♚ACC New Team
ACC Manifesto 2026–2030

A program, transparent and accountable.

Seven commitments across governance, finance, youth, and technical training. Each one specific. Each one public.

The Honest Diagnosis

Naming what is broken in Africa.

01

No Physical Presence

The ACC has no headquarters, no secretariat, no address. A continental body that exists nowhere cannot serve anyone. Branding, credibility, and institutional memory are impossible without a home.

02

No Bank Account

A continental body with no bank account is a promise unfulfilled. This critical foundation remains undelivered, crippling financial operations and sponsorship efforts.

03

Zero Sponsorship

No official sponsor has been secured. No marketing effort has been made. The ACC brand, Africa's most powerful chess platform, sits unutilized while the game goes underfunded.

04

Abandoned Juniors

Africa's most promising young chess talents receive zero support or development programming from the ACC. An entire generation of champions is being lost to neglect.

05

Champions Left Behind

Continental champions cannot afford rights to world-stage competitions. Host countries carry all the burden. The ACC watches as its own champions fail to represent Africa globally.

06

Silence at FIDE

When African federations struggle to access FIDE resources or PDC funds, the ACC offers no voice, no support, and no advocacy. Africa speaks softly when it should roar.

07

No Induction for New Leaders

New federation presidents are thrown in at the deep end with no guidance, no orientation, and no understanding of their role within FIDE or ACC structures. They survive alone or not at all.

08

Language Exclusion

An entire confederation conducts itself with no regard for language diversity. Francophone, Arabophone, and Lusophone federations are left behind — invisible in their own continental body.

09

Gap in Board Involvement

There has been a noticeable gap in active involvement by certain members of the leadership team in the management and coordination of ACC affairs, leaving crucial errands to a smaller section of the board.

10

Diminishing Relevance of Zonal Championships

Zonal Championships have gradually lost their prestige and significance. Without clear qualification pathways or strong institutional support, participation has declined, denying talented players a meaningful route to global competition.

11

Lack of Resources for Chess in Schools

Many Level 4 and Level 5 federations lack the financial resources, equipment and qualified instructors needed to establish sustainable Chess in Schools programmes. As a result, millions of children across Africa are still unable to benefit from chess as an educational and developmental tool.

Our Commitments to the Continent

What we will deliver.

01
Finance & Sponsorship

Institutional Finances, Done Right

The new ACC will open an official bank account—the foundation of every serious continental body. Without it, nothing else is possible. Alongside this, we will mount a serious, sustained marketing effort to bring an official sponsor on board, using the full weight of the ACC brand and the continent's 54 chess federations as our platform.

Status quo

No official bank account. No sponsors. Financial operations and sponsorship efforts are severely crippled.

ACC NEXTMOVE

Official bank account opened immediately. Structured marketing system to secure corporate sponsorships.

  • Establish full institutional banking transparency from year one.
  • Aggressive marketing campaigns using data-driven membership information.
  • Regular publication of audited financial records.
02
Youth Development

Investing in Africa's Next Generation

Africa's juniors are among the most talented chess players in the world. The new ACC will design and launch comprehensive development programs specifically for young players, with structured pathways from grassroots to continental competition. We will find them, fund them, and prepare them to represent Africa on the world stage.

Status quo

Zero support or development programming for juniors from the ACC. A generation of talent lost to neglect.

ACC NEXTMOVE

Comprehensive development programs, structured youth pathways, and direct funding for emerging talents.

  • Structured training programs and coaching systems for junior players.
  • Grants to support travel and registration for youth championships.
  • Support for chess-in-schools initiatives in every member federation.
03
Elite Players

Our Champions Will Fly

No continental champion should miss the world stage because of an airline ticket. The new ACC will purchase rights and work directly with each champion's federation to ensure that Africa's best players compete globally. We refuse to let our champions' achievements end at our continental borders. Host countries will no longer carry this burden alone.

Status quo

Champions left stranded. Host countries carry all the burden. Champions fail to represent Africa globally.

ACC NEXTMOVE

Guaranteed travel and rights coverage for continental champions to play in world-stage events.

  • Direct airline ticket funding for qualified continental champions.
  • Collaborative agreements with national federations to secure player visas and logistics.
  • Shared responsibility model so host federations are not financially drained.
04
Arbiters & Officials

Arbiter Development & Upgrade Support

The new ACC will actively create and secure opportunities for arbiters across all federations, with a strong focus on supporting title upgrades to Class A and Class B levels. Through increased access to continental and international events, we aim to expand practical exposure, strengthen arbitration training programs, and ensure arbiters from all regions receive meaningful pathways for growth and technical advancement.

Status quo

Arbiters have limited practical exposure and lack clear pathways or support for title upgrades.

ACC NEXTMOVE

Structured training, seminars, and fully funded arbiter placements at continental championships.

  • Active advocacy for African arbiters to receive FIDE title upgrades.
  • Creation of regional arbiter workshops and certification courses.
  • Ensuring inclusive selection of arbiters for ACC events across all language zones.
05
Global Representation

Africa's Voice Will Be Heard at FIDE

The new ACC will be a formidable presence at FIDE. We will advocate forcefully for Africa's proportional allocation of resources, PDC funds, arbiters, and opportunities. When any African federation faces a challenge with FIDE, the ACC will stand beside them—informed, prepared, and unyielding. Africa will no longer be spoken over.

Status quo

The ACC offers no advocacy or representation at FIDE. Africa speaks softly when it should roar.

ACC NEXTMOVE

Forceful representation, collective bargaining for PDC funds, and institutional support for every member.

  • Lobbying for expanded allocation of development budgets and commissions to Africa.
  • Direct assistance to federations applying for FIDE funding or technical support.
  • A unified, multi-lingual African voting bloc on major constitutional matters.
06
Governance & Leadership

No New President Left Behind

Every new federation president will receive a structured induction—a comprehensive orientation covering their role, their relationship with FIDE, their rights and responsibilities as an ACC member, and the full suite of support available to them. No new leader should have to figure out how to survive on their own. The ACC is their partner from day one.

Status quo

New presidents are thrown in at the deep end with no guidance, survivors of isolation.

ACC NEXTMOVE

Structured onboarding, a digital resource handbook, and mentor pairings with senior leaders.

  • Development of a "New President Handbook" covering FIDE/ACC procedures and grant writing.
  • A dedicated support desk at the ACC Secretariat for administrative troubleshooting.
  • Annual orientation seminars during continental championships.
07
Player Progression

Targeted Player Development

The new ACC will work directly with federations to identify high-performing players—particularly International Masters and emerging talents—and support their participation in norm tournaments and elite competitive pathways. Through strategic partnerships, targeted funding support, and continental coordination, we will help create clear progression routes for African players pursuing international titles.

Status quo

Emerging talents and IMs struggle to access norm tournaments, slowing down the path to GM titles.

ACC NEXTMOVE

Coordinated norm events in Africa and direct travel/entry support for elite prospects.

  • Strategic partnerships with global organizers to secure wildcards for African players.
  • Funding support for IMs participating in norm-granting events.
  • Active facilitation of training matches and elite coaching camps.
08
Zonal Championships

Revive and Reposition the Zonals

The new ACC will prioritise the revival and repositioning of Zonal Championships as prestigious, competitive, and meaningful events within the World Championship cycle. We will advocate for their reintegration into clear qualification pathways, strengthen opportunities for players to earn recognised titles, improve organisation and visibility, and ensure Zonals once again serve as genuine gateways to higher levels of competition. Our goal is simple: to make Zonals attractive, meaningful, and aspirational — tournaments that every ambitious African player wants to compete in.

Status quo

Zonal Championships lack prestige, clear qualification pathways, and institutional support, treating them as mere calendar fillers.

ACC NEXTMOVE

Reintegrate Zonals into clear pathways, boost title opportunities, and restore them as prestigious, aspirational gateways to global competition.

  • Advocate for reintegration of Zonals into World Championship qualification pathways.
  • Strengthen opportunities for players to earn recognised titles at Zonal events.
  • Enhance the organisation, visibility, and prestige of Zonal Championships.
09
Chess in Schools

Our Largest Investment: Chess in Schools

The new ACC will work closely with member federations, schools, governments and development partners to expand Chess in Schools across Africa. Through affordable equipment, multilingual training and targeted support for developing federations, we will make chess more accessible while creating stronger pathways for young players, teachers and future leaders.

Status quo

Developing federations lack the resources, equipment, and instructors to establish sustainable school programmes.

ACC NEXTMOVE

Prioritize developing federations with affordable equipment, certified multilingual training, and strong advocacy within national education systems.

  • Distribute affordable, locally-manufactured chess equipment, prioritizing Level 4 and 5 federations.
  • Deliver certified, multilingual instructor training and invest in dedicated programmes to empower girls.
  • Establish continental school championships and advocate for chess within Ministries of Education.
ACC NEXTMOVE

We do not ask for your trust. We will earn it.

Meet the team ready to deliver this program from day one. Drawn from across the continent, built for accountability and growth.

Meet the team →Delegate resources