The power of sport to transform and develop the lives of children and youth is unique, especially of those from marginalized and disadvantaged backgrounds vying for equal rights and opportunities. Sport for development (S4D) initiatives have far reaching positive implications on communities and have proven to be effective in enhancing the quality of life of individuals as well as contributing towards their overall well-being.

Sport has been recognized by the United Nations (UN), along with national governments, development organizations, sport governing bodies and global actors including the Commonwealth, as an important tool to aid in the socio-economic development of individuals and communities. The UN has recognized the importance of S4D, the practice of deliberately using sport to achieve social developmental goals, as an enabler of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This Agenda is a universal plan to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all, and the SDGs ensure that development must balance economic, environmental, and social outcomes.

This scoping study is an effort by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), in collaboration with Pro Sport Development (PSD) and Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA), to understand the scope of S4D as part of the development agenda in different countries across South and South East Asia. The objectives of the scoping study were to learn in greater depth about the current S4D initiatives in the regions, including their impact, key gaps, and challenges, as well as provide a set of recommendations to guide future strategies in the S4D sector.