2019 survey results: Your views on sportanddev

The International Platform on Sport and Development (sportanddev) has conducted its 2019 annual survey so we can better serve our users and collect insights on the state of sport and development. The results are illuminating across many areas - this article focuses on respondents’ views on the role of sportanddev and a second article will focus on recommendations for the platform. We will also produce a third article containing views on the broader sector.

About survey participants

This year, just over 50% of respondents identified as male and just under 49% as female (up from 37% in 2018), reflecting an improvement in the gender balance of respondents. Respondents were fairly evenly spread across the age groups, with the largest proportion (36%) aged 31-40.

The highest number were based in Europe (35%), followed by North America (22%) and sub-Saharan Africa (13%), with an increase in respondents from Latin America and the Caribbean (10%, up from under 4% in 2018). About 10% were from South and East Asia, with under 4% from the Middle East and North Africa, and under 3% from Oceania. These figures suggest greater geographical diversity in our community, and we aim to improve upon that trend over the next year.

The largest number of participants said they were working in the sports sector (33%) and for implementing NGOs (32%). The rest of the responses reflected the diversity of our target audience, spread across researchers (28%), coaches (21%), volunteers (20%), development agencies (15%), donor organisations (14%), sport federations (14%), athletes/players (12%) and the private sector (10%), as well as students (10%), government (5%) and the media (5%). 

How do users utilise sportanddev?

About a third of users (over 32%) access the sportanddev website at least once a week (some more frequently). The sportanddev.org newsletter, news and views section and jobs page remain our most used services. 

• Over 82% of users have used information found on sportanddev in their projects or programmes
• 23% of users have applied for a job after finding the advertisement on sportanddev
• One in four users have formed a partnership after reading about that organisation on sportanddev

How do users view sportanddev?

Users provided valuable feedback on sportanddev. The findings reinforce the status of the platform as the leading information source, networking hub and advocacy space for those in the field: 

• Over 92% strongly or mostly agree that they feel more informed about developments in the sector because of sportanddev
• Over 82% of users strongly or mostly agree that sportanddev is the leading source of information on sport and development
• Over 81% of users strongly or mostly agree that sportanddev has been important in helping the sport and development sector grow 
• Over 64% of users strongly or mostly agree that sportanddev has helped bring voices from the field into higher level policy discussions
• Over 89% of users strongly or mostly agree that they trust the integrity and impartiality of sportanddev

Results also show that users see sportanddev as well positioned to coordinate actors and networks, and play a greater leadership and advocacy role in sport and development:

• Over 75% of users strongly or mostly agree that sportanddev is well placed to coordinate the diverse range of actors in the sport and development field
• Over 82% of users strongly or mostly agree that sportanddev can help bridge the gap that exists between policy and practice in sport and development
• Over 82% of users strongly or mostly agree that they would like to see sportanddev take an even greater leadership position in sport and development
• Over 91% of users strongly or mostly agree that they would like to see sportanddev play a greater advocacy role in the sport and development field

The statistics above provide a snapshot. For greater detail on the responses, please see the full 2019 survey results document here.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete the survey. While we are not able to promise to implement all suggestions made – some are dependent on financial resources –  but we are community driven, which means we take all suggestions seriously and will carry out as many as possible. To provide feedback and/or suggestions throughout the year, please email [email protected].