Basketball's governing body, FIBA, has launched a female internship programme for Pacific nations.
American Samoa celebrate their first ever Pacific Games basketball title. Photo: Vinnie Wylie/RNZ Pacific
The first part of the programme will run at the end of this year, and aims to provide professional development opportunities through online courses, mentoring and workshops.
Applicants will also relocate to Australia, where they will work on developing a basketball-related project for their national federation back home.
FIBA Oceania Executive Director, David Crocker, said they hoped to see a growth in female players that will eventually lead their country in some capacity.
FIBA Oceania Executive Director, David Crocker. Photo: Reach Sports Management
"FIBA's desire of empowering women in basketball is one of the key objectives and we believe this program will be a great addition to achieve those goals," he said.
"We look forward to young promising female leaders leading the way in the future."
The programme has some similarities to FIBA's women's empowerment workshop in 2015, which helped suport participants such as current FIBA Central Board Member, Karo Lelai, and FIBA Oceania Board Member, Jubilee Kuartei.
Crocker hoped the internship would provide similar results.
FIBA Central Board Member, Karo Lelai (right), was part of the FIBA's women's empowerment workshop in 2015. Photo: Basketball Federation of Papua New Guinea
"We are very proud of the accomplishments of the women leaders who were part of that workshop and hope to have the same effect with this programme."
Applicants must be over 18 years of age, and will be nominated by their respective national federations.