Learn how to make a positive impact through sport

Sport has been recognised as an enabler of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by governments globally. Organisations worldwide are using sport to contribute to this agenda, addressing issues ranging from health and education to employment, and conflict resolution.

On this course, you’ll look at the benefits and limitations of using sport in development. You will learn to design, implement, and measure the impact of policies and programmes.

You will explore key concepts on sport and gender equality, disability, human rights, social inclusion, peacebuilding, and child safeguarding.

What topics will you cover?

Setting the scene: Sport, development and change
Creating change: Policy, strategy, and governance
Making it happen, making it work, measuring impact
Mobilising people, partners, and resources

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and learn at your own pace. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

Available now

Learning on this course

You can take this self-guided course and learn at your own pace. On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

Apply best practice methods to align sport and development objectives to national and international development priorities
Demonstrate and articulate the contribution of sport to sustainable development and use analysis and evidence in developing policy and programmes
Develop theories of change and programme logic on the contribution of sport to sustainable development in your country or organisation
Engage with peers to develop autonomy, accountability and respect for working with others within a sport and development context

Who is the course for?

This course is for anyone interested in how sport can be used in development.

This includes government officials, intergovernmental officers, sport organisations, public policy experts, private sector professionals, and civil society.

Who will you learn with?

Melissa Palombi

A Sport for Development specialist working in Asia-Pacific, on Team Up, the Australian Government's flagship sport for development investment.

Ben Sanders

Dr Ben Sanders is a specialist consultant and thought leader in sport for development and peace. He is currently working with the International Platform on Sport and Development.

Saurabh Mishra

Policy development expert supporting the Commonwealth’s work helping countries use sport for enhancing health, education, employment, economic development and realising human rights.

Who developed the course?

The International Platform on Sport and Development

Sportanddev is the leading hub for organisations and individuals using sport for development to share knowledge, build good practice, coordinate with others and create partnerships.

Commonwealth Secretariat

Commonwealth Secretariat supports member countries to achieve development, democracy and peace. The Secretariat’s work helps to grow economies and boost trade, empower young people, and address threats such as climate change, debt and inequality.

Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)

The Australian Government supports sport for development and sports diplomacy programs that strengthen international connections, build safer communities, and facilitate the participation of women, girls and people with disability.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps, but you can complete them as quickly or slowly as you like
Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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