Announcement Number 2026-009

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS 

Implementing Partner for 2026 African Women Martial Arts Coaches Workshop  

The International Centre of Martial Arts for Youth Development and Engagement under the auspices of UNESCO (hereinafter “ICM”), is pleased to announce a Call for Applications to identify a Local Implementing Partner for the 2026 African Women Martial Arts Coaches (AWMAC) Workshop. This initiative directly addresses UNESCO’s global priorities of ‘Africa’ and ‘Gender Equality’, as articulated in the Agreement between the Republic of Korea and UNESCO. It also contributes to the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals – particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 5 (Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment) – as well as the African Union’s Protocol to the African Charter on human and peoples’ rights on the rights of women in Africa (2003), which calls for the integration of gender-sensitivity and human rights education in training curricula at all levels.

Despite growing participation of women in martial arts across Africa, structural barriers persist. Women remain significantly underrepresented in leadership and coaching positions within the sports sector. According to the UN Economic Commission for Africa (2024), the Gender Equality Index for Africa stands at 50.3 out of 100, with women’s representation in leadership roles at just 24.4%. Career pathways from athlete to coach or administrator remain limited, further marginalizing women in decision-making roles.

31 March 2026

Attachments A. Call for Applications 

Attachments B. Application Package