Date: 24/09/2021
Duration: 10:00-11:00 (BST)
Location: Online
Sport as an intervention for peace and security
In this webinar, Commonwealth Alumnus Lin C Sambili Gicheha will discuss the positive contribution that sport can play as an enabler for sustainable development. Sport remains underutilised across many Commonwealth countries, however, when it is intentionally used, it can serve as a tool for development to address numerous social development challenges, including the rising challenge of youth radicalisation into violent extremism. Lin will showcase her expertise around the growing body of evidence, including foundational work done by the Commonwealth Secretariat on sport and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which has shown that the intentional use of sport-based policy and programming can make effective and cost-efficient contributions to several specific SDG targets.
This webinar will take a more practitioner lens and focus on UN SDG 16. Specifically, it will aim to amplify the voices and perspectives of different youth led groups in Kenya and how they are using the positive contribution of sport and other locally empowering approaches to enhance sustainable development and build more resilient communities against the threats of Al-Shabaab recruitment and radicalisation. In summary, tackling the challenge of extremism through sport will require a whole of society approach that is contextualised and linked to meaningful youth and community engagement.
This webinar will address the CSC theme, Strengthening global peace, security and governance.
The webinar will last for approximately one hour, including a Q&A session.
The CSC’s Knowledge Hub webinar series is open to all Commonwealth Scholars and Alumni. Through the series, Commonwealth Scholars and Alumni will discuss their work and contribution to development across a range of contemporary global challenges, and provide insight into ongoing research and action.
You can watch previous webinars on the CSC’s YouTube channel.
Lin C Sambili Gicheha is the Project Manager, Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) with the Commonwealth Secretariat. Lin graduated from the International University of Monaco (IUM) in 2013 with a master’s degree in Sustainable Peace through Sport (MSPS). Prior to obtaining her master’s degree, Lin worked with the United Nations in New York with the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (Electoral Assistance Division). She was also a UN Volunteer with the United Nations Office for Partnerships (UNOP) where she provided technical and operational support on various stakeholder initiatives and high-level forums on sustainable development.
In Kenya, Lin is a Director with Sports with a Goal Africa (SWAGA). SWAGA is a grassroots sports organisation that uses sport to Reach-Connect and Empower both individuals and communities with opportunities through sport. More recently and in line with her academic work, Lin was part of the research team that designed and published the 2020 UNODC Preventing Violent Extremism through Sport Technical Guide.
Lin is a 2016 Commonwealth Scholar from Kenya. She completed her PhD in Sociology of Sport at Loughborough University with a particular focus on Sport for Development and Peace in preventing the spread of Violent Extremism (SDP/VE).
