MOOC on sport for development now available in four languages

Over 8,000 learners. All six continents. 193 countries (and counting!).

Our massive open online course (MOOC) Sport for Sustainable Development: Designing effective policies and programmes has been a major success since its launch in July 2020. The course is open access and free of charge and is designed to build capacity for individuals and organisations using sport for sustainable development in their policies and programmes. The course is developed and managed by the International Platform on Sport and Development (sportanddev), the Australian Government and Commonwealth Secretariat to maximise the contribution sport can make to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other priorities. 

New language versions of the course 

Following the success of the English course and responding to an identified need for more sport and development resources in other languages and for underrepresented regions, we launched the course in three additional United Nations official languages – French, Spanish & Arabic. 

The launch of these resources in other languages has been informed and guided by the sportanddev community. It is part of the platform’s broader strategy to ensure greater access, inclusion and equity in sport and development and reshape a more diverse and democratic movement where all voices can be heard, including those from underrepresented regions. 

To better serve all and leave no one behind, sportanddev has launched our global website that has over 600 000 unique annual users from 229 countries and territories in these languages:

Course background and success

The course is open access and free of charge, and has been well received by a range of stakeholders, including policymakers, practitioners, academics, students, athletes and coaches, attracting actors both within and beyond sport. Education institutions, sports bodies and federations, sport for development (S4D) actors and mainstream humanitarian and development organisations have all used the course to improve and sustain their work.

Learner feedback has been exceptionally positive as illustrated below: 

• 97% of learners said the course met or exceeded their expectations
• 98% of learners said they gained new knowledge or skills
• 91% of learners said that they were satisfied with the course
• 79% of learners said that they have shared learnings with others
• 73% of learners have applied the course in their day-to-day work 

The course features contributions from around the world and was designed in conjunction with an expert reference group and academic team. It empowers learners to explore aspects of programme design and implementation and understand how to measure the impact of policies and programmes. It also explores key concepts on sport and gender equality, disability, human rights, social inclusion, peacebuilding and safeguarding, with practical insights from experts. The course is deliberately interactive and includes engaging video and audio content, as well as encouraging learners to share their on-ground experiences and insights at every stage.

Register for the online course 

About the partners 

The International Platform on Sport and Development 

The International Platform on Sport and Development (sportanddev) is the leading hub for the global sport and development community to share knowledge, build good practice, communicate with others, and create partnerships. It is an online resource and networking tool that offers online courses designed to share and advance knowledge on how to be best use sports as a tool for peace and development.  

Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) 

The Australian Government supports sport for development and sports diplomacy programs that strengthen international connections, build safer communities, and facilitate participation of women, girls, and people with disability. For more information about Team Up, the Australian Government’s flagship sport for development investment visit https://www.teamup.gov.au 

Commonwealth Secretariat 

The Commonwealth Secretariat supports member countries to achieve development, democracy, and peace. The Secretariat’s work helps to grow economies and boost trade, empower young people, and address threats such as climate change, debt and inequality. For more information about the Commonwealth Secretariat visit http://www.thecommonwealth.org  

# The Arabic course and website are part of a partnership between sportanddev and the Qatar Fund for Development to strengthen sport and development in the Middle East & North Africa. 

# The French and Spanish courses and the upgrade of the sportanddev website (including the functionality for multiple languages) have been supported by the Swedish Postcode Foundation 

# The translation of course content was in partnership with Translators Without Borders 

Support our work 

The sportanddev website and MOOC present partnership and funding opportunities with significant benefits for organisations, including visibility, branding and influence. For more information contact: Dr Ben Sanders, Senior Consultant: [email protected]