Sport for development – a systematic map of evidence from Africa

ABSTRACT

This article presents a systematic map of the evidence on sport-for-development's effectiveness in Africa. Applying systematic review methodology, it identifies all rigorous evidence that evaluates African sport-for-development interventions. These impact evaluations are then mapped to provide a systematic and comprehensive examination of sport-for-development's evidence-base. This contributes the first systematic engagement with sport-for-development's evidence-base in Africa and the systematic map finds that there is currently no available evidence that supports or refutes the assumption that sport can positively influence development outcomes. It cautions against the continued rhetoric and promotion of sport-for-development as an effective approach to poverty reduction and international development.

Keywords:

• sport-for-development
• systematic map
• evidence-gap map
• development effectiveness
• evidence-informed development

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Laurenz Langer

Laurenz Langer is a researcher at the evidence-informed policy team at the Centre for Anthropological Research, University of Johannesburg. Laurenz specialises in research synthesis of development interventions, having worked on systematic reviews of smallholder farming, urban agriculture, and mobile learning. He is a PhD candidate at the Evidence for Policy and Practice Information and Co-ordinating Centre at the University of London; his research interest increasingly focuses on qualitative methods of research synthesis. Laurenz has worked four years for the South African Sport-for-Development NGO Imvomvo heading the Adventure Football! Programme.