Sport for Development Needs a Reset: From Charity to Socio-Economic Investment
21 July 2026
This clip is taken from the talk "Sport for Development Needs a Reset: From Charity to Socio-Economic Investment in Youth and Talent" from the 2024 ASU Connex Summit in London, in partnership with Charles Russell Speechlys & AfroSport Group.
This talk makes the case that sport for development has become an industry that no longer serves the communities, young people and talent it was built for. Drawing on the spirit of Ubuntu and the early days of the UN Office on Sport for Development and Peace, the speakers argue for a shift away from charity and box-ticking CSR towards genuine socio-economic investment in youth, talent pathways and community ecosystems.
What this talk covers:
- •Why sport for development has lost some of its authenticity and collective spirit
- •Moving from charity and CSR towards sustainable socio-economic investment
- •The role family offices, investment funds and private capital should play in sport
- •Why grassroots sport and performance pathways must be the starting point, not an afterthought
- •Ideas like a 10% community give-back and legacy levies on major games
- •Designing ecosystems where young talent can realise its potential at home, in its own communities
Speakers:
- •Geoff Thompson, Founder & Chair, Youth Charter
- •Catherine Orset-Njonga, Head of Growth, Alive & Kicking
Key takeaways
- Why the current sport for development model often fails to deliver lasting community impact
- The difference between charity-driven CSR and genuine socio-economic investment through sport
- How to build talent pathways and youth ecosystems that create real economic value
- What a reset for the sport for development sector could look like in practice
