Harnessing Sport for Protection: A vision for a national alliance in Jordan

In Jordan, a nation known for its rich cultural heritage and strong tradition of hospitality, sport not only offers recreation but also promotes social cohesion and improves mental well-being. However, the potential of sport as a means of protection is still largely unrealized due to fragmented policies and a lack of collaboration among key stakeholders. This highlights the pressing need for a National Alliance for Sport for Protection to bring together efforts and create meaningful change.

The Transformative Power of Sport

Meera, a participant in the Riadati summer camp, shared a meaningful insight about the positive influence of sports in her life: “The extensive use of social media caused me to feel lonely and sad, which led me to a cycle of laziness and an addiction to screens. However, the Summer Sports Camp forced me out of my comfort zone. I had to get dressed every day, meet new people, and play sports I had never tried before. I realized that on the days I attended the camp, I felt better – more energized, happy, and active. It positively affected my mood and how I feel about myself.”

Meera’s experience illustrates how organized and inclusive sports activities can boost confidence, enhance mental health, and help children break free from negative habits. Sports have a unique ability to bridge gaps and promote inclusion. For refugees and host communities in Jordan, it provides a safe environment to build trust, develop resilience, and acquire skills that go beyond the field. Programs that combine sports with education, psychosocial support, and life skills training have shown real benefits, reducing stigma, improving mental well-being, and fostering a sense of purpose and belonging – all crucial for those facing displacement and hardship.

Participants engaged in a debrief session during Riadati programme activities, reflecting on their experiences

However, these sports initiatives often function in isolation, which limits their scalability and overall effectiveness. This fragmentation highlights the need for a cohesive framework that aligns national protection policies with grassroots efforts. Creating a National Alliance for Sport for Protection could be a key step in tackling these challenges

Lessons from Stakeholder Engagement

Engagement with key stakeholders, including the National Council for Family Affairs, the Ministry of Education, UNHCR, and civil society organizations, has provided valuable insights. From this collaboration, two main recommendations have emerged: first, the necessity to institutionalize sport for protection through educational activities, and second, the establishment of mechanisms to address existing policy gaps.

The Ministry of Education is crucial to this National Alliance. The Directorate of School Counselling within the ministry has pinpointed several priority areas, such as material needs, innovation, and capacity-building. Currently, the sport infrastructure in schools is inadequate, with limited ability to meet inclusivity requirements, especially for students with disabilities. The Coalition aims to increase the number of physical activity classes and introduce both traditional and innovative sports, enabling all students to participate and enhancing their overall physical and psychosocial development.

However, schools cannot tackle all protection needs on their own. The proposed Coalition would also manage efforts to fulfill the protection requirements of children involved in sports outside of school settings, such as in sports clubs or through e-sports. Without appropriate safeguards, these environments could potentially jeopardize children’s psychosocial well-being. Stakeholders highlighted the importance of broadening sport initiatives to encompass both Jordanian communities and refugees. This dual approach ensures that programs not only cater to the specific needs of displaced populations but also promote social cohesion within host communities. By encouraging mutual understanding and collaboration, sport can serve as a means for long-term peacebuilding and resilience.

A Vision for the National Alliance

The proposed National Alliance for Sport for Protection seeks to unite policymakers, practitioners, and donors in developing a unified strategy. Its main goals are:

1. Policy Integration: Ensuring that national protection policies are aligned with sport-based initiatives for consistency and scalability.
2. Capacity Building: Strengthening the abilities of local organizations to create and execute effective sport-for-protection programs.
3. Monitoring and Evaluation: Setting up strong systems to evaluate the impact of interventions and maintain accountability.
4. Advocacy and Funding: Gathering resources and increasing awareness about the importance of sport in protection efforts.

By establishing a platform for sharing knowledge and fostering collaboration, the alliance can tackle existing gaps and open doors to innovative solutions. Additionally, it can act as a model for other nations facing similar issues, showcasing how sport can be a key component of national protection strategies.

Challenges and Opportunities

Establishing a National Alliance comes with its own set of challenges. Limited resources, conflicting priorities, and established silos can impede progress. Nevertheless, the potential advantages significantly outweigh these hurdles. This alliance offers a chance to shift sport from a disjointed effort into a unified, strategic component of national protection policies.

In Jordan, where a large segment of the population consists of youth, utilizing sport for protection is not just an option – it is essential. Investing in sports for protection can lead to benefits in social cohesion, mental health, and community resilience, paving the way for a brighter future for everyone.

Call to Action

As practitioners and policymakers, we share the responsibility to leverage the power of sport in tackling protection challenges. The moment to act is now. By coming together under a National Alliance for Sport for Protection, we can ensure that no one is overlooked and that sport serves as a driving force for positive change in Jordan and beyond.

About the authors

Rawaa Mouamer is the Research and Outreach Coordinator at Generations For Peace. Hani Al Rawashdeh is the Policy and Advocacy Specialist at Generations For Peace.