The Organisational Capacity Programme, originally launched in February, aims to give NPCs the knowledge, support and tools to develop athletes as well as increase their activities in other important areas such as Games preparation and fundraising over a two-year period.

A total of 44 NPCs applied to be part of the first edition of the Programme, with 12 of those chosen as programme leads.

These leads then participated in an intensive training workshop at the home of the IPC in Bonn, Germany.

They have since gone on to run their own national workshops, aiming to deliver four needs-based sessions by the end of 2015.

The workshops are designed using a kit of presentations and tools from the Agitos Foundation tailored to the individual needs of their NPC.

Participants of the first Organisational Capacity Programme have used the experience to put together activities in their home countries ©Facebook



"As we move closer to Rio 2016 and further to Tokyo 2020 it is our priority to make sure that we are supporting NPCs to give them the tools they need to develop athletes, but athletes cannot be brought on if the rest of the structure is not there to push them forward," said Georg Schlachtenberger, director of the Agitos Foundation

"This is why we, alongside the IPC Academy, are focusing on giving NPCs intensive guidance and training on branding, administration, Games preparation, fundraising and stakeholder relationships, and asking them to run their own national workshops within their organisations to share that knowledge around."

The Agitos Foundation has urged NPCs looking to become a part of the programme to apply via their website.

The closing date for applications is July 11.

Following this date a selection committee, comprised of representatives from the Agitos Foundation and the IPC Academy, will shortlist a number of candidates with these then moved into an interview process via Skype of telephone.

Up to 15 successful candidates will then be invited to attend a training session from October 6 to 9 in Berlin, Germany.

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