UWC launches Africa’s first sport policy index
Just in time for the first International Day of Sport for Development and Peace on 6 April 2014, UWC’s Interdisciplinary Centre for Sport Science and Development (ICESSD), launched a book on sport and development policy in Africa.
Titled Sport and Development Policy in Africa– Results of a collaborative study of selected cases, the book is considered to be the first African Sport Policy Index Research. The research for the book was conducted by ICESSD in 11 African countries, between 2011 and 2013.
The publication is in line with ICESSD’s vision to be Africa’s leading interdisciplinary centre of excellence, promoting sport as a powerful tool for development, peace, health, wellbeing and social change through high quality research, and by combining the areas of sports and health sciences with those of community development and wellness.
The book was edited by ICESSD Director, Professor Marion Keim, and her colleague, Professor Christo de Coning. It drew contributors from all over the continent who included Orou-Toko Ousmane and Yaya Bio Bawa (Benin), Dr Tony Karbo (Ethiopia), Traore Rufin (Burkino Faso), Joseph Kiarie Wambui Fungo (Kenya), Dr Richard Nyirongo (Malawi), Dr Romualdo Mateus Sansão Muthemba (Mozambique), Paul Gschwender (Namibia), Professor Ademola O. Abass (Nigeria), Joseph Ndengeye (Rwanda), Dr David Maralack (South Africa) and Charles Birungi (Uganda).
Keim notes that ICESSD is proud to publish the results of the study in this “ground-breaking” book “which is the first of its kind worldwide”.
“This first African Sport Policy Index Research is to be seen as a contribution from Africa to the first International Day of Sport for Development and Peace,” Keim said at the launch. Sports Minister, Fikile Mbalula, added: “This publication has the potential to assist African countries establish evidence-based monitoring and evaluation systems, as well as inform policy analysis and content. As health budgets have been shrinking and health problems and demands have been escalating in Africa, innovative policy development will play a crucial role in guiding our collective efforts henceforth.”
