Who is it for?
The program is open to all female leaders in the sports industry, including coaches, administrators, executives, officials, and others, who demonstrate a need for support and show a commitment to promoting equality within their communities and the Commonwealth Sport Movement.
What does the programme provide?
The program offers scholarships of £5,000 to eligible female leaders to provide financial assistance on their individual development pathways. It is designed to provide a supportive and educational environment with mentorship so the CGF connects recipients with an International Mentor who helps them clarify leadership aspirations, recognize strengths, and broaden understanding of promoting equality within the sports community.
What does success look like?
Success in the Commonwealth Sport Women's Leadership Program is measured by the growth and development of each participant towards becoming an influential leader and agent of change, promoting equality in the sports community and beyond. The program is designed to help participants reach their full potential and create a brighter future for women in the Commonwealth.
Background
In 2018, a Commonwealth Women’s Internship Programme was launched by the CGF at the 2018 Commonwealth Games that allowed CGA's to integrate a female coach into their respective management team. 20 female coaches were appointed and attended the Games as part of their national team. They were also provided with mentorship support and professional development and networking opportunities in the lead up to, during and after the Games. The successes of this programme lead to the development of the scholarships Grants offered in 2022 and 2023.
Recipients of the 2023 Grants
| Recipient | CGA | Role |
| Gorata Kgathi | Botswana | Botswana Rugby Union, Women’s Representative |
| Joyce Juma | Kenya | Currently competing as a Karate Athlete Running ‘Girl Power’ sessions for athletes within Kenya |
| Anna Williams | Sierra Leone | President of Sierra Leone Gymnastics Federation |
| Irangani Rupasinghe | Sri Lanka | Recently retired Physical Ed. Lecturer On Board of Sri Lanka Athletics |
| Oluwaseun Nariwoh | Nigeria | Sports Development Office, Funder of APSEI |
| Nadine Jaeger | Namibia | NGB Gymnastics Coach at Crete GC |
| Ayushma Seebun | Mauritius | Team Manager of National Futsal Team |
| Tinyiko Lucert Kamanga | Zambia | CGA Programs Officer /Olympafrica Centre Director |
| Thokozani Twanbilire Chalemba | Malawi | Acting Vice Gen. Sec for Malawi Volleyball Association |
| Simelane Nokulunga Pretty | Eswatini | Projects Manager for Eswatini Olympic and CGA |
| Libby Barnett | Jersey | Sport Partnership Manager, Jersey Sport |
| Stephanie Duval | Seychelles | Sec. Gen. of Seychelles Women & Sports Association |
| Leong Mun Yee | Malaysia | National Team Diving Coach |
| Francis Tepaeru Brownw-Toa | Cook Islands | Cook Islands Rugby Union – VP. Rugby League – Secretary & Competition Coordinator |
Recipients of the 2022 Grants
| Coach | CGA |
| Mangaka Tjoloba | Lesotho |
| Mary Angela Achieng | Kenya |
| Mbali Dlamini | Eswatini |
| Eileen Xhakaza | South Africa |
| Mukandekezi Umutoni Neema | Rwanda |
| Petrina Aron | Namibia |
| Jennifer Wong | Canada |
| Petra Haven | The Bahamas |
| Mathivani Murugeesan | Malaysia |
| Kimberley Gittens | Barbados |
| Lovie Santana | Trinidad & Tobago |
| Claire Stott | Jersey |
| Kareena Cuthbert | Scotland |
| Louise Corkill | Isle of Man |
| Ana Tuiketei | Fiji |
| Miller Pata | Vanuatu |
| Susannah Leydon-Davis | New Zealand |
| Virginia Taravaki | Vanuatu |
| Vavine Yore | Papa New Guinea |
| Shireen Hina Asghar | Pakistan |
2018 WCIP Participants:
| WCIP Intern Coaches | CGA | Sport | Mentor Coaches |
| Tina Hoeben | CANADA | Swimming | Martyn Wilby |
| Martine DuGrenier | CANADA | Wrestling | Tonya Verbeek |
| Jill Perry | CANADA | Boxing | Daniel Trepanier |
| Evangeline Collier | ENGLAND | Table Tennis | Alan Coooke |
| Bah Chuh Mei | MALAWI | Lawn Bowls | Zuradi Puteh |
| Lini Kazim | MALAWI | Triathlon | Peter Lau |
| Laura Kerr | NORTHERN IRELAND | Athletics | Jackie Newton |
| Amanda Booth | ENGLAND | Swimming | Grant Robins |
| Sheila Gaki | KENYA | Badminton | John Odihambo |
| Carolyne Kola | KENYA | Athletics | John Anzraq |
| Soraya Santos | MOZAMBIQUE | Swimming | Leonel Matonse |
| Victoria Grant | NEW ZEALAND | Rugby 7s | Stu Ross |
| Cordelia Norris | NEW ZEALAND | Diving | Steve Gladding |
| Amanda Murphy | NEW ZEALAND | Athletics | Dale Stevenson |
| Grace Mmolai | BOTSWANA | Boxing | Luza Lechedzani |
| Dumisani Chauke | SOUTH AFRICA | Netball | Norma Plummer |
| Mpho Madi | SOUTH AFRICA | Wrestling | Nico Coetzee |
| Isabelle Adnre | MAURITIUS | Table Tennis | Sahajasein Aladd |
| Mildred Gamba | UGANDA | Athletics | Nalis Bigingo |
| Endurance Teye | NIGERIA | Athletics | Sule Oluyomi Oladimeji |
Recipients of 2023 Grants will announced in March 2023
