International Research, Conferences and Networking

Aims

Programmes are monitored to ensure their success

To strengthen, and evidence the work of, our International Development Assistance Programmes, UK Sport runs alongside it, the International Research, Conferences and Networking programme (IRCN).

The IRCN aims to support research into, and the dissemination of best practice in, the field of sport for development through several strands, and can offer some funding for worthwhile projects.

Priority areas for the programme are research, monitoring and evaluation and dissemination of best practice in the field of sport for development which contributes to the following aims:

• Education, leadership, coach education and youth development through sport in developing countries
• The promotion of equity in and though sport in developing countries (including gender issues, empowerment and working with those with disabilities)
• The use of sport for HIV/AIDS education, awareness and stigma reduction
• Enhancing good governance through sport, including capacity building and conflict resolution

particularly where these activities help improve the evidence base for the impact of sport as a vehicle for the promotion of human and social development, and those that can contribute to the Value of Sport Monitor.

Areas of work

We firmly believe that in order to use sport as an effective tool for human and social development the ongoing monitoring and evaluation processes of the organisations we work with must be of the best quality. We are working on various initiatives to achieve this aim. Please see our pages on Monitoring and Evaluation for more information on these projects.

We are hosting the Next Step Conference in Namibia in September, this year. The third of its kind, the conference will focus on youth leadership and will bring together the key grassroots organisations, funders and policy makers involved in sport for development.

The IRCN programme also works through the following funding strands:

• Strand 1: We contribute to the support of a network of UK based academics working in the field of sport and development, by convening, supporting or attending networking opportunities and assisting with the identification of gaps in research areas. We are looking into the possibilities of widening this network internationally and can also offer financial support to UK based individuals presenting papers at international sports conferences that make a contribution to research activities that align explicitly to our priority areas and that address the gaps in areas which would benefit more rigorous research designs.
• Strand 2: We offer assistance for UK based individuals pursuing research projects with an international dimension as part of a further or higher degree or an established academic scholarship programme, that align explicitly to the below priority areas and that address the gaps in areas that would benefit more rigorous research designs. As well as financial support we can offer researchers a unique opportunity to utilize our partner projects and delivery organisations as examples and case studies for their research.
• Strand 3: We are exploring opportunities for South-South exchange between grassroots organisations working on the ground who can offer, or who seek, assistance with capacity building, research or monitoring and evaluation, and can benefit from sharing experiences with similar organisations in other developing countries.
• Strand 4: We support a PhD student, who is working alongside Professor Fred Coalter at the University of Stirling, on a dissertation related to UK Sport sponsored sport for development projects and directly related to the priority area of gender empowerment though sport.

We are currently accepting applications for both Strand 1 and Strand 2 of the Programme. The appropriate forms and more information on making an application can be found below. 

Please note that because of the need to focus our resources in an efficient and meaningful way, only those applications that are supported by Home Country Sports Councils, recognised sports federations and/or a UK university will be eligible for funding.

Please note that our usual policy is only to accept applications from UK based individuals, however UK Sport retains the right to award grants at our discretion to any individual we believe to enhance the UK’s influence and understanding and expertise in the international sports development arena.

We also wish to be more consultative regarding Strand 3 and would be happy to discuss any ideas or proposals that sport for development delivery partners may have for south-south exchange.

For more information on any of the programme areas, please contact Andrew Baptie, Worldwide Impact Officer, andrew.baptie@uksport.gov.uk

Related documents

• Strand 1 - Application Form [PDF, 48k]
• Strand 2 - Application Form [PDF, 52k]
• Strand 1 - Reporting Form [WORD, 88k]
• Strand 2 - Reporting Form [WORD, 86k]
• International Research, Conferences and Networking Programme Reporting Guidelines [PDF, 137k]

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