The EmpowHER Volleyball Game Changer (EVGC) project, a three-year initiative coordinated by the European Volleyball Confederation (CEV) and co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Sport programme, continues to make important progress towards promoting gender equality in leadership and decision-making roles across European volleyball.
Launched in January 2025, the project brings together CEV, the EOC EU Office, EOSE and national volleyball federations from Albania, Georgia, Germany, Luxembourg, Malta and Sweden, with the shared ambition of identifying barriers, developing practical solutions and creating more opportunities for women in sport leadership.
Understanding the challenges – Over 820 contributions across Europe
During the first phase of the project, partners conducted a Europe-wide consultation involving national volleyball federations, clubs and individuals from the volleyball community to better understand existing practices, challenges and barriers to gender equality.
More than 820 contributions were collected through an online survey, providing valuable insights into women’s representation in leadership and decision-making roles, organisational policies and practices, and the structural and cultural barriers that continue to limit progress.
The findings were brought together in the Gender Equality Survey Analysis Report, highlighting the need for stronger organisational commitment, more inclusive governance practices and concrete measures to support women’s participation and progression into leadership positions.
These findings now provide an important evidence base for the next stages of the project.
From evidence to action – Developing the EVGC Toolkit
Building directly on the research findings, project partners are now actively developing the EVGC Toolkit, a practical self-assessment and development resource designed to help volleyball federations and clubs strengthen gender equality within their organisations.
The Toolkit will enable organisations to reflect on their current situation, identify areas for improvement and develop tailored action plans based on their specific needs and priorities.
Through a structured assessment and scoring methodology, organisations will be able to identify their current level of development and monitor improvements over time.
Importantly, the Toolkit is not intended to rank or compare organisations, but rather to provide a constructive framework for identifying realistic priorities, planning actions and supporting continuous progress.
Next steps – Refining the Toolkit and preparing for implementation
Following the presentation and discussion of the first draft during the partner meeting held in Brussels in July 2026, the consortium is continuing to review and refine the Toolkit to ensure it is practical, accessible and relevant to volleyball organisations operating in different national contexts.
The next transnational partner meeting will take place in December 2026 in Albania, hosted by the Albanian Volleyball Federation. This will provide another opportunity to consolidate progress, review feedback and agree on the next steps.
The project will subsequently move towards practical implementation, including planned training and mentorship activities to support organisations in putting gender equality measures into practice and encouraging sustainable changes in leadership and governance.
EOSE’s contribution
As an active partner in the EVGC project, EOSE contributes its expertise in research, workforce development, skills and education, supporting the partnership in translating evidence and identified needs into practical resources and development opportunities.
Through its involvement, EOSE is pleased to contribute to a collaborative initiative that aims to make a lasting difference in European volleyball and potentially offer valuable approaches for other sports organisations facing similar challenges.
Access the Gender Equality Survey Analysis Report
