OVERVIEW

PASS’SPORT is an ambitious, forward-looking pan-African initiative co-developed by Sport Impact, the Fondation of Université Paris Nanterre, and TRACE Global, with the support of the French Development Agency (AFD).

Its mission is to strengthen the skills and employability of young people and sports professionals in order to harness the transformative potential of sport as a driver of inclusive economic growth, job creation, social cohesion, and sustainable development across the continent.

Beyond training, PASS’SPORT fosters the emergence of new knowledge, the dissemination of innovative professional practices, and cooperation among stakeholders committed to building a dynamic, sustainable, and resilient African sports ecosystem. This ambition is captured in its guiding principle: LEARN – CONNECT – TRANSFORM, a call to build bridges, deepen expertise, and drive lasting change through sport.

TWO COMPLEMENTARY PILLARS FOR SUSTAINABLE IMPACT

The PASS’SPORT programme is built around two strategic and complementary pillars, designed to stimulate innovation, strengthen capacities, and translate knowledge into concrete action in support of sport-led development across Africa.

1. A Digital learning pathway accessible to all

Available free of charge on TRACE Academia, the digital learning pathway offers certified modules focusing on:

• The role of sport in development,
• Careers within the sports ecosystem,
• Key skills needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving sector.

This pathway primarily targets young people aged 18–25, while remaining open to anyone wishing to strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the sector.

2. In-person seminars for professionals

Pan-African seminars bring together sports stakeholders, decision-makers, project leaders, federations, and entrepreneurs through sessions that are:

• Practical and interactive,
• Focused on experience-sharing and peer learning,
• Enhanced by MOOCs and online content to provide a comprehensive hybrid learning experience.

Key themes include:

• Sports entrepreneurship
• Management and development of sports facilities and/or events as drivers of territorial and community engagement
• Public sports policies.

KEY DATES

Digital learning pathway

Open-access digital courses have been available on TRACE Academia since November 2025.
To access them, click here. 

In-person seminars (2025–2027)

Five bilingual seminars (English / French) are scheduled over the period. Each session is preceded by a call for applications published at least three months before the event.

Indicative Schedule

• Kigali – Rwanda (September 2025)
  Sport & Entrepreneurship – English-language session
• Abidjan – Côte d’Ivoire (April 2026)
  Management and development of sports facilities and/or events as drivers of territorial and community engagement – French-language session
• Dakar – Senegal (October 2026)
  Public policies and development of the sports sector – French-language session
• Cape Town – South Africa (Q1–Q2 2027)
  Management and development of sports facilities and/or events as drivers of territorial and community engagement – English-language session
• Casablanca – Morocco (Q3–Q4 2027)
  Sport & Entrepreneurship – French-language session

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Digital learning pathway

Open to everyone, with particular attention given to young people aged 18–25 wishing to explore professional opportunities within the sports sector.

In-person seminars

Each seminar has specific eligibility criteria (profile, experience, motivation, availability, and level of engagement within a project or organisation).

For detailed conditions, please consult:

• Kigali → click here
• Abidjan → click here
• Dakar → Eligibility criteria to be published soon
• Cape Town → Eligibility criteria to be published soon
• Morocco → Eligibility criteria to be published soon

ABOUT THE PASS’SPORT PROGRAMME PARTNERS

Sport Impact

Sport Impact is a pan-African consulting agency dedicated to accelerating high-impact sports initiatives across Africa. It supports key stakeholders within the sport-for-development ecosystem (public institutions, international organisations, federations, companies, NGOs, associations, and foundations) through an integrated service offering that includes project incubation and structuring with social and economic impact, management and implementation of sport and development-focused funds, capacity building and professionalisation of sector actors, impact measurement and evaluation aligned with international standards, as well as strategic advisory support for the design of sustainable policies, programmes, and partnerships.

By placing sport at the heart of sustainable development dynamics, Sport Impact works to build a more inclusive, structured, and value-creating African sports ecosystem for youth and communities.

Fondation Université Paris Nanterre

The Foundation promotes solidarity, innovation, and collaboration within Université Paris Nanterre and beyond. It supports academic communities through social and educational initiatives and hosts several research chairs, including the UNESCO Chair “Sport, Development and Peace,” which advances knowledge and action on the role of sport in building peaceful and inclusive societies.

TRACE Global

TRACE is a leading Franco-African media group specialising in Afro-urban entertainment, with a presence across television, radio, digital platforms, and live events. Its TRACE Academia platform, launched in 2016, provides young Africans with free, skills-based learning through an innovative “edutainment” approach that combines education and entertainment. The platform draws on neuroscience and sector expertise to make learning both engaging and effective.

French Development Agency (AFD)

The French Development Agency (AFD) is France’s public development bank, working to accelerate transitions towards a more just and sustainable world. Active in more than 100 countries, AFD supports projects that combat climate change, reduce inequalities, and promote inclusive economic growth through grants, loans, technical assistance, and partnerships.

AFD Campus is a pedagogical innovation laboratory that designs, tests, and deploys innovative learning formats to strengthen knowledge, expertise, and relational skills worldwide, in support of a more inclusive and sustainable future. This approach is based on the belief that new understanding and concrete solutions can only emerge through the sharing of knowledge, experiences, and dialogue between the Global North and the Global South.