World Aquatics to boost global growth and athlete development through launch of 2025 Support Programme

World Aquatics has launched the application process for National Federations to receive funding to support development projects in 2025 through its comprehensive Support Programme.

The application process requires National Federations to formulate detailed proposals of projects they intend to implement including beneficiaries, detailed activities, connection to the overall National Federation strategy, and expected results. This ensures the highest standards of good governance and transparency are upheld from the beginning of the Support Programme, and effective support for programmes which will have a demonstrable impact in driving positive change and are embedded in National Federations’ long-term strategies.

For the first time this year, World Aquatics has held online project management courses ahead of the launch of the application process. Sessions have been conducted in Spanish, English and French, and have proved highly valuable for National Federations in supporting their applications, optimising their resources to ensure successful project management, and providing insights into effective evaluation of projects.

National Federations additionally identified the online courses as a useful way to connect with their counterparts from other countries and engage in knowledge sharing.

To be eligible to receive funding through the 2025 World Aquatics Support Programme, National Federations must meet the following criteria: have participated at the World Aquatics Championships – Doha 2024 or World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) – Budapest 2024, finalised projects and reports from previous editions of the World Aquatics Support Programme by 31 December 2024, and completed the Governance Survey 2025.

A record of more than 200 National Federations are expected to be eligible to receive funding from the World Aquatics Support Programme for 2025.

Extensive funding of $25,000 is available for National Federations that qualify as eligible and an additional $5,000 is available for those who improved their governance score from 2024 to 2025 to reward improvements in this area.

To ensure athletes remain at the heart of World Aquatics and its members’ activities, the Support Programme requires at least 75% of funding to be invested into athlete centered programmes.

National Federations may use this funding for up to six different projects, and are encouraged to pursue initiatives which boost the development of all six aquatics sports.

World Aquatics is committed to delivering the highest standards of good governance across the membership, and at least one of the projects funded by the Support Programme must be governance-oriented to deliver tangible improvements in a focus area.

The 2024 World Aquatics Support Programme provided nearly $4.5 million to National Federations last year, contributing to the successful delivery of 621 projects in 169 countries which benefited more than 395,000 athletes.

It is World Aquatics’ biggest development programme, and has had a proven impact in transforming National Federations, athletes, coaches and the wider aquatics community around the world.

Eligible National Federations have until 15 February 2025 to apply for funding.

To maintain the highest standards of good governance and transparency throughout the duration of the Support Programme, 70% of the funding will be released to National Federations after the approval of their application, and the remaining 30% after project completion and submission of a Final Report.