|  | Resources | No.49 January 2007 |
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Toolkit for Sport and Development Pelle Kvalsund |
The Toolkit for Sport and Development project commenced in response to needs expressed during the “1st Next Step Conference” in Amsterdam (2003), where a number of Sport and Development (S&D) organisations and individuals gathered to share successes and discuss common challenges and needs. As an initiative of the Dutch National Committee for International Cooperation and Sustainable Development (NCDO), the Toolkit was launched in 2005. The Norwegian Olympic Committee and Confederation of Sport (NIF) took the lead over the Toolkit project as part of organising the “2nd Next Step Conference” in Livingstone, Zambia in 2005, and will host it until 2007. The aim of the project is to develop and share expertise, learning examples and resources and make tools easily accessible for everyone involved in S&D, in order to: build understanding of and promote the S&D concept increase the quality of S&D programs assist the development of sustainable sport activities increase S&D organisations’ ability to manage their programs and to measure and demonstrate results. Together with a number of tools, checklists, recommendations, learning examples and links, the current version of the Toolkit displays more detailed information on 5 selected themes: Sport and Trauma Sport and Poverty Sport and HIV/AIDS prevention Sport and Health Sport and Persons with Disability The Toolkit is closely linked to the International Platform on Sport and Development www.sportanddev.org, a virtual space on the World Wide Web dedicated to the field of S&D. The Platform has a similar aim - to provide organszations as well as individuals with a space to display and exchange information on S&D. The platform also offers links to the International working group on Sport for Development and Peace and other relevant networks. Evaluation Since the Toolkit was launched in June 2005 over 3000 CDRoms have been distributed and the Toolkit website www.toolkitsportdevelopment.org has been visited by thousands of users from around the world. This, once more, demonstrates the need and interest in the movement. In order to improve and make the Toolkit more user-friendly, the toolkit team decided to carry out a comprehensive evaluation in 2006. The evaluation consisted of the following elements: Analysis of web statistics Web survey Evaluation by graduate students of Ohio University Interviews with users The evaluation concluded that the Toolkit provides an abundance of valuable information. However, simplification of the Toolkit, together with good users guidelines, would be useful. Further more, information about, and tools for, several new themes should be added, together with increased geographical inclusion of learning examples. A full report of the evaluation results can be downloaded from http://www.toolkitsportdevelopment.org/ Development of new themes Sport development As sport is becoming increasingly recognised as a powerful tool for development, more resources must be allocated with the purpose of securing the quality of sport structures. To use sport as a tool we must first develop sport. We therefore want to add a section directed at building the capacity of existing and new sport delivery structures and organisations. This theme will include ideas and views on the concept of grassroots sport, as well as tools to increase local competence and infrastructure, club development, sports administration and management. 1. Developing Local Sport Structures and Capacity Building NCDO and NIF are working on tools focusing on the development of local sport structures and building of local capacity within the structures. This will include issues like: planning, club development, coach-the-coaches, train-the-trainers and the value of sport for community development. 2. Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of S&D programs. As the number of organisations using sport in their projects increases, the pressure on financial donors grows, along with demands for the implementers to effectively demonstrate the impact of their project. This has been a challenge for many community organisations and tools to develop good systems are needed. UK Sport has used parts of 2005-06 to work on a M&D manual for S&D programs. The manual has learning examples from several local NGOs and will be available in the 2nd edition of the Toolkit. The report is currently available on their webpage http://www.uksport.gov.uk/news/new_resource_to_aid_sports_development/ Nike and NCDO organized a workshop on M&E and gender in Amsterdam in September 2006 so the NCDO will also add a section on M&E in the next edition of the Toolkit. 3. Sustainability The CCPA’s - Open Fun Football Schools, a NGO focusing on peace building and conflict transformation in the Balkans, Caucasus and Levant (Jordan, Lebanon and Syria) has written a sustainability report and a model for their civil society approach, which is available on their WebPages. http://www.ccpa.dk/english/news/sustainability.pdf These will be added to the existing tools on how to achieve sustainability of S&D programs. Gender equity and sport The emphasis on equal rights to participate in organised sport and leisure activities has always been on the agenda, but has not always been a priority. As international sport associations state in visions and missions that people should be able to participate in their sport regardless of gender, age, sex, ability, social status and cultural background, many are unable to efficiently control and monitor the national federations’ implementation of this. The statement often becomes a piece of paper, worth little more than just that. Some national associations and a number of S&D NGOs, on the other hand, have taken important steps to address the subject and design programs with a special focus on participation and representation. Approximately half of the world’s population is female, but equal opportunities for girls and women are far from a reality in most aspects of the world, not only in sport. Gender equity in sport is an important issue in the fight for equality and it is receiving growing attention. The Toolkit is working with Dr. Martha Saavedra (University of Berkley, CA), Marianne Meier (SAD) and NCDO on the development and inclusion of this theme. Sport, Peace and Reconciliation This is one of the areas where sports’ limitations are more prevalent than the demonstrated impact. The complexity of conflict and the long-term processes of healing and reconciliation make it hard to measure results and even harder to convince investors. NIF is working to develop and include topics on understanding of conflict and peace building, to recognise areas where sport can be of use and play a role, and to identify and make available resources for conflict resolution and transformation. A number of resource persons and organisations are working in the field and have been contacted for contributions. We are currently exploring tools and learning examples to be added to the Toolkit. Promotion of the Toolkit In order to learn, share and better utilise the inadequate resources, promotion of the Toolkit is important. A number of presentations were made in 2005, including those at large international conferences like the 2nd Next Step in Livingstone and the 2nd Magglingen conference (Switzerland). In 2006 the Toolkit has been presented at: The Women, Gender and Sports in Africa Conference at Ohio University (USA) in February. A national conference on sport and development cooperation, hosted by The Norwegian Development Network in Oslo, (Norway) in May. The conference was attended by representatives from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NORAD, UNICEF and a number of NGOs in the field of development. A joint presentation of the Toolkit and the International Platform on Sport and Development was made in Glasgow (Scotland) during the Commonwealth Sports Development Conference in September. The Toolkit was also presented by NCDO and discussed during the international workshop on Gender Equity and Sport in Amsterdam (Holland) in September. The most challenging part is making the Toolkit available to grass roots initiatives that never make it to these conferences and workshops. Small, local, community based organisations that are doing the day to day coaching, refereeing, administration and organization in sport clubs and local committees. Contributions are welcome It is our responsibility to find ways and means to increase our reach and accessibility, and to realise our goal; to develop and share information, knowledge, resources and tools amongst the Sport and Development community, and we need help to do so. We encourage organisations and individuals in the field of S&D to contribute by adding useful resources and tools, to give us feedback on relevance and user friendliness, as we constantly aim to improve quality and availability, and we encourage you to tell people about the Toolkit. Please contact us, so we can work together. Contact Pelle Kvalsund Sport and Development Consultant Norway pelle@sportsconsult.info http://www.icsspe.org/portal/index.php?w=1&z=5 Toolkit for Sport and Development Pelle Kvalsund