Africa Forward: sport as a driver for youth and entrepreneurship

“Sport directly contributes to improving health, education, gender equality, and social cohesion. It is a powerful driver of socioeconomic development, for our societies and for future generations. By 2050, one in three young people will be African. That is why the Group fully integrates sport for development into its work and is recognized as a leading international donor in this area,” says Laureline Triby, Head of the Social Link Division at AFD.

In 2017, the Ouagadougou speech laid the foundations for a renewed Africa–France relationship centered on African youth. Ten years later, sport, recognized as a fundamental right by UNESCO, plays a key role in education and youth development: it fosters essential skills, academic success, and access to employment.

However, sport remains underused in education and social policies: 81% of adolescents worldwide do not meet the level of physical activity recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). It is also an economic driver. As a source of jobs, it supports local entrepreneurship and boosts regional development. It accounts for more than 2% of global GDP, but only 0.5% in Africa, highlighting significant opportunities for the continent’s youth.

In response, AFD Group is positioning sport as a catalyst for inclusive investment and sustainable impact for young people. Since 2018, this commitment has translated into:

• €492 million invested in sport and development
• Nearly 400 projects supported
• 10 million young beneficiaries, particularly in Africa

“We aim to support the entire ecosystem to generate lasting impact: supporting public policies that promote sport, strengthening the capacities of stakeholders, building and renovating local infrastructure, and supporting innovations led by civil society,” explains Laureline Triby.

Sport as a driver of education and employability

In Africa, nearly one in four young people is neither employed nor in education or training. In this context, the Sesla program (Sport for Education and Sustainable Livelihoods in Africa), led by the International Olympic Committee, the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, and AFD, supports local initiatives that use sport as a tool for education and social and professional integration. To date, 25 civil society organizations have been supported across 14 African countries, reaching nearly 13,000 young people, particularly young women. “Dance helps me build confidence. When I dance, I feel safe,” says Noella, a Rwandan beneficiary of the Sesla program.

In Rwanda, the ISONGA program, supported by AFD and led by the Ministry of Sports, aims to make sport a core component of the education pathway while creating pathways to high-level sport. In participating schools, renovated infrastructure is making a tangible difference: usable fields, accessible equipment, and structured supervision.

Between 2021 and 2024, around 30 sports facilities were rehabilitated, providing 600 students (44% girls) with favorable conditions for sports practice. “One of the greatest gifts of ISONGA is the confidence the program has given me to pursue my passion. I love football, not as a player but as a referee. This program has helped me grow, and today I look forward to representing my country as an international referee,” said Sandra Musoni, aged 12, during the finals of the National Talent Week women’s football competition.

Dakar 2026: planning a legacy beyond the event

Next November, Dakar will host the 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG), the first Olympic event ever held on the African continent.

The event is not being prepared solely for a few weeks of competition. It is part of a long-term vision in which every investment is designed to deliver lasting benefits for local populations.

Through an €80 million loan to the Senegalese government, AFD has supported the transformation of key infrastructure:

• the renovation of the Iba Mar Diop stadium;
• the rehabilitation of the Olympic swimming pool;
• the construction of 12 sports facilities in working-class neighborhoods in Dakar.

Designed for long-term use, these facilities will benefit schools, clubs, and local communities after the Games, contributing to broader access to sport.

Expanding women’s access to sport

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, girls and women face numerous barriers to participating in sport and cultural activities, notably due to social norms and stereotypes. These challenges are compounded by gender-based violence, which persists in both sporting and cultural environments. In response, the “Pour Elles: Sport and Culture” project, financed by AFD and implemented by Expertise France, operates at several levels.

The aim is not only to build or rehabilitate infrastructure, but to transform the conditions of access: training coaches and facilitators, raising awareness of gender-based violence, and adapting facilities to the specific needs of women and girls. For young beneficiaries, this means having access to safe spaces where they can express themselves, take part in activities, and build confidence. Ultimately, more than 3,000 girls will gain access to sports and cultural activities, while over 200 stakeholders will be trained to bring about lasting changes in practices.

At the intersection of education, inclusion, and employment, sport is now emerging as a powerful driver of opportunities for future generations. In Africa, where young people represent an unparalleled demographic force, it is more than ever a strategic investment for the future, helping to build more inclusive, resilient, and stable societies.