Re-Thinking Monitoring, Evaluating, and Learning

Effective monitoring, evaluation and learning in sport-for-development programmes requires an understanding of the contributing factors that are associated with impactful outcomes. Cause champions are social change agents who act as cultural experts and role models within communities. They play a crucial role in sport-for-development programmes. Despite their profound impact, our understanding of the managerial support mechanisms that serve as necessary conditions for cause champions to operate successfully and thrive within sport-for-development programmes remains limited. This study investigated the essential support mechanisms for cause champions, examine how these interact, and suggest ways to monitor them to enhance the effectiveness of a programme through a resource-based lens. This research is a case-study analysis of a SFD organisation from Singapore. Using semi-structured interviews were conducted with staff members (n = 7), coaches (n =3) and cause champions (n = 8). The data were examined using thematic analysis, which is in line with the resource-based view that observes critical resources and their interactions in relation to the effectiveness and sustainability of organisations. We have identified various critical support mechanisms that enable cause champions to thrive. This includes the investment and efforts of staff and boundary-spanning coaches, and social behaviours that foster a culture of care. This interconnected nature of support mechanisms highlights the importance for strategic alignment and targeted support to enhance the impacts of SFD initiatives. These findings provide insights for designing, managing and evaluating SFD programmes more effectively, both in Singapore and other contexts

Sociology · Physical Education and Pedagogy · Psychology · Sport and Mega-Event Impacts · Sports Analytics and Performance

• Sport-for-development in a nation-building state

  Sophia Harith, Wai Cheong Eugene Chew et al.•Culture Sport Society•2026

  Add to list