User:Rochellestewart-withers/sandbox



= Sport for Development = Sport for development (SFD) is an approach which draws on the power of sports as a vehicle for achieving development goals. SFD utilises sport and related activities to pursue development outcomes in non-sporting contexts, both at the national level and on an international scale. In the field of development, the relationship between development and sport has historically been dismissed through rationalisation that sport is merely a by-product of development. Furthermore, the development community has seen sport as a diversion from more important development matters. Due to many successful SFD initiatives, sport is increasingly recognised as an effective means for achieving development targets such as the Sustainable development goals (SDGs). Hence, sport is now more closely connected to both international, national and regional development policies and initiatives. The United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace has been a key driver of both wider acceptance of SFD and a proliferation of actors - government, civil society and private sector actors working in this space.

Benefits of sports
Sport is viewed favourably as it contributes to the physical, social and emotional wellbeing of those taking part. It is a means for developing cardio-vascular fitness and muscle strength whilst promoting camaraderie, pride and a sense of achievement. Alongside this, it can be inclusive and offers a pathway for increasing the health and wellbeing of those with special or diverse needs or disabilities. Sport can also provide positive role models for children, and promote education and development in youth.

Sport is also argued to be a human right that everyone ought to have access to. Unfortunately, regions that are faced with monetary constraints are unable to prioritise sporting, play and physical leisure activities as they have more immediate demands like provision of food, health care and education. It is the above mentioned benefits which underpinned the premise that sport can be used to do social good.

Indigenous Sport for Development
Whilst 20 years of dedicated SFD theorising, research and practice has seen significant growth and sophistication, Indigenous voices within SFD theorisation, policy and practice remain under-represented. Given that Indigenous populations are frequently the focus of SFD initiatives, this is highly disturbing. Indigenous Sport for Development (ISFD) creates a focus around the voices of Indigenous peoples and aims to give them control over their own development outcomes.

ISFD is often underpinned by culturally specific concepts such as Talanoa, which is relevant to Pasifika based development and research. These concepts challenge those managing SFD to have conversations about decolonising development in sport and examine their own roles in producing sport-specific knowledge.

Limitations of Sport for Development
Despite the promising direction that SFD is headed, it faces limitations in theory and practice. If SFD programmes are to be successful, they need to consider more deeply and integrate critical and participatory methodologies of the development sector. This will ensure that SFD is sustainable and inclusive of all voices, not just those who currently dominate the sporting field.

The SFD field is also said to produce questionable evidence when it comes to claims about impact and success. There is a dearth of skills and knowledge with regards to monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of SFD initiatives, but Indigenous-informed SFD M&E measures, even more so, are underdeveloped, or are absent (ref).

In the past, it has been evident that sporting groups have thought of development as a way of promoting their own sport above all else. In this way, sport development, SFD and humanitarian assistance can become blurred with sporting outcomes being privileged above development outcomes. Funding is often channelled into high profile sports at an extremely competitive level, leaving the recipients of so called 'development' with no ownership of the projects concerning them.