This book critically examines the multifaceted role of sport in global development. It analyses the potential of sport in facilitating social transformation and addresses the challenges of implementing and managing complex projects across diverse cultural and political landscapes.

Drawing on the author’s 20 years’ experience of research and practice in sport-for-development across six continents, the book presents in-depth case studies from Uganda, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Belarus, Ukraine, Albania, Thailand, Honduras, and Bolivia. Featuring original ethnographic research and a broad range of interviews, the book explores key issues in sport-for-development including postcolonial dynamics, health crises, migration, peacebuilding, youth development, gender equality, and the ethics of volunteerism. Offering a balanced perspective on the potential, effectiveness and limitations of using sport as a tool for development, the book advocates for sustainable, culturally sensitive, and locally driven approaches.

Featuring important perspectives on research, methodology, ethics, implementation and practice, this book is essential reading for any advanced student, researcher or practitioner with an interest in sport development, sport management, football studies, development studies, or the wider relationships between sport and society.