Wilfried Lemke, Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Sport for Development and Peace.

© UN/NU

Why and when did the United Nations put together a programme on sport for development and peace?

Sport for Development and Peace is not a new approach within the UN system. The different UN funds, programmes and specialised agencies that make up the UN family have used sport in their field work for a long time. The power and utility of sport in humanitarian, development and peace-building programmes was, however, not always used systematically or coherently and evidence remained anecdotal.

That is one of the reasons why the position of the Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Sport for Development and Peace was created in 2001 by Kofi Annan. I am the second incumbent, having succeeded former Swiss President, Adolf Ogi, in April 2008. My mandate includes three main tasks, namely, to advocate for the systematic inclusion of sport in national and international development policies, to work as a facilitator between actors within the UN and external partners, and to represent the UN Secretary-General at major sports events.

Briefly, what is the current policy focus?

One of our main focuses is coordination within  the UN system. I am trying to help avoid duplication, create synergies and identify good practices in the field. In that sense, I see myself as an information broker within and for the UN family. A practical example is the coordinating role in the preparation for the many mega-sports events that take place next year. In the limelight of these events the UN must be visible and present itself as one. On a more programmatic level, I am hoping that with the integration of the Secretariat of the International Working Group on Sport for Development and Peace into my Office, we can continue the successful work on policy advice for Governments that wish to incorporate sport in their development plans.

The sights of the international donor community are at the moment firmly set on attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). What’s the link between investment of public funds in sport and poverty alleviation?

Although it is not a panacea, sport can contribute to realising literally all of the eight MDGs. It can help alleviate poverty by giving people transferable life skills, higher self-esteem and self-confidence which all increase their employability. Some sport programmes also include sport equipment production which creates jobs locally. Sustainable programmes may eventually help establish more complex sport-related social institutions and markets which provide employment opportunities. Last but not least, sport can help prevent diseases, one of the driving factors of poverty.

What criteria are used for evaluating the success of projects in the field of sport for development?

The importance of quality monitoring and evaluation of sport for development and peace programmes is not to be underestimated. While it is recognized that there is a lack of widely available evaluation tools specifically for sport for development and peace, researchers around the world are building the evidence based in support of global efforts. Evaluation of any programme should assess the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability of the programme.

Do you feel that other donor agencies lack interest in funding sport for development programmes?

Of course the financial crisis has an impact on development activities as a whole. But compared to other designs of social development programmes, programmes including sport as a tool to promote development and peace are relatively cost-effective. This is  one of the many assets of the concept. SDP programmes led by the UN or others should thus pave the way for the inclusion of the concept by Governments in their national development plans.

Are you running any joint programmes with other donor agencies?

Due to the mandate as Special Adviser, my office is principally focused on coordination, facilitation and advocacy work. Although we help initiate and encourage joint programmes and advise where requested, we do not have the mandate to actively engage in the implementation of sport for development and peace programmes.

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