The International Handball Federation has established a new Women’s Handball Working Group, bringing together leading female voices from across all areas of the game to drive implementation of its Four‑Year Plan 2026–2029 on women in handball.

A new engine for women’s handball

Approved by the IHF Council in the last meeting on 6 May, in Basel, at the New IHF House, the Women’s Handball Working Group is designed as the central driving force behind the federation’s long‑term strategy to increase the proportion of women in handball at all levels and in all areas of activity.

Building on existing programmes that promote women’s handball worldwide, the group will connect development projects and competition structures so that progress for girls and women is embedded across the sport, from grassroots to elite.

The group’s creation follows the IHF Four‑Year Plan 2026–2029, which sets clear priorities: attracting more girls to handball, identifying and educating female referees, promoting female leadership and building a more effective framework for women’s handball in every region. 

Diverse leadership, global representation

Chaired by Norwegian goalkeeping legend Katrine Lunde, the Women’s Handball Working Group brings together eight members whose profiles span former elite players, national‑team coaches, referees, delegates and federation leaders. Alongside Lunde, the group includes former national team players Nair Filipe Pires de Almeida Vilaca (Angola) and Eduarda Amorim (Brazil), IHF delegate and Chairwoman of the AHF Ethics Commission Mitra Noori (Islamic Republic of Iran), Secretary of the Board of Directors of Handball Canada, Saribel Deslauriers (Canada), Denmark women’s national team coach Helle Thomsen (Denmark) and former IHF referees Julie Bonaventura (France) and Charlotte Bonaventura.

Their combined experience covers every branch of the game: playing, coaching, refereeing, national‑federation management and international event governance, ensuring that decisions reflect the realities of the court, the bench and the boardroom alike. The group is also deliberately global, with members representing Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South and Central America, mirroring the IHF’s commitment to support development beyond traditional handball strongholds.

 

Clear goals: more women, in more roles

According to the approved concept, the working group’s overarching goal is to ensure the holistic advancement of girls and women in handball. This includes increasing the proportion of women involved in all areas - players, coaches, referees, delegates, administrators and leaders - with a particular focus on continents and Member Federations outside Europe where structures are still emerging.

The group will also concentrate on motivating and recruiting female players nearing the end of their careers to remain in the sport as coaches, referees or officials, so that their experience is not lost once they stop playing. Supporting Member Federations in developing their own specific concepts for girls’ and women’s handball is another central task, ensuring that global objectives are translated into locally relevant programmes.

Linking strategy to concrete programmes

The Women’s Handball Working Group will oversee the implemention of the IHF programme portfolio outlined in the Four-Year Plan 2026–2029, which includes campaigns to attract more girls to handball, dedicated schemes for the identification and education of female referees, and initiatives to promote female leadership in both indoor, beach and wheelchair handball. These programmes are complemented by scholarships for female coaches and referees, supervision and guidance for Member Federations in the development of women’s handball, and efforts to build a more effective overall framework for women’s participation.

An important pillar is education and knowledge sharing. The IHF plans to expand its information and learning platforms with online seminars, teaching materials, best‑practice examples, promotional content and a video database, all designed to support women’s handball at every level. The working group will help shape these resources and ensure they respond to the real needs of players, officials and federations on the ground.

Supporting referees, coaches and future leaders

Within this wider framework, the group will play a key role in rolling out new initiatives for female referees, including mentoring networks, exchange programmes and tailored support around life events such as maternity. These measures are intended to make refereeing a sustainable, long‑term pathway for women, reducing barriers to entry and helping talented officials progress to the highest stages of the sport.

Special attention will also be given to former elite players. A new IHF Licence Course is being developed specifically for women who have competed at the top level, offering a fast‑track route into coaching with a curriculum adapted to their experience. By opening structured pathways into technical and leadership roles, the working group aims to ensure that more women remain in handball as decision‑makers and role models.

Working methods: from ideas to implementation

The Women’s Handball Working Group will meet around three to four times a year, with at least one in‑person meeting at the IHF Office in Basel, complemented by smaller topic‑based meetings when needed. A designated staff member from the IHF Office will coordinate the group’s work and meetings, while experts from IHF Commissions and departments – including Events, Development and Education, Marketing and Media – may participate depending on the agenda.

Crucially, the group can submit proposals for structural changes, new programmes and development concepts directly to the IHF Council or, where appropriate, to the Executive Committee, ensuring that promising ideas can be acted upon without delay. The chair of the group is responsible for preparing an annual or multi‑year plan in collaboration with the members, and for maintaining communication with all relevant IHF bodies on fundamental decisions and project implementation.

IHF Forum 2026 and beyond

The Women’s Handball Working Group will also be closely involved in the IHF Forum 2026: Women in Handball, which will serve as a key platform to discuss the next steps of the worldwide development programme for girls’ and women’s handball. The forum will bring together Member Federations, experts and stakeholders to share experiences, highlight successful models and refine common priorities for the years to come.

The aim is that every initiative - from baby and children’s handball festivals to high‑level education for coaches and referees - contributes to a strong, sustainable ecosystem for women and girls in our sport.