The Olympic Committee of Guinea Bissau Adopts its First Ever Strategic Plan

Bissau, June 6, 2015 - Initiated since 2013, the realization of the strategic plan of the Olympic Committee of Guinea Bissau (COGB) went through an important stage this Saturday, June 6, 2015 with a restitution and validation seminar of the plan that has held in the capital, Bissau. The seminar was attended by the entire Olympic and sports movement of the country; the athletes were well represented with, in the lead, Augusto Midana, recent African Wrestling champion, the National Federations, members of COGB, State Secretary for Youth, sport and culture as well as a number of private sector companies came to discover the new ambitions of COGB and opportunities offered to them.

This document of about thirty pages was made possible with the technical assistance of JAPPO SPORTS CONSULTING led by Senegalese Diamil Faye. It represents two years of work during which a participative approach was adopted with the involvement of all national stakeholders.

Guinea-Bissau has just experienced a political change which, after years of political and social instability, with all its consequences on everyday life, tends to restore confidence in the country and its various institutions. COGB therefore wanted to take advantage of this favorable economic and political climate combined with the IOC Agenda 2020 to restructure and modernize its organization in order to better serve its stakeholders and especially the athletes. This plan, which is the first in the sporting history of the country, aims at strengthening the relationships between COGB and the national sports federations and reaching a tripartite partnership between Government- COGB -private sector to develop infrastructures, increase the number of national competitions, position the athletes on the international stage and attract international events in Guinea Bissau.

Six strategic goals were identified for the period 2015-2018:

- Goal 1: Set up a structured and efficient administration

- Goal 2: Place the marketing and communications at the center of COGB development

- Goal 3: Establish strong and sustainable partnerships

- Goal 4: Put the infrastructures at the heart of sports development in the country

- Goal 5: Coordinate and support the sports development

- Goal 6: Create sustainable national events and attract international events

Sergio Mane, President of COGB is aware that "even with the expertise of JAPPO SPORTS CONSULTING and support of the Government, the COGB will not bring be able to deliver this ambitious project alone. I therefore urge all our national stakeholders (government, media, sports federations, private partners, etc.) and international stakeholders such as the IOC, Olympic Solidarity and ANOCA to support this important initiative so that this plan, which reflects a common approach and reference, can bring the targeted results."

Diamil Faye, coordinator of this project says "Guinea Bissau is full of talent and the gold medal they have won at African Wrestling Championships is an excellent proof. The government and private sector partners that we have just met are very enthusiastic and it is now up to COGB to structure and continue making efforts to be in line with the principles of good governance and gain/maintain the confidence of its stakeholders to boost its athletes and sport in the country."

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