Creating new value through innovation

Innovation is vital for sustainability. Without continual improvement and new ways of approaching sport and development initiatives, the value of policies and programmes will be severely limited.

In this video, Baroness Patricia Scotland, Secretary General of The Commonwealth, highlights the importance of a people-centred approach and active co-design methodologies to design policies and programmes that effectively address social challenges.

Adapting to COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of innovation and adaptation. Many actors have had to change their approach, offering activities online rather than in person, adapting their policies and programmes accordingly. Many people have started exercising from home and there is a need for resources to support communities in staying physically active.

• COVID-19: Policy and programme resources and guidelines
• COVID-19: Adaptation and innovation
• Commonwealth Moves: Research and resources on adapting sport to COVID-19

Technology and digitalisation are key to ensuring innovation and accessibility, though we do need to remember there is a digital divide whereby the most marginalised often have more limited access to technology. Furthermore, the pandemic has exacerbated inequities in terms of access and opportunity within sport.

Reflect

Consider the following observation:

“Research indicates that only 1 in 500 children have access to sport for development programmes globally. Among school-going adolescents, 4 out of every 5 do not engage in level of physical activity to enjoy the potential health and wellbeing benefits” UNICEF and the Barcelona Foundation

How can innovative approaches help to address such challenges?

Share your thoughts with others in a comment post.