Cross-Sectoral Collaboration Is Key to Strengthen S4D

Interview with Katrin Grafarend, Head of International Relations, German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB)

Why is Sport for Development an important area of engagement for the DOSB, and how does it align with the organisation’s international strategy?

As the DOSB, we believe in the power of sport to contribute positively to social development and change. This holds true at both the national and international levels, which is why we incorporated Sport for Development as the third pillar of the DOSB's international work more than 15 years ago.

Sport for Development also aligns with the values of the Olympic Movement, in which international cooperation, mutual support, and solidarity are key elements.

From the DOSB’s perspective, what have been particularly meaningful or impactful moments in the collaboration with GIZ over the past years?

I am pleased to say that there have been many meaningful moments and achievements.  One that we are particularly proud of is the Basketball Artist School (BAS) in Katutura, Namibia. Founded by German basketball coach Frank Albin during his assignment to Namibia on behalf of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) between 2009 and 2013, the BAS was designed to serve as a safe space for underprivileged children and young people from the townships around Windhoek, following the motto “Education First, Basketball Second”. Recognising the great potential of this initiative, GIZ continued to support the BAS until it was able to operate without public funding.  To date, over 1,500 children have participated in the BAS afternoon programme, which combines sports and education. Currently, 170 children come every day, aiming to obtain their high school diploma.

Another example is the three-year programme that we jointly ran at the Turkish–Syrian border, which aimed to promote social cohesion between refugee children and the youth of the host communities. The methodology developed there is currently being implemented in a similar project in Greek coastal areas. With a sad record number of more than 122 million people currently displaced worldwide, there is a great need for innovative approaches to overcome prejudice and build bridges between societies. Sport can play an important role in this.

The International Expert Trainings have become a key format for global exchange among Sport for Development professionals. How does the DOSB view its role in shaping this format, and what value does it bring to international cooperation through sport?

The DOSB has been part of the International Expert Training from the very beginning when co-designing it together with GIZ. Starting with capacity building on S4D in Germany, the training programmes are now being implemented abroad, with tailored goals for each country or region. As the DOSB, we bring to the table a network within the sports and Olympic movement, which has proven to be an asset when pursuing development goals, particularly among the young generation.

What priorities and opportunities do you see for the future of this partnership?

While recognition of sport as an effective means of social development has grown in recent years, as reflected in various UN resolutions, international development cooperation is facing challenges at the national policy level in Germany and abroad. This often translates into significant budget cuts. It is therefore important that the development and sports sectors join forces to make sure that this effective area of sports-related development cooperation can fulfil its potential for society.

As a concrete example, I see a great opportunity in jointly committing to the Olympism365 strategy of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Olympism365 is a new initiative of the IOC that aims to strengthen the role of sport as an important enabler of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Cross-sectoral collaboration, which is already part of both GIZ’s and DOSB’s work, is key to this strategy. Therefore, joining this initiative with the potential to upscale the existing successful approaches could be beneficial and a win-win situation for all partners involved.

Photos: © DOSB