Background

The universality of sport and its unifying power have been recognized as powerful tools to promote peace, tolerance and understanding. The 2030 Agenda for sustainable development, adopted in 2015, explicitly stressed the ‘growing contribution of sport to the realization of development and peace.

Civil society organizations have for a long time recognized the potential of sport in peace and development by adopting the use of sport in fulfilling their objectives. They are necessary and central partners in advocacy, program development and delivery of sports-based initiatives at the community level whose impact trickles down to the national and global level. Therefore, it is important that the efforts of civil society organizations (CSOs) are supported to maintain and expand their contribution to peace and development as well as other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through sport.

In this context, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) is pleased to support the Sport for One Humanity initiative, established by Turkish Airlines. The main objective of the Sport for One Humanity initiative is to select and support innovative sports-based projects implemented by CSOs that promote a culture of peace, mutual understanding and cooperation among diverse communities and cultures around the world. The initiative will give priority to projects using and promoting sport as a tool for strengthening diversity and inclusiveness, education and empowerment of youth, empowerment of women and girls, inclusion of persons with disabilities and vulnerable groups and fostering peaceful and inclusive societies.

Objectives

The objectives of the Sport for One Humanity initiative are:

• To raise awareness on the power of sport as a tool to foster peaceful and inclusive societies.
• To support organizations that use sport for development and peace in their respective communities by providing them with capacity building, mentoring, visibility and sustainability.
• To identify best practices/lessons learned on how sport builds bridges between individuals and across communities, and how it helps to attain development and peace objectives.

Geographical Coverage

There is no geographical limitation regarding the applicants’ location.  Organizations from all over the world are encouraged to apply.

Themes and priorities

The call for applications invites not-for profit organizations, who are implementing a project relevant for the sport development and peace agenda. The initiative will support 10 not-for-profit organizations managing and implementing sports-based projects that combine sport with development and peace objectives to raise awareness, particularly, on the power of sport as a tool to promote intercultural dialogue, strengthen diversity and foster inclusive societies.

Indicative project activities that will be supported include:

• Community outreach, meetings, workshops and activities involving local sports associations, that are aimed at improving community participation,
• Sports events and tournaments, bringing diverse groups of people together in unique ways and aiming to strengthen inclusion and peaceful coexistence within communities,
• Educational activities, ranging from short-term awareness raising sessions to long-term trainings, exchanges of youth involved in sport from communities, including peer education in schools and communities,
• Innovative sports-based life- skills training and learning activities for youth, women and girls that would also include peace education and gender equity objectives,
• Sport based projects that enhance social inclusion and integration of persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, migrants and vulnerable social groups,
• Projects based on traditional sports and games that promote intercultural and intercommunity dialogue,
• Awareness-raising activities related to sports that involve media and social-media campaigns, as well as video production and radio programs for advocacy purposes.

Capacity building and mentoring

Selected applicants will be provided with a comprehensive capacity-development program aimed at strengthening their effectiveness in their work. The support program will consist of training through face-to-face workshops facilitated by experts, addressing various topics of interest, and continued support through customized mentoring sessions, which will be delivered online. The in- person component of the capacity- building program will be organized in view of the travel conditions in the future and may be delivered in virtual live format if travel is curtailed due to pandemic conditions.

The face-to-face workshops facilitated by expert trainers will aim to strengthen skills of the participants, in the areas of project management, advocacy and communications and monitoring and evaluation of results.

Sport for One Humanity initiative aims to support selected organizations according to their individual capacity and needs. During the delivery of the face-to-face workshops, a detailed needs assessment will be conducted with each selected applicant to determine the specific support needed. Further, through tailor- made mentorship, expert trainers will continue to provide selected applicants with project related assistance and know- how on chosen topics of interest during the implementation of their respective projects.

Recognition and Visibility

Selected applicants will be invited to participate in a ceremony that will serve to increase their visibility, raise awareness about the initiative, and bring together influencers in sport, business and civil society. During the ceremony they will have the opportunity to network with their peers and build connections with the international community including organizations working on sport for development and peace.

Timeline

Opening of the Call for Applications: 30 March 2022
Closing of the Call for Applications (extended): 6 June 2022 18:00 EDT (NYC)

Evaluation Process

All applications will be first checked against eligibility criteria. (See Eligibility Criteria) Applicants must meet eligibility criteria in order to be considered for the next step.

The pre-selection committee assess eligible applications based on the content provided and create a shortlist of applications.

An international and interdisciplinary jury will evaluate the shortlisted applications against the evaluation criteria (see Evaluation Criteria) and select 10 projects.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria for Applicants

Applying organizations must:

• be registered as a not-for-profit organization (civil society organizations including non-governmental organizations, community- based organizations, foundations, associations. trusts, charities) with recognized legal status in the country where activities are implemented.
• have been operational for a minimum period of one year on the date of application.
• manage a project relevant for the sport for development and peace agenda.
• be directly responsible for the implementation of the proposed activities.

Eligibility Criteria for Projects

Submitted projects must:

• contribute to promoting intercultural dialogue, strengthening diversity and fostering inclusive societies through sport.
• have sufficient funding and resources for successful implementation of all activities.
• be committed to diversity, equity and inclusion objectives when engaging with target groups.
• be led by a project coordinator, who is an employee of the applying organization from the start of the project.

Evaluation Criteria

The evaluation criteria include the assessment of:

RELEVANCE (30 points)

• The project contributes to the objective of promoting intercultural dialogue, strengthening diversity and fostering inclusive societies through sport.
• The project contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs.)
• The project is based on relevant and adequate analysis of the challenges and needs of the target groups.
• The objectives of the project are clearly defined, realistic and address issues relevant to the target groups.
• The project has a clear diversity, equity and inclusion approach and ensures gender balance among project participants.

QUALITY (30 points)

• The applicant demonstrates its expertise and ability to organize, coordinate and implement the various aspects of the proposed activities.
• The activities using sport as a tool to create positive social change are appropriate, practical and consistent with the objectives and expected results.
• The project budget is accurate, consistent between project objectives, methodology, activities and feasible.
• The composition of the project team involves an appropriate mix of experiences and expertise, and the allocation of roles is appropriate for successful delivery of activities and results.

IMPACT (30 points)

• Sustainability of the proposed activities (the extent to which the activities will be carried out after the end of the project).
• Number and diversity of participants involved in and benefiting from the project’s activities.
• The quality of measures aimed at disseminating the outcomes of the project with the stakeholders and the wider public.
• The quality of the M&E tools and process is considered and clearly demonstrated.

APPLICATION (10 points)

Application will be assessed for clarity, conciseness and persuasiveness. The application text must show effective communication of ideas and provides relevant examples, provide clear and concise responses to questions, include insightful arguments and engaging narrative.

Application Procedure

Applications must be submitted before the closing date of the call for applications (see timeline).

Applications must be submitted using the online forms in English via the dedicated web page. Paper and handwritten submissions are not accepted.

Applications must be complete and contain all the requested information and all required annexes and supporting documents. Only complete applications will be considered.

Applicants may be asked at a late stage to provide additional documents if information provided needs further clarification.

Documents to be submitted for application

1. The application form, completed and certified by the organization
2. A copy of the registration certificate of the organization
3. Official document, signed by authorized representatives, demonstrating the annual income of the organization
4. Copy of the statutes/by-laws of the organization
5. An organizational chart, showing key decision makers in the organization
6. A biography of the current Executive/Managing Director. (1 page maximum)
7. The resume/CV of the project coordinator (2 pages maximum)
8. A picture or scan of the project coordinator’s passport identification page.