Knowledge gaps 'hindering' sport's development role

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The 'Forum on Productive Youth Development through Sport in Africa' took place earlier this month (16-18 June) in Nairobi, Kenya.

Jointly organised by the United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace (UNOSDP) and the Jacobs Foundation, a Swiss charity aiming to unlock young people's potential, the forum analysed the potential and limits of sport as a tool for youth development in Africa.

Over 60% of Africa's urban population is less than 30 years old, and many people live below the poverty line without access to education, health, food or shelter. Several programmes have been established across the continent to address these issues through sport, the organisers stressed.

During the forum, key stakeholders identified existing knowledge gaps limiting the use of sport for development, discussed methods to measure project effectiveness and agreed on ways to share resources, information and best practice. 

The forum agreed upon a series of recommendations for action. Its concluding communiqué stressed the importance of helping academics to analyse the long-term impacts of sport on youth development, without which it is impossible to devise effective programmes. 

The communiqué also emphasises the need to promote strategic partnerships and enhance the financial sustainability of programmes. On the latter, it encourages donors to commit to project-based and multi-annual funding.

Wilfried Lemke, special adviser to the UN secretary-general on sport for development and peace, said "governments have a responsibility to maximise the potential of youth development through sport" and need to recognise the power of sport by investing in and implementing programmes. 

Christian Jacobs, chair of the Jacobs Foundation, added that "NGOs and private donors have their limitations when it comes to rolling out good practices to benefit large numbers of children and youth," saying that cooperation with governmental partners is necessary.

Sport has not been a priority of the EU's development policy so far. However, back in June 2006, the European Commission signed a Memorandum of Understanding with FIFA to promote football as a factor for development in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. 

There has not been any tangible follow-up to this initiative yet, as no development funding for sport was earmarked in the EU's current long-term budget (2007-2013). But the EU executive hopes to secure funding for sport and development projects in the bloc's next budget, after 2013. 

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