First year achievements of the Coalition for Sustainable Development through Sport

Rome, 11 November 2021 -  During the second edition of the Finance in Common Summit (FiCS) last October in Rome, Italy, the members of the Coalition for Sustainable Development through Sport (hereinafter the “Coalition”) -- launched at the first edition of the FiCS -- reinforced their commitment to use sport as a powerful lever for greater social and economic progress.

The thematic session Scaling-up Public Development Banks’ Sport for Sustainable Development Programs sponsored by AFD (Agence Française de Développement) and ICS (Istituto per il Credito Sportivo), presented the progress and new perspectives for the Coalition.

It addressed the role and impact of PDBs for grassroots development through sport. The Coalition's vision is that sport, physical activity and physical education are powerful levers for sustainable development and the transformation of society by, for, and with young people and marginalized groups.

The session highlighted that major international sport events can catalyze social and economic development. For example, the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar 2026, the first Olympic event organised in Africa, in cooperation with the IOC (International Olympic Committee) will ensure that the games deliver opportunities for the youth, with the support of the Coalition and its partners.

In the area of Para sport, the IPC (International Paralympic Committee) noted that each Paralympic Games edition changes the perceptions towards people with disabilities (1.2 billion people worldwide), both in the host countries of the Games and globally. The session called for PDBs financial and technical support for the first Para African Games to be held in Ghana in 2023.

With regard to local impacts, the session discussed good practices, the need of participatory approaches and the importance of combining sustainable infrastructure projects with capacity building and local sport for development initiatives.

Finally, a pre-feasibility study on sustainable sports infrastructures is being launched, with co-financing from members of the Coalition, along with a work program on social outcome contracting , both to be implemented in 2022.

To share its work with a broad audience, the Coalition also created its website (https://coalition-sport.org), and it will soon operationalize an intranet to foster joint work within the members.

Takeshi Matsuyama, Senior Director Operations Strategy Department at JICA (co-lead of the Coalition): “In just a year, the Coalition for Sustainable Development through sport has become a key player in the Sport for Development sector. Sport will become a core tool for sustainable development in the coming years; don’t miss out the opportunity to become a forerunner in this field by joining the Coalition!” 

Gabriela Ramos, Assistant Director-General for the Social and Human Sciences at UNESCO: “The tremendous power of sport makes it an invaluable lever for development. I am looking forward to seeing sport mainstreamed in Development Banks’ portfolio through the Coalition for Sustainable Development through Sport.

Axel Klaphake, Director Economic and Social Development, Digitalisation at GIZ: “Joint action is needed to build sustainable, equitable and inclusive communities. ‘Sport for Development’ is a valuable tool for that goal. Therefore, we as GIZ reiterate our commitment to be a strong partner in the Coalition Sustainable Development through Sport”.

About the Finance in Common Summit

The first-ever platform of all Public Development Banks (PDBs), the Finance in Common Summit, focuses on how PDBs can influence the global financial system to better protect our planet and societies. By rallying and challenging a new and significant global community with enhanced capacity of action, and by promoting sustained collective action, the Finance in Common Summit is a key milestone on the way to COP26 and other major international events in 2022.    

About the Coalition for Sustainable Development through Sport

The Coalition for Sustainable Development through Sport (hereinafter “the Coalition”) was launched under the leadership of Public Development Banks (PDBs) in November 2020 in close collaboration with relevant supporting and advisory partners. Coalition members pledge to strengthen their financial resources, investments and expertise in sport for development to build a sustainable world together, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).The Coalition’s ambition is to expand over time by bringing in more PDBs and by fostering partnerships with other stakeholders and coalitions that share its vision, and are willing to contribute their diverse resources and abilities, including from the private sector, civil society, governments and academia.