
Regional Dialogue & Women’s Sports Festival
AUSC Region 5
OVERVIEW
Women Leading Forward 2026 is a high-level regional platform convened by AUSC Region 5 to advance women’s leadership, governance, and participation in sport across Southern Africa.
The initiative combines strategic dialogue with practical activation — bringing together policymakers, sports administrators, athletes, development partners, and corporate leaders.
This is not a symbolic celebration.
It is a structural intervention.
✽ ABOUT OUR
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
1
Strengthen women’s leadership in sport governance
2
Promote gender equity across Regional 5 sport systems
3
Create policy alignment among Member States
4
Facilitate corporate and development partnerships
5
Inspire the next generation of female leaders
EVENT STRUCTURE
09 March 2026
International Women’s Day webinar
to commemorate and celebrate women
to commemorate and celebrate women
EXPECTED OUTCOME:
Adoption of a Regional Commitment Framework on Women’s Leadership in Sport.
FORMAT:
- Opening Ceremony
- Ministerial & Executive Panel
- Governance Roundtable
- Policy & Institutional Reform Session
- Corporate & Development Partner Engagement
THEMES:
- Women in Sport Governance
- Financing Women’s Sport
- Safeguarding & Inclusion
- Regional Policy Alignment
- Commercialisation & Sustainability
13 March 2026
Women’s Sports Festival
to promote physical activity and wellness for girls and women
to promote physical activity and wellness for girls and women
OBJECTIVE:
Translate policy into visibility and participation.
FORMAT:
- Multi-sport exhibition and participation
- Youth engagement activities
- Athlete recognition moments
- Community activation
- Media coverage & live storytelling
EXPECTED OUTCOMES:
- Regional Positioning of AUSC Region 5 as continental leader
- Increased female representation in sport structures
- Strengthened policy framework across Member States
- Corporate sponsorship activation
- Sustainable annual leadership platform
✽ ABOUT OUR EVENT PARTNERS
PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Women Leading Forward 2026 offers structured sponsorship tiers:
i
Title Partner
ii
Strategic Partner
ii
Institutional Partner
iv
Media Partner
v
Development Partner
PARTNERS GAIN
- Brand visibility at regional level
- Policy-level association
- Direct engagement with leadership
- ESG alignment opportunity
- Long-term regional positioning
WHY THIS MATTERS
- Southern Africa has talent.
- Southern Africa has ambition.
- Now it must consolidate leadership.
- Women Leading Forward 2026 represents a shift from inclusion rhetoric to governance transformation.
- AUSC Region 5 is not observing global standards.
It is shaping them.