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Gender Equality

Equal Play Effect

Challenging harmful gender stereotypes and cultural practices, and promoting equal participation, representation and leadership in, and through, football

Challenging harmful gender stereotypes and cultural practices, and promoting equal participation, representation and leadership in, and through, football

Equal Play Effect is a replicable, adaptable and scalable solution to accelerate progress towards gender equity in football.

Equal Play Effect provides an action-based impact framework to support everyone in football to work against mechanisms and dynamics that enforce inequity and discrimination.

Collective effort is central to Equal Play Effect, developed by expert partners Soccer Without Borders, Women Win and Common Goal, and implemented already across four regions, with the support of athletes, brands, community organisations and others stakeholders in football.

The action-based impact framework - previously known under the name Global Goal 5 Accelerator, was developed during the 2019 Women's World Cup with the ambition of developing a system-change solution to accelerate progress towards gender equity in community football.

From 2020 to 2022, the Global Goal 5 Accelerator framework - now Equal Play effect, was implemented across three regions including East Africa, North America, Latin America. 

In 2023, Equal Play Effect will have active programmes in Latin America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa, involving more than 50 local and global partners.

The initiative is largely supported by Common Goal impact sponsor adidas,  pledging 1% of their global net sales of footballs from 2021 to 2023, to diversity, equity and inclusion programmes driven by Common Goal. 

About the action-based impact framework

Different forms of discrimination are deeply interconnected, resulting in structural barriers for girls and women in football. To dismantle these barriers and bring systemic change, it is crucial to maximise the positive effect of each of our actions in narrowing the gender gap in football.

Equal Play Effect works to drive change across four levels:

  • In the organisations: Embed gender equity at the heart of football for good organisations and ensure gender equity in their leadership.
  • On the sidelines: Increase the proportion of women coaches and ensure every girl has a woman role model. 
  • On the pitch: Increase girls’ participation on the pitch.
  • In the community: Leverage culture and reach to inspire society and transform football culture into a welcoming and inclusive space for all. 
Playing local games, scoring global goals

While girls and women face systemic barriers to playing football around the world, every community has different needs, challenges, and strengths. Equal Play Effect creates a strategic framework and enables local grassroots organisations to adapt it to their reality.

Organisations work together regionally to identify local challenges and develop strategies to overcome them. And global learning takes place by enabling exchange between regions.

The Goal

Challenging harmful gender stereotypes and cultural practices, and promoting equal participation, representation and leadership in, and through, football.

The Strategy

Increase girls’ participation as well as the proportion of women coaches and leaders in grassroots football, ensuring that every girl has a female role model in her community.

How it Works

We work on the pitch, on the sidelines, in the organisations and with the fan culture to accelerate gender equity.

Challenge

Gender inequity and discrimination are an obstacle for girls' and young women's leadership potential.
Stigma
In many communities around the world, football is still regarded as a "man's sport", hindering young women from participating.
Lack of role models
Too few women role models on and beyond the pitch for young women to follow and be inspired by.
Girl's development hindered
Lack of self-esteem, self-confidence and information prevent young women from reaching their full potential and standing for themselves.

Solution

Work against the mechanisms and dynamics that enforce gender inequity and discrimination, by:
On the pitch
Increase girl's participation in football by addressing norms and attitudes surrounding female participation in the game at an individual, community, and global level.
On the sidelines
Increase the proportion of female coaches to ensure that every girl participant has a female athlete role model in her community.
In the organisations
Improve capacity and capability of football for good organisations to serve women and girls in their communities, and ensure gender equity in their leadership.

Impact

Equal access to opportunities for girls and women on and off the pitch, everywhere.
Girls and Women can unfold their potential
Women and girls are empowered to lead themselves, their peers and their communities.
Women Leadership
Women and girls have equal decision-making opportunities, on and off the pitch.
Societal transformation
Communities overcome stereotypes about girls and women's participation in sports.
Challenge
Gender inequity and discrimination are an obstacle for girls' and young women's leadership potential.
Stigma
In many communities around the world, football is still regarded as a "man's sport", hindering young women from participating.
Lack of role models
Too few women role models on and beyond the pitch for young women to follow and be inspired by.
Girl's development hindered
Lack of self-esteem, self-confidence and information prevent young women from reaching their full potential and standing for themselves.
Solution
Work against the mechanisms and dynamics that enforce gender inequity and discrimination, by:
On the pitch
Increase girl's participation in football by addressing norms and attitudes surrounding female participation in the game at an individual, community, and global level.
On the sidelines
Increase the proportion of female coaches to ensure that every girl participant has a female athlete role model in her community.
In the organisations
Improve capacity and capability of football for good organisations to serve women and girls in their communities, and ensure gender equity in their leadership.
Impact
Equal access to opportunities for girls and women on and off the pitch, everywhere.
Girls and Women can unfold their potential
Women and girls are empowered to lead themselves, their peers and their communities.
Women Leadership
Women and girls have equal decision-making opportunities, on and off the pitch.
Societal transformation
Communities overcome stereotypes about girls and women's participation in sports.