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Our cooperation in sport and development - Our work and impact
Sport is a powerful catalyst for development, transcending cultural and national boundaries to drive inclusion, peace, equality and empowerment. Sport is so much more than exercise. It embodies universal values and acts as a major driver of economic growth, making it a key tool for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
As France’s development cooperation agency, we have strengthened our positioning in sport since 2023 and have developed a multidisciplinary approach aligned with French political priorities, particularly in relation to France’s strategy for revitalising its relations with Africa.
80% According to the World Health Organization, over 80% of adolescents do not exercise enough. This puts their current and future health at risk.
We support partner governments by reinforcing their institutional capacities and enhancing the skills of sports stakeholders at local, national and regional levels. To achieve this, we deploy technical experts from the French, European and international public and private sectors. We carry out our projects in one of four capacities: project implementer, project management assistant, technical assistant, or delegated project manager.
Our strategic priorities
In the context of international development cooperation, sport serves as a multidisciplinary tool to foster social inclusion, gender equality and the development of human capital.
In Expertise France, our work in sports touches on seven key areas:
- Public policy relating to sports: Strengthen legal frameworks, develop inclusive policies for universal access to sport at local and regional levels, provide training, and raise awareness of sport’s cross-cutting impact on education, gender, health, social cohesion and the economy
- Sports infrastructure: Construct and rehabilitate essential local sports facilities, promoting their use and maintenance
- Sports and civic organisations: Support governance and financing, train teams, and promote cross-cutting themes such as gender equality, citizenship, health, education, social inclusion, environment and biodiversity
- Sports entrepreneurship: Support the development of the sports sector (management, equipment, events, coaching, sports medicine)
- Urban cultures: Promote emerging disciplines and Olympic urban sports (breakdance, skateboarding, climbing). Highlight the link between sport, culture and social impact (street art, urban culture)
- E-sport: Develop the e-sports sector (player recognition, regulation, tournament organisation and sponsorship)
- Sustainability, legacy, sport and nature: Raise awareness, adapt sporting practices, and organise environmentally responsible sports events
We also promote a cross-cutting approach to sports and digital innovation, particularly in sportech and e-sports.
Our work aligns with the AFD Group strategy
Our sports development initiatives align with the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) Group’s strategy for sport, which supports a “Sport for all” approach and substantial investment in this area:
- 160 sport & development projects
- €200 million in funding allocations from 2019 to 2023
- Projects in over 40 countries
- Nearly 2 million people reached, 90% of whom were young people and 58% women
The AFD Group focuses on five major areas: local infrastructure and activities, school sports, sports and gender equality, strengthening civic and sports organisations, and governance.
For further reading
Our services in this area
We see sports as a development accelerator. Our work addresses a broad spectrum of issues, including universal access to sports and cultural activities (especially for women and children), life skills education (self-confidence, gender equality, sustainable development), and reconciliation through sport and culture.
Our services include a wide range of tools – capacity building, project owner assistance, project owner representation – especially in fragile contexts. We carry out projects in four main areas:
- Supporting public policy for legal/regulatory frameworks and team training
- Creating long-lasting ties with civil society and sports entrepreneurs to foster community engagement, make use of infrastructure, and support impactful local initiatives
- Rehabilitating community sports facilities to encourage widespread access to sports in urban neighbourhoods and schools
- Strengthening and professionalising the sports sector for improved governance and broader impact
Resources for download
The Rendez-vous de l’Expertise – sport and development
As part of our commitment to the SDGs and international knowledge-sharing, we also create multimedia content and resources showcasing the agency’s key work.
In March 2024, we recorded a live panel discussion with international experts as part of our “Rendez-vous de l’Expertise” video series. The topic of the discussion was “Sport and development: on-the-ground impact for the Sustainable Development Goals”.
The event explored the impact of sport, sports facilities and sporting activities on people around the world. Implementing public policies in relation to sport has many benefits, from sustainable facility construction to the green transition of the sports sector.
Because the AFD Group also sees sport as a vital topic, they hosted a special panel discussion on the eve of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. A replay of the “Sport for Sustainable Development Summit” is available here.
Whether in business, public policy or civil society, sports initiatives yield substantial economic and social benefits. These include equitable access to sport, quality infrastructure for all (including women, girls and minorities), energy-efficient facilities, and inclusive programming. The special panel discussion highlighted the many ways that sport intersects with sustainable and inclusive development.
FAQs
For more about sport
Sport is recognised as a cross-cutting driver for sustainable development under the UN 2030 Agenda, especially Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 on health, SDG 4 on education and SDG 5 on gender equality.
Expertise France’s projects demonstrate this connection. Sport fosters social inclusion and youth empowerment (especially for girls), and promotes peace, tolerance and respect. For example, the “Pour Elles” sport and culture programme in the Democratic Republic of the Congo combines gender equity, sexual and reproductive health education, and sustainable, community sports infrastructure.
Social development is built on inclusion, cohesion, and community participation. As a key aspect of social life, sport:
- Enhances psychosocial skills in children and youngsters such as self-confidence, teamwork and leadership
- Combats social inequalities, promotes gender equality and supports climate action to foster inclusion and social resilience
- Encourages reconciliation and social cohesion, as seen in the “Shared Horizons” project in the Balkans, where sport and culture help build peaceful, shared futures
Expertise France uses sport as an interdisciplinary tool for international development, particularly in post-conflict and socially fragile contexts.
Our projects
Basketball Experience Programme – A Field, Our Future
Ongoing
2019 - 2026
Funders : Agence Française de Développement
Our news in sport
Towards sustainable Olympism: Paris 2024 and Dakar 2026 at the forefront
Published on august 27 2024
Key figures
- €15 million in projects
- 5 experts deployed to partner institutions