Programme Manager–Sport for Development and Peace (The Commonwealth)
Monitoring the contribution of Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sport to the SDGs
17. November, 11h55–13h25
A collaborative international project is underway to develop, test and validate a measurement framework and model indicators for measuring the contribution of sport, physical education and physical activity to prioritised SDGs. This project delivers on Action 2 of the Kazan Action Plan and aims to support member countries, sporting bodies and other stakeholders to measure, evaluate and enhance this contribution.
This project is being led by the Commonwealth Secretariat with the support of a high-level Steering Group made up of UN agencies, leading member countries and sector experts. An Open Ended Working Group structure has also been established with the third annual meeting taking place in December 2020.
Through an iterative process of design, testing and revision, a preliminary measurement framework, model indicators and an accompanying toolkit have been developed with version 4 now available. The framework identifies and emphasises coherence and convergence between the sport and SDG indicators and aligned initiatives such as UNESCO’s Quality Physical Education Indicators and the Global Action Plan on Physical Activity.
Articulating with robust data the contribution of sport, PE and (organised) physical activity to sustainable development has been recognised as a necessary precursor for cross-government and multi-stakeholder support. This is key to justifying investment in these policy areas and important in credibly linking sport-related policy priorities to national development plans, regional priorities and the SDGs. There is a need for further research in this area to establish and strengthen the links between physical education and school sport and the SDGs and how these contributions can be maximised.
Now more than ever the contributions of sport to sustainable development need to be closely monitored due to the significant impacts and threats to progress due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, Commonwealth Ministers underscored the importance this common measurement approach to quantifying the value of sport and effectively targeting future investment in the sector, particularly to ensure a sustained recovery following the impact of COVID 19.
Bio:
Mike Armstrong is Sport for Development and Peace Programme Manager at the Commonwealth Secretariat where he manages the Secretariat’s technical assistance programmes. Mike also manages the Commonwealth Secretariat’s work leading an international project to develop, test and validate a measurement framework and model indicators to support member countries, sporting bodies and other stakeholders to evaluate the contribution of sport, physical education and physical activity to prioritised Sustainable Development Goals.
The Commonwealth Secretariat is the intergovernmental organisation of the 54 member states of the Commonwealth. The organisation provides policy guidance, technical assistance and advisory services to member countries. The Sport for Development and Peace Section supports Commonwealth countries to strengthen policy and strategy aimed at promoting and protecting the contribution of sport to sustainable development,
Mike has extensive experience working with public and private institutions to maximise the positive social and economic outcomes from sport and major sporting events. This has included leading bids and legacy programmes for New Zealand Major Events, and providing strategic leadership over municipal investment decisions as Senior Investment Advisor for Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development. Mike has a master’s in sport economics and management from Florida State University as well as undergraduate degrees in psychology, economics and physical education.