This Is How We Football Annual Report

2022

ANNUAL REPORT

EQUAL OCEANIA: Football for Gender Equality

UEFA Foundation for Children

Executive Summary

In 2022 Oceania Football Confederation commenced the design and delivery of a new programme focusing on advancing Gender Equality in our region both in and through football.

The Pacific region faces some of the highest rates of violence against women and girls (three times the global average). Discrimination pervades onto the football pitch where women and girls face significant barriers to participation.

Oceania Football Confederation launched ‘This is How we Football’ in 2022 to attempt to address these social inequalities and to provide more opportunities for women and girls to play football.

The programme is administered by the Social Responsibility and Women’s Football Departments in partnership with our 11 Member Associations (American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu) delivering the programme in schools and communities across Oceania.

Programme Delivery

The programme takes an ecosystem approach to delivering greater equality by focussing on understanding needs and supporting change in individual participants, coaches, organisations and in the community.

A phased approach to delivery included:

Understanding Needs & Organisational Capacity

Training Coaches, and Administrators

Piloting Participation Programmes

Ongoing Management and Advocacy

Key Achievements 2022

27,159

reached through targeted programmes including messages of gender equality

increase in boys and girls enjoying playing together after engagement in the programme

147

Coaches and Referees trained in safeguarding & Ending Violence against women and girls

133 9,967 26% Girls participating in targeted programmes across the Pacific

sport administrators from across the Pacific engaged in the launch or workshop of the Gender Equality Playbook

About the Programme

Girls in the Pacific experience discrimination, exclusion, are marginalized and face inequalities in education, decision-making processes and access to health services. The Coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated these inequalities, for example Women and Childrens Crisis Centres received 150% increase in helpline calls during the Coronavirus pandemic1

Increases in domestic gender-based violence can limit individuals’ participation in employment, education, physical activity and reduce their overall health and wellbeing. In 2022 Oceania Football Confederation launched ‘This is How we Football’ in 2022 to attempt to address these social inequalities and to provide more opportunities for women and girls to play football.

133 sport administrators from across the Pacific engaged in the Launch of the Gender Equality Playbook in the margin of the International Working Group on Women and Sport held in Auckland, New Zealand in November 2022.

An Ecosystem Approach

TIHWF drives gender equality in and through football by facilitating interaction between boys and girls, challenging perceptions of gender stereotypes and norms of violence as well as providing the tools to develop female leaders in communities across our region

An ecosystem approach is taken through TIHWF to encourage gender equality across all levels of the sport with the ultimate aim of growing football participation for women and girls.

The ecosystem approach begins by working with organisations, and understanding the needs of women and girls in each context as well as organisational capacity

Through understanding the needs of the community and organisational capacity TIHWF provides organisational support through gender equality resource development, capacity building and safeguarding strategies

This includes training on safeguarding and preventing violence ultimately supporting the sustainable and safe delivery of football for all

Coach development and capacity building includes training coaches on safeguarding and preventing violence, as well as developing capacity.

Participation programmes are developed to ensure a targeted and sustainable approach to football programming for girls is evident and addresses barriers to participation in football through evidence led co-design process

Ongoing advocacy campaigns are used to raise awareness of programmes Ongoing programme management and engagement with community ensure needs are constantly understood and the programmatic approach is adjusted accordingly.

Utilising the ecosystem approach to programme development will ensure safe, sustainable programming leaving a lasting legacy hosting the 2023 Women's World Cup in our region

Organisational Support & Safeguarding Coach Development & Capacity Building

Community Engagement & Advocacy

Participation

Understanding Needs & Organisational Capacity: Creation of the Gender Equality Playbook aimed at educating and assisting sport organisations in working towards Gender Equality

Training Coaches, and Administrators

Participation Programmes Ongoing

Training Coaches and Administrators: Delivering Women’s Capacity Building and Safeguarding Programmes

Piloting Participation Programmes: Pilot of TIHWF participation programme in Fiji, Solomon Islands and Samoa

Ongoing Management and Advocacy: Ongoing work, capacity building and learning to grow TIHWF regionally, delivery of advocacy campaigns and festivals to promote TIHWF and gender equality

Objectives

This is How we Football promotes gender equality in and through football engaging youth in participation programmes which:

Change perceptions among boys, girls, women and men involved in football to promote greater lifelong inclusion and access to football

Empower

youth to be leaders and advocates for broader social change

Train youth and coaches on gender-based violence and ensure access to services

Ensure strategies, systems and training is in place to support non-discrimination and reduce risks of harm

Specific Objectives

Increase 01

the number of girls playing football by creating safe spaces for them to play and experience the game

Promote 02

positive interaction between boys and girls and increasing the number of children and adolescents playing football

Delivery 03

of training to adults involved in football to promote gender inclusion and combat gender based violence

Engagement 04

with local partners and enhancements to national and regional safeguarding systems and mechanisms for protection of women and girls

Understanding Needs Organisational Capacity

Gender Equality Playbook

&

”This is an excellent, informative resource The scorecard is easy to use and a great practical tool.”

- Gender Equality Playbook Launch Attendee, New Zealand Olympic Committee

In November 2022, OFC Launched the Gender Equality Playbook thanks to the support of UEFA Foundation for Children, UN Women and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

The Playbook is based on extensive research carried out in 2022 to understand the barriers to growing the women’s game and ensuring football is a positive agent for change toward greater social equality. Research included:

62% 33% 89%

found the Gender Equality Playbook extremely valuable

found the Gender Equality Playbook very valuable (AVE: 4.6/5)

would recommend the Gender Equality Playbook to Colleagues (NPS: 89)

“It is a well thought out resource, thank you to all involved for being intentional and taking the time it needed ” - Gender Equality Playbook Launch Attendee

The Gender Equality Playbook has been developed for sport administrators in our region who are interested in increasing women’s participation and performance, developing equitable sport organisations and addressing social inequalities through sport programming.

Development of women’s sport requires intentional and strategic action that acknowledges the unique Pasifka context including specific challenges and opportunities Key themes and insights emerged on a Pacific approach to addressing inequality in sport

This playbook distils this information into clear, evidence-based steps or “Play’s” that can be made to continue our journey. The various chapters of the playbook present a roadmap for addressing some of the biggest challenges we face in delivering sport in an equitable way.

Train

& Adm

90% of Pasifi benefit from

In 2022 the t promoting gender equality, capacity building and leadership training for women coaches and safeguarding training.

In 2022 OFC developed training resources to enhance this and directly support the elevation of women coaches and administrators along with the delivery of bespoke trainings for all coaches on how to support the participation of women and girls.

Trainings were delivered to coaches and administrators on safeguarding and understanding gender-based violence

Trainings reached 147 coaches and referees providing participants with an understanding of sports role in child protection and preventing violence against women and children.

Trainings have been delivered in conjunction with several partners including UN Women, Fiji Women and Childrens Crisis Centre

Outcomes

43 254 355 147

Coaches and referees trained on ending violence

women coaches attending capacity building leadership training

coaches, volunteers & teachers upskilled through grassroots training courses

coaches and referees trained in safeguarding

TrainingCoaches&Administrators

Women's Nations Cup Workshop

Training was held in Suva at the Womens Nations Cup in conjunction with UN women on gender equality and preventing violence reaching 43 coaches and referees.

Additionally, 7 programme managers and 7 OFC football division staff attended the IWG conference in Auckland as well as a 3-day programme manager workshop aimed at enhancing the management of football

Key learnings for programme managers included how to improve programme delivery for gender equality outcomes, as well as how to navigate gender equality within their respective organisations.

Safeguarding Training

OFC continues to place significance on safeguarding everyone involved in our sport. In 2022 there were significant milestones to ensuring this happens at all levels of football with the establishment of the OFC Safeguarding Working Group and on-going support to review and develop OFC and our MA’s policies and procedures

“I also learnt what Child Protection is and of the code of behaviour”

– Volunteer Training Participant, Vanuatu Dec 2022

4

POLICY

coaches and referees trained in safeguarding working group meetings held with capacity building on safeguarding and development and delivery of a safeguarding system in sport

TrainingCoaches&Administrators

Gender Equality Playbook Workshop

The GE Playbook launch was attended by 100 representatives from across the Pacific and global sport systems and included key stakeholders such as ONOC, the IOC, National Sport federations and new partners such as UN Women, Laureus Sport for Good.

“It's a great resource to showcase OFC's strategies and action plans. The investment in the playbook demonstrates the organization's prioritization of gender equality and is a means of accountability ”

– Gender Equality Playbook Launch Attendee, Oceania Rugby

The GE Playbook workshop was attended by 33 representatives from across the Pacific A presentation on the content was delivered followed by guided discussions and workshopping strategies to deliver on relevant to each chapter within the Gender Equality Playbook

It is extremely valuable because there are a lot of discussions needed when it comes to Pacific Sport for Gender Equality where the distribution of opportunities /resources/ funding etc are equally divided but reality the men were/are benefit from it So with the workshop it was unpacked some of the issues and there were discussion around solutions to make in order to provide fairness in all areas of Sports ”

– Gender Equality Playbook Launch Attendee, Lakapi Samoa

This is How We Football targets growth in football participation by providing a safe space for girls new to football to learn and develop skills together.

TIHWF girls-only programme also teaches girls messages of health, wellbeing and safety.

Further, participation programmes targeting both boys and girls encourage respectful play and act as an entry into football

O u t c o m e s

Reached through grassroots programming on gender equality

Participation Programme Development

27,159 girls reached through the TIHWF girls-only pilot

1,230

Based on the extensive research conducted throughout the Gender Equality Playbook programme development and consultation began simultaneously on OFC’s “This is How We Football” programme.

The first pilot of This is How We Football festivals was held at the OFC Women’s Nationals Cup in Fiji in July. Women’s football and Social Responsibility departments worked individually with Member Associations to co-design tailored girls-only programmes that meet the specific needs of each country context

Key learnings from the TIHWF festivals as well as workshops held during the Women’s Nations Cup were used to inform the overall programme approach.

“I am so happy with the program and the positive comments from the communities I look forward to more engagement between the community and the program in the future.” - Henry Kaniki, Advisor/Founder, Sirubai Voko Tribe Association

Media on the pilot festivals can be found here: https://www oceaniafootball com/thisis-how-we-football-a-week-of-activities-insuva/

https://www.oceaniafootball.com/girls-justwanna-have-fun-festival-time-in-suva/

TrainingCoaches&Administrators

Programmes are delivered throughout the Member Associations designed to work towards gender equality through fostering positive social interaction and connection between boys and girls through play and targeted social messaging.

In 2022 the programme reached 27 159 boys and girls in both schools and c

Programme deliver and advocacy cam

International Wome Violence against W

Additionally, 1,230 y TIHWF with learning pilot in 2023

Programme Delivery Programme Impacts

20%

82%

of participants enjoyed playing football with both boys and girls after the Just Play Programme compared to 56% of participants before (2022 Tahiti Just Play Programme)

of participants with female coaches voted that only girls should do chores compared to 45% with male coaches (OFC KAP Study, 2022)

19%

increase in girls playing outside after school (2022 Vanuatu Just Play Programme)

“One thing I learned is always to try to speak up One of the themes is USE YOUR VOICE. It applies to us because we need to speak up about our ideas and emotions”

– Elizabeth Baing, age 11, Wardstrip Demonstration Primary School Participant, Papa New Guinea Just Play Programme

Advocacy Festivals

Festivals are utilised to reach a larger audience as an introduction to football and to engage further with the community.

Festivals are often linked to broader international days and reinforce the themes learnt throughout the grassroots programming.

In 2022, 15,000 children including 6,762 girls were reached through advocacybased festivals throughout 2022.

Festivals included:

FESTIVAL COUNTRIES DATE

Growth Management &

30,000 8 countries curriculum CAPACITY BUILDING

Next year delivery of the 6-12 year old programme will continue with the target of reaching 30,000 children across the Pacific.

2023 will see the expansion of the 13-18 year old TIHWF into a 16-week programme delivered across 8 Countries.

Each programme delivers an integrated curriculum teaching basic football skills, lifeskills, empowerment, safety and health with a focus on menstrual health management.

Capacity building sessions will be held to further train and develop local coaches, building on a localised coaching and football pathway

Additional to the expansion of TIHWF youth programme, 2023 activity will include:

E-LEARNING 01

An e-learning program on Gender Equality within football will be developed and launched

WOMEN LEADERS 02

Establishment of a network for women leaders in football

GENDER EQUALITY 03

Internal OFC Consultation for enhancing gender equality within confederation operations

ADVOCACY 04

Streamlined advocacy campaign for TIHWF

women in media 05

Women in News and Sport Programme for up and coming female football commentators

Playbook workshops 06

Delivery of TIHWF Gender Equality Playbook workshops

Results

OFC adopts a results-based approach to delivery of our social programmes and is currently conducting research across the region to establish effective baselines in relation to gender equality. This will allow the definition of indicators for impact.

Broadly the activity and output indicators would include:

30,000

boys and girls (612) participating program promoting gender equality

15,000

girls (13-18) participating in football with messages of empowerment and responding to GBV across the Pacific

coaches exhibiting enhanced knowledge and attitudes toward girls’ participation in football across the Pacific region. 800+

The Programme will deliver the following impacts:

Change perceptions among boys, girls, women and men involved in football

Empower youth to be leaders and advocates for broader social change

10

countries with a national safeguarding focal point, policy and national action plan for addressing violence in and through football.

800+

coaches trained in effective safeguarding for children

Train youth and coaches on gender-based violence and ensure access to services

Ensure strategies, systems and training is in place to support non discrimination and reduce risks of harm

Participant Story

Elizabeth Baing is a student from Wardstrip Demonstration school

She was chosen for this story because of how vocal she was on the impact of this program on her life.

She is an outspoken young lady who always attends sessions and is a very active participant in games and discussions. Elizabeth describes how she became involved in the programme.

“My class teacher is the sports teacher for our lower primary school at Wardstrip, we all became involved because she is the only teacher from our school that is running the sessions.”

“My favourite part is the Mini match. We learn tips and tricks in the first two sessions (WARM UP AND DRILL) and try to do them in the mini-match. I love it because we get to play soccer in different ways every session.”

Being involved in the programme is teaching Elizabeth about empowerment Elizabeth talks about the biggest learning she has taken form the programme “One thing I learned is always to try to speak up. One of the themes is USE YOUR VOICE. It applies to us because we need to speak up about our ideas and emotions.”

To describe the programme she says it is “FUN! We are always having fun and the games are not too strict. It’s like if you don’t know the rules of football, it’s still okay, because its more about having fun rather than learning a new sport”

She attributes the fun of the programme to her coach saying “My coach is very

Participant Story

Krystal – Nadogo Central College TIHWF Participant, Fiji 2023

“I already played football at hom but not around with other school When I play at home I play with m brothers and sisters My brothers enjoy playing with me and I enjoy playing with them. My parents lov that I can play football. I like to b in the centre. I learnt a lot today, this was the first time playing with these guys ”

“ My favourite things were playing the different games, I enjoyed it and learnt a lot about the differe types of rules. Don’t lose hope –when you want to become a football player you can become football player ”

Tavita, 14 & Vika, 14 - Fiji TIHWF Festival Participant

Two boys in blue shirts standing in a field

Description automatically generated“W learned to be healthy and stay hydrate enjoy playing football with my friends It dream to be a football player and seein players enjoying it makes me want to m my lifestyle. One day I want to play for F play in the WNC,” -14-year-old Taivita.

“I learned the eight steps of washing my then I enjoyed the football I want to pr myself getting sick and stopping the spr germs in my body. I like to create new f through football. The skills, passing, doin headers are what I enjoy,”

- Vika, 14. Suva, Fiji

Articles

- This Is How We Football: a week of activities in Suva | Oceania Football Confederation

- Girls just wanna have fun: Festival time in Suva | Oceania Football Confederation