As part of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between ECES and WeFootball, and as the first joint initiative implemented under this partnership and as part of our European Union-funded project “Strengthening Democracy and Electoral Governance in Zambia”, the Democracy Dialogue Football Tournaments mark the beginning of a shared commitment to harnessing the power of football to promote democratic values, social cohesion and active citizenship.
As Zambia prepares for its General Elections on 13 August 2026, ECES, together with WeFootball and local partners, is implementing the Democracy Dialogue Football Tournaments, an innovative initiative that uses sport as a platform to promote democratic values, social cohesion and active citizenship. Taking place shortly before the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final, the initiative seeks to encourage dialogue and civic engagement among young people and local communities at an important moment in the country's democratic process, while building on the universal appeal of football to bring communities together. Hosted at Indeni Stadium in Ndola, a vibrant peri-urban community with a large youth population and strong grassroots football culture, the tournament transforms the football pitch into a space where communities come together not only to compete, but also to engage in meaningful dialogue about the future of their country.
Built on an integrated sport-for-development methodology, the Democracy Dialogue Football Tournaments use football as a practical entry point for civic education and democratic learning. Throughout the event, participants experience key democratic principles—including fairness, accountability, respect for rules, teamwork and dialogue—both on and off the field. Following this methodology, football matches are combined with facilitated discussions that encourage participants to reflect on their experiences and connect them to broader democratic concepts such as participation, peaceful conflict resolution, responsible citizenship and inclusive governance.
Beyond the tournament itself, the initiative places dialogue at its core through the Football for Democracy Circles, interactive workshops that run alongside the matches. Young people, first-time voters, coaches, community leaders and civil society representatives work together in intergenerational groups to discuss issues that are central to Zambia's democratic future. The sessions explore topics such as youth participation and voting responsibility, the impact of disinformation and social media during elections, the prevention of electoral violence, youth employment and economic opportunities, education, environmental sustainability and the importance of peaceful democratic participation. Each group develops key messages before presenting its conclusions to fellow participants, with young first-time voters taking the lead as speakers, reinforcing youth leadership and ownership throughout the process.
The tournament brings together young people aged 18 to 35, women, first-time voters, community leaders and members of marginalized groups. Teams alternate between football matches and dialogue workshops, ensuring that every participant is actively engaged in both the sporting and educational components of the event. Trained facilitators, youth peer educators, electoral stakeholders and civil society organisations accompany participants throughout the programme, facilitating discussions, sharing information and creating opportunities for constructive exchanges that strengthen trust between citizens and democratic institutions.
Through this initiative, ECES and WeFootball demonstrate that football can be far more than a game. By creating spaces where communities learn, exchange ideas and reflect together, the Democracy Dialogue Football Tournaments contribute to building informed, resilient and engaged citizens capable of participating peacefully in democratic processes.
At a time when elections present both opportunities and challenges, the initiative highlights the importance of investing in youth, promoting dialogue across communities and strengthening democratic culture from the grassroots. By combining sport, civic education and community engagement, ECES continues to support innovative approaches that foster peaceful, inclusive and credible electoral processes, empowering citizens to become active participants in shaping Zambia's democratic future.
ECES looks forward to launching this first joint initiative in Zambia together with WeFootball and local partners, translating the shared vision of the Memorandum of Understanding into concrete action on the ground. Building on this first implementation, both organisations look forward to expanding the Democracy Dialogue Football Tournaments to many other partner countries, demonstrating how football can serve as a powerful platform for civic engagement, democratic participation and social cohesion across diverse electoral contexts.
