As part of the creation of the university chair “Promoting the contribution of sport, physical education and physical activity to sustainable development and peace” awarded to the Paris Nanterre University Foundation, Peace and Sport, Paris Nanterre University, and the UPN Foundation have joined forces to measure the effects of peace-building programmes based on sport.

Since March 2022, Peace and Sport and the Institute of Social Sciences of Politics of the University of Paris Nanterre have been carrying out an ambitious evaluation and prescription work to improve the design, implementation and impact of peace through sport programmes, notably in the framework of the Peacemakers Project. A team of teacher-researchers from the University of Paris Nanterre travelled to Lomé, Togo, for an immersion in the heart of the ALAFIA programme of Terres en Mêlées Togo.

Before extending the study to other territories, the initial results of this research will be presented at the round table “Demonstrating the social impact of sport at the community level” during the 13th Peace and Sport International Forum, which will take place from 30 November to 1 December in the Principality of Monaco.

At the same time, Peace and Sport is involved in the training of international programme coordinators by taking part in the “Sport and Social Sciences: National and International Perspectives” Master’s degree programme and hosting internships for students at the international organisation’s headquarters in Monaco.

Joël Bouzou, President and Founder of Peace and Sport, said:

“Programmes using sport to achieve peace and development objectives have a visible impact on the territories where they are implemented but evaluating their effects remains a challenge. In the long term, the creation of a university chair in partnership with the University of Paris Nanterre and the University Paris Nanterre Foundation will make it possible to demonstrate the tangible impact of peace through sport programmes on the ground, and to convince decision-makers of their effectiveness.”

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Julien Sorez, Lecturer and researcher at the University of Paris Nanterre, declared:
“Evaluating the social impact of sport requires to work as close as possible to the actors involved in sport for sustainable development and peace. Researchers in social sciences of sport at the University of Paris Nanterre put their scientific experience at the service of Peace and Sport’s partner organisations in order to identify real needs and local issues and to propose solutions that are as respectful as possible of local populations. The presence in the field, whether through research visits or numerous student internships, is an essential component of this approach and of the partnership with Peace and Sport.”

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Pierre-André Jouvet, President of the Paris Nanterre University Foundation and Vice-President of Partnerships at the University of Paris Nanterre, added:

“Through this valuable partnership, the University Paris Nanterre Foundation is proud to support this project which puts the quality of research and training in social sciences at the University of Paris Nanterre at the service of Peace and Sport’s innovative approach to achieving the objectives of sustainable development and peace.”