AFAHPER-S.D. Strategy Formulations
“Starting today, light up Africa”


Following the Abuja Congress, Nigeria, September / October 2003 the following set of actions, recommendations, strategic intent and a declaration for the way forward was approved.
Regarding the association:
It was agreed that:
  1. actions designed to mobilize and build human capacity with and through the membership of this association and stakeholders in Africa are necessary;
  2. actions taken to ensure growth of the profession, placing emphasis on the unique contribution of the profession in the lives of African citizens are designed.
Strategic formulations required to achieve the above actions are:
  • to build in accreditation requirements to the qualification of the professional (including specialisations such as Physical Education, Sport Science, Biokinetics / Physical Therapy, Leisure Science) and thereby control the legitimate activities which fall within this domain of practice and service to the community.
  • to facilitate access to information so that continued professional growth through research, discourse and credit-bearing education opportunities is available.
The strategic intent is to build a strong association of professional affiliates who together shape the direction of the association, cooperate on matters relating to the scope of practice and collaborate together to enrich the development of the profession on this continent.


Recommandations from the conference:
The following recommendations were made:
  1. Expand access to the field of study and urgently build the human capacity of qualified service providers across Africa.
  2. Preserve and own the core unique generic roots of the field of study but, and where necessary, re-defining and re-configure the uniqueness of appropriate profession theory to meet the new and specialized demands placed on professionals in this field.
  3. Establish accreditation for the specialized branches of the field so that services delivered are by approved trained and qualified persons.
  4. Critically examine the education requirements for coaches in particular and systematically empower role-players with adequate coach education so that immoral assignments of coaching duties are no longer made.
  5. Continue to work with the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa (SCSA) and the Organising Committee for the All Africa Games (COJA) to ensure support and prominence of the Association in the protocol, plans and actions for future All Africa Games (AAG).
  6. Seize the opportunity when Africa’s elite athletes, administrators and support services officials gather every four years at the All Africa Games to expand the existing research initiative (mostly anthropometric and psycho-social orientated at this point) as well as deliver services and accredited training courses to athletes, coaches, managers, academics, and sport practitioners.
  7. Engage aggressively in ongoing curricular debate with education control councils across the continent to ensure the adequate provision of Sport and Physical Activity for all.
  8. Continue to negotiate global support for the Association and deliberately position the Association in forums where our efforts and strategic intentions will find support and assistance.
  9. Commence planning for the Association’s biennial congress now for 2005.
  10. Produce a special “Congress 2003” edition of the Association’s Journal.
  11. Encourage colleagues in every way!
The strategic intent is to build human capacity. With each new qualified professional another candle is being lit, one by one. In this way the impact of each of these bright lights will together lead this continent out of the “perceived” darkness as it relates to Sport Science, Exercise Science, Physical Education, Biokinetics / Physical Therapy, Health Education and Leisure Science.
Start today to light up Africa!

Accordingly, conference delegates recommended that we need to:
Focus on our unequivocal support for the delivery of best practice so that all citizens of this continent enjoy the benefits of active living for life.


Conference Declaration:
In the light of the above and following participation in the debates, we the participants:
Recognise that physical education and sports education is under serious threat and are deeply concerned to note that as its space in the curricula across the continent continues to decline that its fundamental purpose (health enhancement, as a primary basis of life long physical activity engagement and its unique delivery of programmes of motor skill development) will systematically and progressively compromise the health status of the continents human capital.
Insist that access to sufficient quality physical education programmes is a fundamental human right and therefore call upon all governments across the continent to recognise their collective responsibility towards the provision of sustained, quality-controlled programmes with clear minimum standards to ensure the adequate delivery of physical activity for all citizens on the continent but especially for all school-going youth.
Specifically call upon all African governments, namely the Ministers of Education, Health, Youth and Sport with specific responsibility for the implementation of quality physical education programmes in voluntary, public and private sectors to establish and to strengthen support of our profession and value their efforts to design and implement programmes for all citizens.
Urge all governments, agencies, (national and international) and non-governmental organisations involved in education and human capacity building to take corrective action to reverse the declining trend and to promote participation in physical activity programmes.
Accordingly, the following strategic intentions are highlighted:
  1. As schools are a prime institutional agency with considerable potential to significantly influence the lives of a community (especially young people) and recognising that physical education and sport can play a vital role in shaping positive attitudes towards habitual physical activity from foundation to excellence levels, then influence, regarding:
    • Sufficient exposure and participation in Physical Education and Sport programmes;
    • Opportunities for the advancement of high achievers;
    • Human resources training;
    • Resource network with all community partners, and
    • Community outreach programs emanating from the school is necessary.
  2. Implement media communication initiatives involving use of local and national level public relations exercises. These should focus on physical activity participation initiatives which use multiple channels to disseminate information related to the current problems and strategies for change.
  3. Promote multidisciplinary involvement of / from various health, sport, physical education and recreation organisations within the community to embrace partnerships of vested interest groups from the full range of social institutions.
  4. Empowerment of regional, national and Pan African professional associations in collaboration with relevant government departments to facilitate and implement measures in the promotional development of physical education and community sport.
  5. Ensure and support representation of professionals within the Association.
  6. Lobby for clear government statements of policy to foster inclusion in all aspects of Physical Education, Sport, and Recreation provision and delivery.
  7. Promote and secure support for planned research initiatives designed to foster the common goals of Physical Education, Recreation and Sport in Africa.
  8. Secure funding for co-ordinated projects to increase our understanding of the current size and scope of programmes, services, structures and policies related to physical activity in Africa. With clarity on the status quo, then priorities for development and delivery of training and services will be indicated.
  9. Register professionals and introduce accreditation, minimum standards and continuing education systems so that quality assurance and specialist directions from the core profession can systematically emerge.
  10. Obtain the endorsement of the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa (SCSA) for the preceding statements so that purposeful efforts to obtain dedicated annual grants by Governments, corporates and / or other relevant sources may be secured for the AFAHPER.S-D so that these strategic initiatives can be implemented
This declaration was supported and endorsed by delegates attending the All Africa Pre-Games Scientific Congress, Abuja, Nigeria, September 30th -2nd October 2003.
Signed

Accepted by




(on behalf of AFAHPER-S.D.)

(on behalf of AFAHPER-S.D.)

(Prepared and presented by Dr Claire M Nicholson on behalf of the Association.)




http://www.icsspe.org/portal/bulletin-january2004.htm