community, national and regional levels, across all sectors. We need to support initiatives that enable them to realise their full potential to achieve the African Union’s Agenda 2063.”

Image: Stephen Baker on Unsplash