The Exco approves programmes for the Tunis Forum and the Gender Equality Forum in Burundi, as well as the organisation of the African Youth Games in Angola
4 September 2025 – The ANOCA Executive Committee met on 3 September 2025 by videoconference, chaired by the ANOCA President, the Honourable Mustapha Berraf, to coordinate three strategic end-of-year events. “As you are well aware, I convened this meeting so that everyone can express their views on two important issues in particular,’ said the President as he opened the meeting.
I. AFRICAN FORUM ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Second edition billed for Tunis
The second African Olympic Forum on Environmental Protection and the Fight against Global Warming is scheduled for Hammamet, Tunisia, from 19 to 22 October 2025. This initiative builds on ANOCA’s ongoing efforts, notably the 2024 Algiers Forum on Sport and Climate, a landmark event that advanced African perspectives on harnessing sport to address global warming. The event is themed: “African Sport Facing Climate Challenges: Acting Together for Sustainable Development.”
“We need to get organised to ensure that things run smoothly,” President Berraf emphasised, situating this event within the broader framework of the African sports calendar.
Strategic objectives
The forum has five main objectives as defined by ANOCA:
- Creating a platform bringing together NOCs, decision-makers, institutions, experts and businesses to discuss climate issues in African sport.
- Promoting sustainable sport with environmentally friendly practices (carbon reduction, waste management, green infrastructure, sustainable mobility).
- Raising awareness and mobilising the public, young people, and athletes by leveraging sport as a vehicle for education.
- Fostering partnerships among African states, businesses and institutions to develop meaningful projects linking sport, climate and sustainability.
- Positioning Africa as a key player by enhancing local initiatives and natural resources.
Programme, speakers confirmed
The event will bring together 16 speakers and 8 moderators.
It will feature an awards ceremony on 20 October, recognising “the best and initiators of environmental and sustainable development programmes.”
II. GENDER EQUALITY FORUM IN BURUNDI
“The second has to do with the Gender Equality Forum,” said President Berraf, confirming that the event will be held in Burundi on 10 and 11 November 2025 on the theme: “Gender Equality in Sport: Unlocking Potential, Supporting Generations.”
The ANOCA Gender Equality Forum will bring together key African Olympic Movement stakeholders to discuss strategies for promoting gender equity and ensuring balanced representation of men and women across all sports activities.
Convened during a pivotal year – after Paris 2024, before Los Angeles 2028 and barely a year to the first ever Olympic Games on African soil – this seminar offers a unique opportunity to step up collective efforts towards gender equality in sport.
Through strategic dialogue and insights from experienced guest speakers, participants will be empowered to champion change and embed gender equality in their management, decision-making, and daily practices. The forum will highlight the importance of collaborative efforts between men and women to drive sustainable progress.
The forum will be held under the most distinguished patronage of the President of the Republic of Burundi, His Excellency Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE.
Certification course in sports diplomacy
ANOCA is launching a certification course in sports diplomacy designed to empower African leaders with negotiation and international sports governance skills, in a bid to enhance the continent’s global representation and influence. “We all need training in sports diplomacy,” the President noted.
Training characteristics:
- Duration: 21 days
- Frequency: every six months
- Participants: 15 people per session
- For who is the training destined: NOC presidents and executive committee members
“This concerns NOC presidents or persons delegated by them and executive committee members,” President Berraf specified. A memorandum of understanding will be signed to make this programme official.
III. AFRICAN YOUTH GAMES IN ANGOLA
“We hope to end the year with the African Youth Games in Angola, which will certainly serve as qualifiers for certain sports for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar,” the President announced, thus positioning these Games as the closing event of the 2025 sports calendar. ANOCA and Angola are stepping up efforts to make this 4th edition a memorable success.
Postponement of the Chefs de Mission meeting
The Chefs de Mission meeting, initially scheduled from 11 to 15 September, has been postponed to 18–22 September 2025.
Adjustments and collaboration
The Executive Committee approved the inclusion of the Association of National Olympic Committees of the Pacific (ANOP) in the Tunis Forum programme, with a presentation on “Sport and Ocean Protection” that will highlight “the blue water concept” previously introduced at their General Assembly.
Deliberations of this session were marked by constructive discussions and strategic decisions aimed at fostering sustainable development and gender equality for the benefit of African youths.
The ANOCA President, the Honourable Mustapha Berraf, reiterated the importance of collective preparation for the upcoming major events.
“We must organise ourselves to ensure that everything runs smoothly, so that we can end the year on a high note, particularly with the African Youth Games in Angola,” he stated.
Strategic continuity
The initiatives adopted during this meeting align perfectly with ANOCA’s recent efforts. The Algiers 2024 Forum established a foundation for African climate mobilisation, while gender equality programmes have driven notable progress in women’s representation in sports. Simultaneously, ANOCA remains committed to youth empowerment through initiatives through initiatives like the African Youth Games and the inaugural African School Games, springboards for excellence and inclusion.
Closing the session, President Berraf hailed Executive Committee members for the spirit of solidarity and responsibility:
“Our discussions reflect the unity and solidarity that guide our actions. Together, we bear the responsibility of building a better future for African sport and its young people.”
