Ukraine and Moldova are launching ALIGN: a European project to promote gender equality, inclusion and ethical governance in sport

The ALIGN project (Advancing Leadership, Inclusion and Gender Equality in Neighbourhood Sports with Europe), co-funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ Sport Capacity Building programme, is being implemented from April 2026 to March 2028. It is being implemented by four organisations: the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine (project coordinator), the National Olympic and Sports Committee of the Republic of Moldova, the University of Vienna and the NGO ‘Impact Force’, with the support of the International Olympic Committee. ALIGN aims to strengthen inclusive, transparent and ethical governance in the sports systems of Ukraine and Moldova, as well as to develop broader European cooperation in the field of sport. 

ALIGN responds to the challenge of rapid change in the field of sports governance in Europe’s eastern neighbouring countries. Increasing numbers of women and representatives of diverse groups are taking up leadership positions in Ukraine and Moldova, yet institutional structures do not always keep pace with these changes. The project is directly aimed at bridging this gap — transforming current dynamics into systemic reforms that will have a long-term impact.

Speaking at the project launch, Vadym Guttsait, President of the NOC of Ukraine and Olympic champion, noted:

 “Sport shapes how we govern, make decisions and create opportunities. In today’s Ukraine, inclusive governance has proven its role as a tool for resilience and recovery. As ALIGN’s coordinator, we are bringing together relevant partners to translate shared European and Olympic values into practical change — to make governance more inclusive, transparent and effective in Ukraine, Moldova and the wider region.”

The project is being implemented through a three-stage reform cycle: Understand, Equip, Transform. First, a comprehensive needs assessment of the National Olympic Committees and sports federations in the two countries will be carried out. Next, a localised catalogue of European and Olympic governance resources will be created in Ukrainian and Romanian. 

The final stage involves implementing changes, including the development of two national strategic action plans, the delivery of face-to-face leadership training in Ukraine and Moldova, mentoring programmes, and the creation of a multilingual digital self-learning tool that will be available to coaches, athletes, federations and sports clubs.

Pedro Diaz, the IOC’s Manager for Gender Equality and Inclusion, noted: 

“ALIGN embodies precisely the level of partnership that paves the way for genuine gender equality in sport. This is a joint endeavour that requires coordinated action, and the project brings together those capable of turning intentions into tangible results. The IOC will closely monitor its development, support the consortium where appropriate, and help disseminate the achievements internationally. We are convinced that ALIGN will not only bring significant change to Ukraine and Moldova, but will also become a source of solutions and knowledge beneficial to the wider region and the entire Olympic Movement.”

Olga Danko, ALIGN project manager, member of the NOC of Ukraine and chair of the ‘Athletes’ Entourage’ commission, concluded: 

“ALIGN is not a one-off initiative, but a process of reform. By understanding the real challenges faced by federations, equipping leaders with practical tools and supporting the implementation of changes through national action plans, we aim to lay the foundations for inclusive, transparent and accountable governance. Our long-term goal is to create a model that can be sustained at the local level and scaled across the region.”

As it moves into the implementation phase, ALIGN positions sport as a driving force for institutional reform and social development in Europe’s Eastern Neighbourhood countries. By implementing inclusive governance practices and building long-term capacity, the project aims to have an impact that extends beyond Ukraine and Moldova — helping to create more sustainable, effective and equitable sports systems across the region.

About the project

ALIGN (Advancing Leadership, Inclusion, and Gender Equality in Neighbourhood Sports with Europe) is an Erasmus+ Sport project, co-funded by the European Union, aimed at making sports governance in Ukraine and Moldova more inclusive, transparent and aligned with EU and Olympic Movement standards. The project is being implemented from April 2026 to March 2028 under the coordination of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine in partnership with Olympic Moldova, the University of Vienna and Impact Force. ALIGN supports National Olympic Committees, sports federations and leaders through research, practical tools, training and mentoring. The aim of the project is to integrate the principles of gender equality and inclusive governance into sports structures, ensuring long-term systemic change, as well as the sustainability of results and digital resources for at least five years after the project’s completion.

The ALIGN project is co-funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect the position of the European Union or the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the EACEA is responsible for their content.