Evaluering
Fotball for All
Background The project started as an initiative developed from a meeting between FootballAssociation of Norway (NFF) and the Vietnamese Football Federation (VFF).NFF placed Mr. Jostein Johannesen as project coordinator in Hanoi from 2001till 2002 to set up the project.The projects primary focus was to assist in the formation of clubs and developcommunity football structures. The Norwegian Embassy in Hanoi and NORADfinanced the building of the Binge, and later seven small size gravel pitches inThua Thien Hue Province. Lack of experience, expertise and lack ofcommunication with VFF created many challenges and expectations in the startof the project, and a written agreement and formal registration of FFA inVietnam was first done after negotiations by Mr. Per Ravn Omdal in 2003.The project coordination was in 2003 moved to Hue City were the Embassysupported an already existing NCA - Nordic Assistance to Vietnam (NAV).FFA entered a cooperation with NAV and has since 2003 been hosted at theNAV head quarter in Hue. Mr. Nguyen Hoang Phuong, former interpreter forthe FFA was hired as new project coordinator. Purpose/objective The Terms of References states that the main objective of the assessment is toget an independent review to substantiate the project, and to verify if theactivities have started to yield the anticipated and desired results. Theassessment aims to examine experiences and expectations from the targetpopulation, football clubs, leaders, coaches and instructors to find the mainbenefit from the project in terms of:- Grassroots football development for both girls and boys, children and youth- Football as building positive attitudes, social development, empowermentand as a tool in the fight against HIV/AIDS Methodology The assessment took place in February and March 2005, on request from theFootball Association of Norway. The scope of the assessment was the wholeperiod the project have been running, with focus on the current status and theability to reach the anticipated results stated in the application to NORAD for2007.The assessment was conducted by a team of two, Mrs. Ha Tran, Consultanthired by the Football Association of Norway and Mr. Pelle Kvalsund, Consultantfrom the Norwegian Olympic Committee and Confederation of Sport.A number of project sites and districts were visited in both TT Hue Provinceand Hanoi City to get a sufficient overview of the activities and peopleinvolved. Key findings It was apparent from the start of our observation that Football for All in Vietnamis driven by a genuine enthusiasm that is spread out and reflected in theownership and the commitment at all levels of the project. This is an enormousstrength, and even though football in Vietnam is not as big as in other places inthe world, it is the largest sport and recreational activity in the country, and isplayed by children and adults in the cities as well as rural area and remoteareas.The people in Vietnam seem to be very disciplined and controlled. It hastherefore been particular touching to see the enormous passion, pride andenthusiasm amongst parents, leaders, teachers and not least the children.Teachers on their knees of pure pride when their team win, and the concernwhen someone get injured.Another of FFA's strengths is the primary focus on football. The importance ofsport and the value of the sports activities alone seem to drive the project, andwithout this there is no project.We believe that the project has a huge potential and that, even with achallenging start, leaving some gaps to be filled, the project already is fairlysuccessful in providing new opportunities for participation in football for childrenin targeted primary schools.Some of the challenges identified by the participants and stakeholders are focus,clarity and sustainability, and are in detail described under various chapters inthe report. Recommendations 1. Focus and clarification of roles in partnerships2. Increase the capacity of the leaders3. HIV/AIDS component4. Infrastructure5. Sustainability