“We are inviting applications from people who want to be involved in this two-year programme, where we hope to empower NPCs to be able to increase their numbers of high quality athletes, have a stronger national presence and maintain better relationships with stakeholders locally, regionally and on an international stage.”

The Agitos Foundation, which acts as the development arm of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), is now inviting National Paralympic Committee’s (NPCs) to apply for its Organisational Capacity Programme, which will launch in February 2014.

The Organisational Capacity Programme aims to take existing knowledge and resources that currently exist in NPCs – in areas such as Games preparation, athlete development, governance, management – and bring them to a consistent standard through a series of workshops.

Building on the success of the Organisational Development Initiative in 2007, the programme will also help NPCs lay the foundation for fundraising efforts and create a basis for stakeholder relationships.

From 2014-15, the Agitos Foundation will offer the programme to up to 15 NPCs.

Interested NPCs must demonstrate a commitment to their own development and nominate a staff member or individual supporting their NPC who will be trained to become a Programme Lead.

Georg Schlachtenberger, Director of the Agitos Foundation said: “We are inviting applications from people who want to be involved in this two-year programme, where we hope to empower NPCs to be able to increase their numbers of high quality athletes, have a stronger national presence and maintain better relationships with stakeholders locally, regionally and on an international stage.

“We are collaborating with the IPC Academy in order to train Programme Leads who in 2014 will work with their NPC to deliver training workshops to staff and local stakeholders. We are also developing sophisticated and thorough training materials which the facilitators can use to deliver the workshops.”

Candidates that NPCs nominate for Programme Leads should have strong presentation skills, a knowledge of sport administration and a genuine interest in developing the Paralympic Movement from the national level upwards.

Eligibility criteria and application forms can be found here.

NPCs interested in taking part in this programme must send their applications to the IPC’s Development Manager at jennifer.wong@paralympic.org by 20 December 2013 at 12:00 CET.