Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers, Speak Up Africa’s Strategy for Achieving the SDGs through Sports

The roar of a packed stadium during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) or the high-energy vibe of a Basketball Africa League (BAL) game demonstrates the unique power of sports to unite people across the continent. Africa is increasingly channeling this athletic passion into tangible social change, ranging from large-scale financial investments to health campaigns fronted by legendary athletes. Since a 2024 UN resolution formally recognized sports as a key driver for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a global movement has emerged to leverage sports institutions as vital vehicles for social and development financing.Celebrating this year’s International Day of Sport for Development and Peace under the theme « Sport: Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers, » Speak Up Africa is showcasing how the unifying power of sports serves as a strategic model for achieving the SDGs across Africa. « Zero Malaria Football Club », activated through Speak Up Africa in Action, the organization’s flagship platform leveraging major sporting moments, harnesses the influence of legendary athletes to strengthen health infrastructure, foster community trust, and ensure access to essential health services. To advance Gender Equality (SDG 5), Speak Up Africa prioritizes women and youth inclusion through the « Teaming Up: African LeadHERs meet BAL4HER » mentorship program, an effort to create a leadership pipeline for women within the sports ecosystem. All these programs, which leverage partnerships with both corporate entities like the BAL and influential athletes, are key in advancing Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17).

The « LeadHER » Effect in African Sports

In Africa’s rapidly expanding basketball ecosystem, a significant lack of representation continues to hinder gender equity. Although the African sports industry was valued at $2.3 billion in 2022 and maintains a high growth trajectory, women remain vastly underrepresented in leadership roles. This disparity limits inclusive innovation and represents a missed opportunity to shape the industry’s growth equitably. The « Teaming Up: African LeadHERs meet BAL4HER » mentorship program, a collaboration between Speak Up Africa and the BAL, is actively bridging this gap. By pairing ten African leaders in sports with global sports executives from the NBA, WNBA, and other prominent organisations, the initiative provides essential leadership training and networking opportunities. A cornerstone of the program was the Advocacy for Health pillar, which allowed mentees to demonstrate their leadership while driving positive health outcomes within their communities. Through these connections, the program is breaking barriers by translating its vision into tangible impact and building a pipeline of female talent ready to drive change.

The Speak Up Africa in Action playbook

Although Africa achieved a historic milestone in 2020 by eliminating wild polio, the fight is far from over. Vaccine hesitancy continues to fuel localized outbreaks, revealing a deeper challenge: trust. Through Speak Up Africa in Action, we transform major sporting moments into powerful platforms where policy dialogue, public engagement, and storytelling converge to drive action. Campaigns such as « Kick Out Polio » and the « Zero Malaria Football Club, » powered by iconic athletes like Michael Essien, Khalilou Fadiga, and Luís Figo, are embedded within these moments. They leverage the unifying power of sport to bring together governments, communities, media, and partners in a shared space, turning awareness into alignment, and alignment into action. This is the Speak Up Africa in Action playbook: transform shared passion into shared purpose, and shared purpose into sustained collaboration. By anchoring health messages in moments of pride, culture, and collective identity, these initiatives do more than inform; they build trust, shift behaviors, and mobilize communities around the final mile to end preventable diseases.

Dakar 2026 and the Road to 2030

The arrival of the Olympic flame next September will mark the beginning of a new chapter in which a passion for sports will go hand in hand with social progress. This is also a historic milestone, as Kirsty Coventry was elected as the first woman and first African to serve as President of the International Olympic Committee—a powerful connection to our efforts to promote African women’s leadership in sport. As we move toward the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, sport has established itself as a cornerstone of the global development framework. By leveraging the unique influence of sport, Speak Up Africa is actively breaking down barriers, whether it’s promoting gender equity in leadership or overcoming vaccine hesitancy to strengthen public health. Ultimately, investing in sport is investing in people, laying the foundation for a more inclusive and resilient future.