MIES - FIBA's Working Group dedicated to supporting and developing its 214 member national federations met for the very first time on Friday-Saturday 23-24 January.

FIBA's main objectives for the 2014-2019 term of office are to build one united world basketball family and prioritise the development of all its members.

A first step was taken with the convening of the Working Group on National Federations Support and Development at the House of Basketball.

In line with the changes made to its governance at last year's Extraordinary World Congress, the world governing body of basketball is fully intent on giving all its national federations the support and help needed to reach the full extent of their respective growth potential. 

FIBA President Horacio Muratore said: "Now that we have created ONE FIBA, the moment has arrived to focus on our national federations. This is their moment. These changes are needed, and it is something that we have committed ourselves to.

"Thanks to the new governance, we will have direct links between FIBA and the national federations.

"Our member national federations will be happy to know that we have started to work and that FIBA will provide all necessary resources (material, financial and human) to achieve what we have set out as our goals." 

The Working Group on National Federations Support and Development is divided in two and operates along the following guidelines:
- Mr Muratore presides over Group A, which focuses exclusively on the national federations which are looking to participate in the qualifying campaign for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
- International Basketball Foundation (IBF) President Yvan Mainini heads Group B, which sets out to assist national federations that need help in building from the ground up.

With the new system and calendar of competition coming into effect in 2017 to qualify 32 teams for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup, FIBA has made it a priority to ensure that as many national federations as possible are ready to compete at the highest level and field teams in the qualification process for its flagship event. 

FIBA