AFD AND FFR PLAN TO STRENGTHEN THEIR COLLABORATION TO EXTEND THE SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF RUGBY IN AFRICA AND THE PACIFIC

The two partners are currently working with Rugby Africa to promote women’s rugby on the African continent, an initiative launched at the Rugby World Cup France 2023. In this context, the FFR uses its expertise to train executives, coaches and referees in the following nine African federations: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Madagascar, Uganda, Senegal, Togo and Tunisia. In parallel, «Get into Rugby» initiation days are organized in disadvantaged communities, offering young girls and boys the opportunity to discover rugby and its values, while raising awareness on gender stereotypes. The main objective of this programme is to develop women’s rugby by building the capacities of local federations. Ultimately, it aims to train 270 executives in these federations and raise more than 10,000 children’s awareness of rugby values and gender equality.

A shared vision of rugby for inclusion and the environment

Building on the successes of their collaboration in Africa, AFD, the FFR and World Rugby wish to strengthen their joint actions to increase the positive impact of rugby for social inclusion and environmental awareness in Africa and the Pacific, in close collaboration, with the regional rugby leagues in mainland France and French overseas territories, with the regional confederations (Rugby Africa, Rugby Oceania), with national rugby federations (SARU, Fiji) and finally local actors around three priorities:

1. Support for local federations: Through capacity building, the partners plan to support the institutional development of local rugby federations in Africa and the Pacific to anchor this sport in these regions.
2. Promoting inclusion, especially for girls: Building on the values of rugby, this partnership aims to encourage girls' access to sport as a tool for empowerment and reducing gender inequalities.
3. Environmental conservation awareness:  Rugby could also help raise awareness on climate issues and the protection of biodiversity, by integrating educational and awareness-raising actions into community programmes.

AFD strengthens its commitments to Sports for Development

This project will contribute to AFD’s efforts to increase its financial commitments in the field of Sport for Development, an ambition that was reinforced at the Sport for Sustainable Development summit, held on the eve of the opening of Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. On this occasion, commitments were made by many actors to increase the power of sport in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

In this dynamic, the FFR and AFD will seek to associate other partners in this new programme to promote the practice of rugby, in particular the financial partners of the Finance en Commun (FiCS) movement and members of the Sustainable development through Sport coalition, including JICA and DBSA. Discussions will be planned at the next FiCS summit from 26^th to 28^th February 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa.

Rémy Rioux, CEO of AFD Group: “In this Olympic year, which dedicates the role of sport to sustainable development, I am proud that the French Development Agency group is strengthening its partnership with the French Rugby Federation and World Rugby. The match France - Japan, this Saturday, November 9, 2024, was an opportunity to kick off new avenues of collaboration. On the one hand, to promote women’s rugby in Africa by training 270 managers of the federations of the United Nations and raising awareness of gender equality among more than 10,000 children. And on the other hand to raise awareness of environmental protection, in connection with the national federations of African rugby and the Pacific.

A very good dynamic launched at the Sport for Sustainable Development Summit on July 25^th, on the eve of the Olympic Games, and which has mobilized us since with my two teammates Abdelatif Benazzi and Florian Grill.”

Florian Grill, President of FFR: “This collaboration with AFD demonstrates the full commitment of French rugby to making our sport a vehicle for social and environmental development, extending beyond its usual sporting boundaries. Through this initiative, we aim to provide young generations in Africa and Oceania with opportunities for inclusion and personal growth, while also raising awareness of current environmental challenges. Rugby is much more than a sport; it embodies values that, we believe, can contribute to a more just and sustainable future. This project will also allow us to involve FFR Regional Leagues and our overseas committees in these operations, enabling them to forge strong connections with the unions and associations involved. This initial collaboration should only be the beginning: our goal is to extend it over time and inspire other stakeholders to join us in this commitment.”