Presentation

Sport for Education and Sustainable Livelihoods in Africa (SESLA) is a pan-African program launched in January 2024 in response to a critical challenge: one in four young people in Africa is not in formal education, employment or training. Led jointly by Laureus Sport for Good, the International Olympic Committee through Olympism365, and the Agence Française de Développement, alongside key African sport and social development institutions, SESLA aims to harness the power of sport to expand access to education and support sustainable livelihoods for young people across the continent. By working through local organizations, the program seeks to empower youth and strengthen the communities in which they live.

Program structure

SESLA combines financial and non-financial support for selected organizations. The program provides grant funding alongside training, peer learning opportunities and research activities aimed at strengthening project quality and impact. Supported initiatives implement sport-based interventions that promote education, skills development and improved livelihood prospects for young people. Following its launch in 2024, SESLA welcomed its first cohort of grantees in 2025 and currently supports 29 projects implemented across 14 African countries.

Implementation approach

The program is delivered in close collaboration with grantee organizations, which receive continuous support throughout the funding cycle. Grantees benefit from access to learning resources, knowledge-sharing platforms and communities of practice, as well as monitoring and learning frameworks designed to strengthen impact and sustainability. This collaborative approach supports local ownership, continuous improvement and long-term outcomes for young people and their communities.

What does sesla offer?

SESLA provides grantee organizations with the resources and support needed to scale and strengthen their impact by combining funding, technical assistance and access to an international network of sport and development actors. The program contributes to improving the quality and effectiveness of sport-based education and livelihood initiatives, strengthening organizational capacities and advancing recognition of sport as a powerful driver of sustainable development across Africa.

Program partners

SESLA is led by Laureus Sport for Good, a global charity that uses the power of sport to tackle violence, discrimination and inequality, in partnership with the International Olympic Committee through the Olympism365 initiative, which advances sport’s contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals. The program is supported by the Agence Française de Développement, which finances and supports development initiatives aimed at promoting inclusive, resilient and sustainable societies, in collaboration with African sport and social development stakeholders.