Latest news with #ECA
New York Times
a day ago
- Business
- New York Times
UEFA increase funding for clubs releasing players for Women's Euros
Women's clubs who have released players for the summer's European Championships in Switzerland will receive a larger portion of funding after UEFA's club benefits programme was increased to €9 million following a recommendation from the European Club Association. The club benefits programme, agreed between the ECA and UEFA, rewards clubs for releasing players to UEFA national team competitions. Advertisement The funding for Euro 2022 totalled €4.5million (around £3.84m) and was initially intended to increase to €6m. However, an extra €3m has since been added from the men's 2020/24 club benefit cycle, following a proposal from the ECA. The total amount a club is afforded, according to UEFA, is calculated by the number of days a player is released for tournament participation, as well as 10 preparation days and one additional travel day. A club is compensated at a rate of €657 per day per player. The minimum payment a club will receive is €13,140 for a player whose team is eliminated after the group stages. The maximum amount will be €24,309 for a player from a team that was in Group A and reached the final. Injury to a player or a transfer to a new club will see clubs receive a pro rata payment. On the increase of the club benefits programme, UEFA's head of women's football Nadine Kessler said on a media panel on Friday: 'We do this investment because we know of the symbolic meaning of prize money and because these mechanisms are the very symbol of solidarity. We want everyone who contributes to the success of the Euros to be rewarded. It's a tournament that belongs to everyone.' The increase in club benefits coincides with the record increase in prize money for Euro 2025 to €41m, a 156% increase from the previous Euros held in England. For the first time in women's Euros history, players will receive a guaranteed share of the prize money received by their national association, with between 30% and 40% of funds going to players. According to Kessler, more than 500,000 tickets have already been sold for the summer's tournament, with 22 of the 31 matches already sold out. Switzerland's largest stadium for the tournament is Basel's St. Jakob-Park, with a capacity of 34,250. By comparison, during England's successful Euro 2022 campaign, 575,000 tickets were sold, with Wembley representing the largest stadium capacity at 90,000. Despite the increases in prize money and club benefits, Kessler said the women's tournament will represent a €20-25m net loss for UEFA. Euro 2024 generated an estimated €2.41billion in revenue. When queried on comparisons between the women's and men's tournaments, Kessler said: 'We need to keep comparison to the men's tournament in the past. We increased the women's prize money because we know what it does for public interest and awareness. When I played in these tournaments, there was zero prize money but we still did our best, we wanted to win. That's still the most important thing.' Advertisement The financial increase of UEFA's club benefits programme for women's clubs is hugely important and, as Kessler says, a statement of intent from UEFA and the ECA. While the women's Euros continues to be loss making, the methodology Kessler and others at UEFA are operating on is that without investment across the board, the tournament (and women's football in general) will not become revenue-generating. Particularly as discourse around crowded fixture calendars and burnout continues, ensuring clubs, and most importantly players, are duly rewarded for their participation in national team events is crucial. There is always concern, however, that with an increase in funding to clubs with participating players, the gap between those clubs and domestic rivals could increase. In England's 23-member Euro 2025 squad, for example, no clubs outside the established top four clubs in England's Women's Super League (Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City) are represented. More money afforded these sides could help perpetuate the competitive status quo in England's top flight. However, the flip side is that this is a model that encourages clubs to invest in their women's teams in order to become a destination for international players. Equally, a model that encourages dialogue and collaboration between national teams and clubs should help to grow the women's game in a healthy way.
Al Etihad
4 days ago
- Business
- Al Etihad
Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority wins 2025 Inspiring Workplaces Award
24 June 2025 21:45 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)The Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA) has been named a winner of the 2025 Middle East & Africa Inspiring Workplaces Awards, placing it among the region's most visionary and people-first award, presented by the Inspiring Workplaces Group, recognises organisations that lead the way in fostering inclusive, purpose-driven, and empowering workplace was selected from a competitive pool of organisations across the Middle East and Africa and was celebrated for its commitment to creating a workplace where people thrive. The winners were announced during a virtual ceremony held on June 4, Suhail, Director-General of Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority, said, 'This award is a reflection of the inspiration we draw every day from the children we serve. Their creativity, imagination, and resilience have shaped the way we think about our work and our workplace. "We set out to build a culture that mirrors the wonder, curiosity, and strength we see in young children - and this recognition affirms that vision. It's a proud moment for our team and a reminder that when we design our workplaces with the same care and imagination we bring to early childhood development, extraordinary things happen.'Established in 2019, the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority promotes optimal child development and wellbeing, from the early stages of pregnancy to the age of eight. Its internal culture, built on trust, inclusion, and shared purpose, plays a pivotal role in driving innovation and lasting change across its programs in health and nutrition, child protection, family support, and early of initiatives that have become part of the workplace culture and which have inspired other entities to adopt the same across Abu Dhabi include Meeting-free Fridays, Discovery Days, and a ban on work-related communications after working hours and on weekends, except if every new joiner receives a Culture Playbook, to help promote the desired behaviors and the employee experience and journey is carefully curated from recruitment stage until their final in its 10th year, the Inspiring Workplaces Awards are the world's leading non-survey-based awards recognising organisations that prioritise people in everything they do. Each organisation is assessed on six key pillars: Culture & Purpose, Leadership, Wellbeing, Inclusion, Employee Voice, and Employee are chosen by an independent panel of regional experts using a rigorous and transparent evaluation process. Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
Zawya
5 days ago
- Politics
- Zawya
African Island States Advance Ocean Partnerships and Finance Innovation at United Nations (UN) Ocean Conference
In a high-profile gathering during the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), the African Island States Climate Commission (AISCC), in partnership with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), convened a High-Level Dialogue aimed at strengthening ocean partnerships and mobilizing innovative finance to support sustainable development across African Small Island Developing States. With participation from ministers, ambassadors, and senior officials representing island nations, United Nations agencies, and global development partners, the Dialogue marked a significant step toward aligning regional leadership, blue economy priorities, and climate finance strategies in pursuit of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG14). Held as an official side event in the UNOC3 Blue Zone, the Dialogue was guided by the theme 'Strengthening Ocean Partnerships for Resilience and Sustainable Finance: Charting a Blue Future for African Island States and AIS SIDS.' Discussions emphasized the unique vulnerabilities of African Island States, the need for coordinated climate and ocean governance, and the urgency of unlocking scalable, long-term financing solutions tailored to the needs of island nations. Opening the event, Flavien Joubert, Chair of the AISCC and Minister of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment for the Republic of Seychelles, described the conference as a unique opportunity for African Island States and Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) to demonstrate global leadership on ocean sustainability. He called for stronger cooperation across SIDS regions and emphasized the central role of the AISCC as an innovative platform for climate action and diplomacy. Minister Joubert highlighted existing partnerships with ECA, IOC, and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) as examples of how African island nations are working together to mobilize resources and build collective resilience. He reaffirmed Seychelles' commitment to lead the AISCC in a spirit of solidarity and inclusion, 'ensuring no island state is left behind.' United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Li Junhua, who served as Secretary-General of both the UNOC3 and the Fourth International Conference on SIDS (SIDS4), reiterated the UN's full support for African SIDS. He noted that the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS) is nearing completion, and that work is underway to establish governance mechanisms for implementing the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI). Li also pointed to reforms in the SIDS Partnership Framework as part of ongoing efforts to ensure more effective and accountable cooperation with the international community. Nassim Oulmane, Head of the Natural Resources, Green and Blue Economy Section at ECA, stated in his welcoming remarks that this Dialogue builds on momentum from key AISCC high-level events convened at the UNFCCC COP28, COP29, African Climate Summit, and 4th International SIDS Conference. He held that the region must continue strengthening regional and international cooperation, and unlock innovative, scalable solutions through tools like blue bonds and debt-for-ocean swaps, and other innovative mechanisms. 'ECA, in partnership with AISCC, is proud to support initiatives like the RESIslands project, funded by the GCF,' he said. 'Together, we are advancing integrated approaches to promote ocean health, sustainable development, and climate resilience—leaving no one behind.' In the ministerial panel, national leaders from across the region provided a grounded view of both challenges and opportunities. Nilda Borges da Mata, Minister of Environment, Youth and Sustainable Tourism of São Tomé and Príncipe, said that unity among African SIDS is key to advancing sustainable development. 'When we speak with one voice, we gain strength. When we share knowledge, we gain resilience. And when we cooperate, we attract the resources we need,' she said. Borges da Mata reaffirmed her country's support for the AISCC as a critical platform to promote regional cooperation on climate and ocean priorities. Guinea-Bissau's Minister of Environment, Biodiversity and Climate Action, Viriato Soares Cassamá, announced that his country will host the next Ministerial Meeting of the AISCC later this year. He revealed the upcoming meeting as a decisive moment for the AISCC to launch a Joint Declaration on Oceans and Climate, a Sustainable Finance Action Plan, and new governance mechanisms that include women, youth, and local voices. Maria Ebiaca Moete, State Secretary of Finance, Planning and Economic Development of Equatorial Guinea, emphasized the importance of investment in locally led, community-based solutions. 'We see the RESIslands Initiative as a key platform to channel investment into sustainable, locally led projects,' she said. Moete also called for the creation of a dedicated international funding mechanism for island states and urged development partners to design financing instruments that are simpler, more flexible, and more accessible for vulnerable island economies. Fabrice David, Junior Minister of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy, and Fisheries of Mauritius, called for a shift in perception of SIDS from fragile to formidable. 'This is a critical moment for SIDS to show leadership as Big Ocean States,' he said. 'SDG14 remains the most underfunded of all global goals. That must change.' Minister David introduced the Blue Finance Hub initiative, developed with support from the Africa Natural Capital Alliance (ANCA) and FSD Africa, which he described as a promising model for catalyzing nature-positive investments in the blue economy, with potential for replication across other African island nations. The panel featured senior-level participation from Cabo Verde and Madagascar, too. In addition to the governmental interventions, the event included the United Nations Secretary-General Special Envoy for the Ocean, the Deputy Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the UN Resident Coordinator in Cabo Verde, as well as senior speakers from the Indian Ocean Commission, the Green Climate Fund, the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), the SIDS Hub at the Foreign, Commonwealth&Development Office of the United Kingdom, and the ANCA Secretariat of FSD Africa. Throughout the High-Level Dialogue, speakers stressed the urgency of rethinking the global financial system to respond more effectively to the realities of island nations, and the need for AIS SIDS to have a stronger voice in shaping international ocean and climate frameworks. The meeting reaffirmed the role of the AISCC as a unifying body for African Island States, driving forward shared strategies on SDG 14 and building a sustainable, climate-resilient blue future through partnership, innovation, and action. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
Zawya
5 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Empowering solutions for South Africa's energy future
Electricity Expo Africa 2025 ( is set to convene South Africa's leading minds and innovators in the energy sector, offering a critical platform for tangible solutions to the nation's power crisis. Taking place from 19 to 21 August 2025 at the Johannesburg Expo Centre, this inaugural event arrives at a pivotal moment as the country grapples with persistent energy instability. Themed 'Empowering Solutions for South Africa's Energy Future', the Expo will address national grid constraints, accelerate the adoption of renewable energy, promote off-grid innovation, mitigate load shedding, and modernise infrastructure and regulation. Organised by the Electrical Contractors Association (SA) and the South African Electrical Workers Association (SAEWA) and proudly endorsed by the National Bargaining Council for the Electrical Industry, Electricity Expo Africa 2025 ( is a focused space for stakeholders committed to real-world impact. "Electricity is the engine of development. This Expo is more than just an industry gathering – it's a national imperative, a call to action for every stakeholder invested in South Africa's future," said Jimmy Turner, Chairperson of Electricity Expo Africa. "We are uniting solution-providers, policymakers, and communities to collectively transform South Africa's energy landscape from one of scarcity to one of reliability and abundance." Three Pillars of Focus 1. Confronting the National Grid Crisis South Africa's ageing grid requires urgent intervention. At the heart of the Expo is a drive to modernise infrastructure through automation, smart diagnostics, and maintenance innovations. By gathering grid experts and transmission specialists, the event will foster knowledge exchange on how to prevent failures and accelerate national upgrade projects. This effort supports the National Energy Action Plan, which aims to restore Eskom's reliability and accelerate the development of new power capacity. "Ending load shedding requires more than just talk; it demands real tools, smart systems, and urgent implementation of practical solutions," emphasised Turner. "This Expo will present actionable answers – from cutting-edge grid technologies that bolster resilience to policy reforms that streamline infrastructure development. It's about turning challenges into opportunities for growth." 2. Accelerating Renewable and Off-Grid Solutions South Africa's energy future depends on a diversified generation mix. With the rapid rise of solar adoption – from 2,300 MW in 2022 to over 5,400 MW by early 2024 – the Expo will highlight solar PV, wind, and battery storage technologies that enable homes, businesses, and municipalities to generate electricity independently and reduce their reliance on the national grid. Over 130 IPP projects, totalling roughly 22,500 MW, are also in the pipeline. At the Expo, both large-scale and decentralised innovations will be on display, including off-grid and mini-grid solutions for rural and high-risk areas. Attendees will engage directly with tech developers and solution providers, demonstrating the tools needed to power communities and commercial hubs even in the absence of national supply. 3. Innovation in Policy, Infrastructure, and Regulation The recent Electricity Regulation Amendment Act marks a new era for South Africa's electricity sector, introducing reforms such as an independent transmission system operator and a competitive power market. But policy must match pace with technology. Electricity Expo Africa 2025 ( will feature high-level discussions with government, regulators, and industry leaders. Topics include streamlining licences for renewables, energy storage incentives, updated grid codes, and infrastructure financing – crucial considering the estimated R390 billion needed for national grid expansion. "We are not just showcasing innovation; we are driving a national movement towards a resilient, inclusive electricity system," added Turner. "Electricity Expo Africa 2025 is where solutions become action, fostering the collaboration between government, industry, and civil society that is essential for a truly sustainable energy future." Who Needs to Be There Electricity Expo Africa 2025 will host over 150 exhibitors and more than 60 expert speakers, creating a platform for high-impact visibility and engagement. Key participants will include: Policymakers and Energy Officials – Sharing reforms and strategic plans. Municipal Utility Leaders – Highlighting local innovation and micro-grids. Renewable Energy Innovators – Showcasing new generation technologies. Grid Technology and Storage Providers – Presenting advanced smart-grid systems. Financing and Infrastructure Partners – Exploring capital mobilisation and PPPs. Community Energy Access Organisations – Championing equitable power access. This expansive programme creates a rare opportunity for businesses to place their innovations at the centre of national dialogue and development. Turner underscores the dual opportunity for exhibitors: "Exhibiting at Electricity Expo Africa 2025 is more than a marketing opportunity – it's a chance to fuel your company's growth and help power South Africa's energy transformation. We encourage businesses large and small to showcase their innovations at the Expo, where they can build valuable relationships and play a role in securing the nation's energy future." Event details: Dates: 19–21 August 2025 Venue: Johannesburg Expo Centre, Nasrec Website: Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Electricity Expo Africa (EEA). Issued By: The Lime Envelope On Behalf Of: Electricity Expo Africa For Media Information: Kerry Oliver Telephone: 082 927 9470 E-mail: kerry@
New York Times
6 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Forget the football – this is why the Club World Cup really matters
FIFA gave its 32 competing teams a billion reasons to take a revamped Club World Cup seriously when announcing its monstrous prize pot back in March. Each and every club had appetites sharpened by the announcement of a $1billion fund in March, with the lucky winner potentially walking away with up to $125million for less than a month's work. Advertisement The short-term gains have been there for all to see — $2m just for a group game win — yet it is the intangibles, a promise of commercial growth in a largely untapped market, that also ensures no participating club is dismissive of the opportunity presenting itself in the United States. The empty seats at many stadiums, and patchy quality of the football, may have sparked some barbed comments in more established football territories, but to the clubs involved, this is a brand-building moment and a chance to either entrench positions in the market or to spark growth. The European Club Association, which has 11 of its members playing in the U.S., are among those who champion the positives that jar with the ongoing workload concerns of players' unions. 'The ECA has been supportive of this tournament from the beginning,' said the organisation's chairman, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, also president of Paris Saint-Germain — one of the competing teams — on the eve of the tournament in Miami. 'We believe that the FIFA Club World Cup will become a landmark competition and can deliver real benefits for all clubs.' Or, in other words, the chance to swell their coffers. Strip it all back and the Club World Cup in its latest iteration is another money-making exercise for its most high-profile participants. A pre-season tour gilded and rebadged; an introduction to new audiences with cheques banked along the way. FIFA has issued soundbites from players and managers talking up the chance to create history by lifting silverware, but executives will inevitably be viewing it through a different prism for now. One where balance sheets build and their brand finds ballast. 'I know first-hand that the clubs competing in the Club World Cup are hugely supportive of it. They see it as a major opportunity,' Phil Carling, head of football at the marketing agency Octagon and formerly the Football Association's commercial director, tells The Athletic. Advertisement 'It probably goes back for the last 10 years, but at the moment, the scramble to capture, retain and, ideally, monetise international fans is particularly fierce. 'Any platform, like the Club World Cup, that gives you exposure in the right prestigious environment — and even better if you win it — is your opportunity to capture those fans and use that as an equity to build wealth through your commercial programmes. 'Talent follows money, eyeballs follow talent, and money follows eyeballs. Put that together and it helps to understand the commercial model for elite sport.' The revamped Club World Cup, spanning close to a month, is that new chance for clubs to sell themselves. It might lack the prestige and rewards of UEFA's Champions League, but FIFA's summertime competition has the potential to bring layered financial hits. Merchandise can be sold and social media followers gained on the back of exploits in the U.S. 'We can take a sniffy view of this because of long-held legacy attitudes about football and what is valuable in football,' explains Tim Crow, an experienced sports marketing advisor. 'But there's a new generation of fans to be won and that's really the key battleground. It's not about whether the traditional fan is won over, it's a question of whether new fans are won over.' Commercial revenue is the income stream where clubs are most emphatically the masters of their own destiny, and in the modern era, it continues to take on huge significance. Deloitte's annual Money League report, a ranking of the richest clubs in football, found that its top 20 generated £4.2bn of commercial income in 2023-24, which amounted to 44 per cent of the collective turnover. Of the top 10 clubs, only Arsenal had commercial revenues that were eclipsed by either broadcast or matchday income. Advertisement At football's capitalist edge, the scramble is on to secure international fans with money to spend. It is why Manchester United will head to New Jersey, Chicago and Atlanta next month after a post-season trip to the Far East. Arsenal have their own preparatory plans in Singapore and Hong Kong, while Liverpool and Barcelona are both travelling to Japan, among other countries. The suspicion is that Ruben Amorim, Mikel Arteta, Arne Slot and Hansi Flick will all be glad of the rest currently being afforded to their players, but the commercial departments of those teams tasked with raising profiles and enhancing brands and with targets to meet, will quietly be lamenting not being part of the Club World Cup. 'All of the big Premier League clubs not part of this will be wishing they were,' says Carling, who previously headed up Arsenal's first commercial team in the 1990s. 'There wouldn't be a board that got a call from FIFA to step in six months ago who would turn it down. They would've hired a rowing boat to get over the Atlantic. 'The prize money is one thing, but the prestige and where it positions you as a club, as an entity within world football, is very important. I doubt the players and coaching staff will be weeping that they're not involved, but being part of this is huge for the clubs that are going.' PSG's Al-Khelaifi is not the only prominent figure pleased to be spending much of the footballing summer in the U.S. Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano said his club was 'very excited' to be one of the 32 involved. 'I think it's something that was very much needed,' he told reporters this week following their opening game against Wydad AC in Philadelphia on Tuesday. Real Madrid's Florentino Perez was even more ebullient. 'It's a beautiful competition and I'm sure it will be a huge success,' he told DAZN. 'We've come here with great enthusiasm.' Advertisement The comments have the feel of people at a party telling those stuck at home of the fun they are missing, but there is substance to the propaganda. Every elite club remains locked in a battle to grow its brand and the bigger that gets, the more revenues can be generated. Real Madrid, Europe's most successful club, are widely considered to have built the strongest brand in football and in 2023-24, that was reflected in commercial revenues of £410m. 'There are three angles on how clubs can grow their brand (through the Club World Cup),' says Hugo Hensley, head of sports services at Brand Finance. 'One is global. You're going to have global exposure. But that really matters for the big brands that actually can monetise that rate, clubs like Real Madrid. They need to have that to maintain the prestige as being the best in the world. 'There's also local exposure. It's going to be brilliant for the Middle Eastern club who can say we're on this really prestigious stage and build engagement locally. 'And then there's exposure to the U.S. You get that very valuable market that all of these brands are hoping will be monetisable either now, or as a long-term brand growth prospect.' The location of this Club World Cup, played out over 11 host cities in the U.S., has undeniably added appeal to its participants. There might be huge numbers of locals who care little for its presence this summer, but the biggest European clubs concluded long ago that it was the market with the greatest potential to tap. There are, literally, millions without footballing club loyalties. FIFA ran a quiz on their website earlier this week underlining as much, inviting users to answer a series of questions that would help determine the club they should be backing at the tournament. 'If you asked most Premier League clubs to list the top three markets they'd like FIFA to take this to, the U.S. would certainly be in there,' says Crow. 'It's a giant economy. Forty cents in every dollar spent on sports marketing around the world emanates from the U.S. It makes a lot of sense to go there and try to tap into that engine. For big European clubs, they have been steadily working away at the American market for a long time.' Carling is in agreement. 'It is a $20trillion market and the richest domestic market in the world,' he says. 'Therefore, the consumers might be smaller in number, but their economic weight is much heavier than, say, India or China, where clubs used to feel they should be targeting. 'The pivot towards the U.S. is becoming very important in a lot of clubs' strategies. There are fans in the States who haven't made up their minds on who they should follow and here's an opportunity to capture those fans. And economically significant fans. You'll have those people then potentially going out to buy merchandise, follow the team in the future and subscribe to digital channels. More importantly, they'll be interested in brands that are associated with those clubs.' Advertisement The Club World Cup remains a tournament of unknowns as the group stages reach their deciding moments in the coming days. No one, not even FIFA president Gianni Infantino, can predict where his pet project will be 10 years from now and whether it has confounded the scepticism. Will winning the final in New Jersey on July 13 really count for much beyond the windfall awaiting the victors? Only time will tell, but there is a reason that Manchester City, Real Madrid, PSG and more are all desperate to find out. This Club World Cup, for all its detractors, is a big step towards more.
