16/9/2011
ISCA Priorities 2012-2013
Draft by Executive Committee for discussion at the ISCA General Assembly on 22 October 2011.
Content:
1. Introduction
2. Political profile
3. Internal
- Members
- Continental committees
- Secretariats
4. External
- Sectors
- Governing bodies
- Alliances
5. Network, projects and events
- Networks
- Project
- Events
6. Communications
- Mass communication tools
- Knowledge-sharing and facilitation
- Political and media visibility
7. Finance
1. Introduction
ISCA Priorities 2012-2013 proposes and describes the organizational priorities for the following two year period. The ISCA Priorities 2012-2013 is a further elaborated description of the 3 page document ISCA identity and strategy.
The ISCA identity and strategy and the ISCA Priorities 2012-2013 is the Executive Committee’s proposal for presentation at the ISCA 2011 General Assembly.
2. Political profile
ISCA has created, demonstrated and communicated a stronger political profile over the last years. The profile is building on words like:
• Access to Physical Activity and Sport for All
• Participation and the principle of Sport for All, the right to participate – not only for the chosen few.
• Sport and physical activity for social change (health, social inclusion, youth empowerment, etc. )
• Human resources empowerment for Sport for All development. Especially the aspect and challenges of volunteers.
The ISCA profile is based on a twofold strategy of “Walking” and “Talking” or in other words on practical international based project and political messages and communication. The last years both elements have developed. Projects have always been a political priority for ISCA and the last years the amount and quality has developed very positively.
Also the political communication has developed the last year. The political communication has, due to an overall stronger platform, had both and internal and external value and importance the last years. The strongest example on valuable external example is the latest communication successes of ISCA EUROPE, which at the same time also involved many European members in effective and positive ways.
At the same time the sport political environment seems more polarized and clear. It is clearer today which entities have a genuine interest in and priority of the grassroots sport and recreational physical activity sector and which entities have priority of the elite sport sector.
This makes it at the same time clearer with whom we should seek strategic alliances, which entities can be our allies and partners, when it comes to political communication and whom are still sticking to the historical stereotypes of the sport sector.
One of ISCA’s strengths so far has been our flexibility and ability to react on given opportunity.
We should continue to have such open priorities and be able to act and react when profitable and valuable for the ISCA mission.
But nothing comes only by re-action! We shall discuss and decide on priorities, which we believe can be specific actions creating a stronger political profile as well as support the general philosophy of ISCA.
We strive to reach our organizational objectives through a twofold strategy of “Walking” and “Talking” based on trustworthy and evidence based knowledge and experience. As well as in shorter slogans like:
“ISCA Moving People”
“Moving People – Healthy People”
“Moving People – Active Societies”
“100 million more European active in sport and physical activity by 2020” (Europe)
“The right to participate – Sport for All”
“Moving People for Life Long Learning”
“Volunteering! Make a difference!” or “Volunteers make differences!”
3. Internal:
Members
ISCA is open for all organisations that utilize the societal benefits of Sport for All and see sport as cultures of movement.
With a starting point in national sport NGOs, we will engage members that are internationally active and have a desire to share and develop through international inspiration and action to induce social change.
We will carry out annual campaigns to inform potential members about the political and practical benefits of membership.
We will intensify the contact to the members and through closer dialogue activate and include more members in regular activities and communication.
ISCA is open for all organisations that utilize the societal benefits of Sport for All and see sport as cultures of movement.
The openness and inclusiveness are main pillars in the philosophy of ISCA. Entities which have a genuine interest to collaborate to develop the recreational sport and physical activity sector are welcome as members. The benefit and utilization of the an ISCA membership goes hand in hand with the members’ involvement in activities, bilateral connections to other members and contributions to and availability for international knowledge-sharing.
The members of ISCA are diverse in many ways; culturally, historically, financially, capacity wise, etc. We want to see this diversity as a strength, being aware of that the diversity and variety also creates some challenges in our international collaboration.
With a starting point in national sport NGOs, we will engage members that are internationally active and have a desire to share and develop through international inspiration and action to induce social change.
Our philosophy is based on an openness and the interest to sharing information, experiences and knowledge. We believe that sharing openly is the fastest way for development, both for ISCA as international organisation and for the national members. Even though the open and transparent attitude is not the most widespread and general attitude in the sport sector, it is a fundamental idea of ISCA, which we will pursue. At the same time, we will prioritise those members that show the same openness, actively engage in ISCA offers and that show genuine interest in proactive development.
We will carry out annual campaigns to inform potential members about the political and practical benefits of membership.
The members are ISCA! Therefore active members, both longstanding members and new members, are crucial for the development of ISCA. We believe that many new entities could benefit of being members of ISCA and we will through an annual membership campaign inform and invite new entities to consider joining ISCA. The campaign will be targeted to countries and organizations where we have identified the clearest potential.
We will intensify the contact to the members and through closer dialogue activate and include more members in regular activities and communication.
The diversity of ISCA members and the national developments within the member organizations will naturally lead to some members being very active and others being less active. Over time we also see members shift from being less active to very active – and vice versa. To ensure that the members are as active as possible we will intensify contact to members which we believe have the potential and could benefit from being more active in the field of international collaboration within ISCA.
Continental Committees
ISCA will develop the international cooperation on a continental basis. We will strengthen the Continental Committees in Asia, Latin America and Europe as the vehicle for this development.
We will invite to cooperation with likeminded organisations at the North American continent both politically and practically.
We will discover how relations to and between African based organisations can be strengthened.
ISCA will develop the international cooperation on a continental basis. We will strengthen the Continental Committees in Asia, Latin America and Europe as the vehicle for this development.
We will prioritize the continental development. The continental activities are a means to promote the ISCA philosophy adapted to the continentally specific cultures and challenges. Our goal is to develop ISCA within each continent, adapting to the diversity and preferences of the members. Such development should take into account the special needs of the grassroots sport and physical activity sectors more than try to impose one model of ISCA activity and structure to the various continents. The key words are diverse continental development and inter-continental inspiration.
The continental diversity culturally and historically calls for diverse development initiatives. We will carry out our initiatives based on updated knowledge about the grassroots sport and physical activity sectors, the continental opportunities and challenges. Continental bodies should be a main point of communication with the respective ISCA members.
Latin America
ISCA Latin American work has been in a very positive process the last years. We want to utilize this and stimulate further continental development.
ISCA Latin American clearly seems to be the continent where ISCA can both contribute to and develop the philosophy of sport for all and at the same time develop as an organization.
We will support the continental leadership to develop and optimize both political and practical initiatives. Both “Talking” and “Walking”.
This includes:
• Overall organisational priority to continental development
• MOVE 2012 Congress at Latin American continent (Brasil)
• Assist in reaching broad Latin American participation in MOVE 2012 Congress
• Assist development of physical activity promotion campaign in 2012 and beyond
• With a starting point in the increased public Brazilian sport focus (due hosting football world cup and Olympic Games in 2014 and 2016) we will establish initiatives to ensure balanced focus on grassroots sport and physical activity vs. top sport and mega events.
• Further develop and utilize the scholarships and previous scholarship holders of the International Youth Leader Education
• Support further development of Latin American Youth Committee and its activities
Asia
ISCA Asia has been developed from it organizational starting point in the South East Asian Gymnastics Confederation (SEAGCON) and chaired by SEAGCON secretary general N. Shanmugarajah. In 2007 the ISCA General Assembly and Congress was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The membership base in ISCA is diverse underlined by a culturally and historically diversity for sport and physical activity sector in the Asian countries.
We will support ISCA Asia to move to a more operational level with more regular activities in Asia and for Asian members.
This includes:
• Support the process of retrieving information about the Sport for All situation and the status of the physical activity sectors in Asian countries
• To support and encourage regular communication among the Asian members
• To support regular member activities – as minimum one meeting for ISCA members annually
• Strengthen the political relation and representation of ISCA Asia internally and externally
• To establish a broader group of key resource persons with interest and capacity to develop stronger continental network and collaboration
• Organise ISCA events with an educational perspective annually
Europe
The development of the European Continental activities evolve around ISCA EUROPE as a political forum among the European members working to develop internal political cooperation and external political communication and activities. There is a strong need to voice the viewpoints of grassroots sport to the numerous European institutions that relate to sport for all, and ISCA EUROPE aims to expand the very successful measures already taken.
ISCA EUROPE pursues a twofold strategy. Firstly to involve more members in the European Sport political work and to keep a high level and high amount of external political actions and communication.
Secondly, the European Continental activities develop as a result of the general activities of ISCA due to a significant number of European members and because of the various project opportunities that exist with co-funding for activities in Europe. Special priority is given to create links and connections between these projects and ISCA EUROPE political communication.
North America
We will invite to cooperation with likeminded organisations at the North American continent both politically and practically.
Over the last year we have identified institutions and organizations with likeminded views on recreational and health oriented sport for all. We will seek to create closer relations to these entities, both in political and practical areas.
We will identify and propose close, but flexible working relation in order to find directions for the best and fastest way to develop.
The goal is to have a stabile platform of members, partners and activities on or with relevance for the North American continent.
(Formal or information relation to North American Continental Committee/ or Executive Committee. Organization of Special interest is Canadian based ParticipAction)
Africa
We will discover how relations to and between African based organisations can be strengthened.
The last years, the relations to the very diverse members at the African continent has been very sporadic. A few members have taken part in a two way dialogue. Since 2004 there has not been a formal African Continental committee with the aim of connecting African members and producing activities and communication special targeting African ISCA members and the recreational sport and physical activity sectors.
Over the last three years we have decided to focus on the African members and issues of sport and development topics by actively supporting the International Platform for Sport and Development. www.sportanddev.org
We have strived to establish events on the African Continents, such as Global Youth and Sport Forum originally planned for Johannesburg December 2011.
• A task force including representatives of ISCA members and key persons related to the International Platform for Sport and Development will be established to prepare short analysis and consideration and proposals for ways forward for ISCA and the idea of developing the recreational sport and physical activity sectors.
Secretariats
ISCA aims at having highly qualified staff from a variety of countries in the world. We will build sustainable staffing and secretariats for the main office as well as the Continental Committees.
This will include job-swapping, job placements, volunteer staffing etc.
ISCA staff has the role to support the political leadership of ISCA, to assist ISCA members in their development, and to proactively initiate and engage in both political and project oriented activities. The main office in Denmark is the hub for this development, and in Latin America, SESC is hosting a part time staff to assist ISCA continental development. Respecting financial limitations, we will develop new models to increase human resource input to the continental development. This will include job-swapping, job placements, volunteer staffing etc. Engaging long term volunteers from other continents as staff in the main office is another way to contribute to the continental development.
4. External :
Sectors
ISCA will create, demonstrate and communicate a stronger political profile building on the individual right to access to physical activity; to participate in recreational sport for all; to use sport and physical activity for personal development and social change.
ISCA develops partnerships and open cooperation with all sectors related to the ‘Sport for All’ movement. Especially the sectors dealing with health, education, environment, social integration, volunteering and special social target groups will be in focus.
We will intensify and establish closer collaborations to partners with operational interest and capacity for cooperation at political and practical levels.
We will further strengthen our relations and partnerships with the commercial sector. We will describe our own interests and capacity and actively seek committing partnerships that lead to concrete cooperation projects
ISCA will create, demonstrate and communicate a stronger political profile building on the individual right to access to physical activity; to participate in recreational sport for all; to use sport and physical activity for personal development and social change.
ISCA will develop a position paper on a rights-based approach to sport and physical activity, and based on this develop both its political communication and practical projects.
ISCA will fight old stereotypes about the sport sector and outline the specific profile and benefit of grassroots sport to society, to the benefit of our members.
ISCA will react on hearings, questionnaires etc., and we will give our input at public meetings as well as via our formal representation to public stakeholders. We will however also proactively set agendas and define messages of relevance to the grassroots sport sector and communicate these widely, e.g. in the form of campaigns.
ISCA will further assist our members in their political communication with their stakeholders on a national level.
ISCAs political communication shall be based on evidence and facts, and will encourage all stakeholders to do the same.
ISCA develops partnerships and open cooperation with all sectors related to the ‘Sport for All’ movement. Especially the sectors dealing with health, education, environment, social integration, volunteering and special social target groups will be in focus.
We will intensify and establish closer collaborations to partners with operational interest and capacity for cooperation at political and practical levels.
Our primary target partners - Inter-governmental organizations:
United Nations
• WHO
• UNESCO
• UNOSPD - UN Office Sport for Development and Peace
• UNICEF
• UN Habitat
Other
• UNASUR
• National Ministries with responsibility for sport, education, health etc.
European Union
• European Parliament - primarily the Culture Committee
• European Council - relation through structural dialogue, and national ministers of sport
• European Commission
o Directorate Education and Culture (including sport and Citizenship)
o Directorate Health and Consumers (European Platform for Action on Diet, Physical Activity and Health)
o Directorate Enlargement
o Directorate EuropeAid Development & Cooperation
Council of Europe
• Directorate Democratic Governance, Culture and Diversity (including Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport)
• Directorate Democratic Citizenship and Participation (including the Youth Department)
• European Youth Foundation
Secondary Partners:
• Committee of the Regions (EU)
• European Economic and Social Committee
Our primary partners – International NGO’s:
• International Platform for Sport and Development
• Play the Game
• European Civil Society Platform on Life Long Learning
• Sport and Citizenship
• Streetfootballworld
• HEPA Europe
• ECAS (European Citizens’ Action Service)
• World Social Forum
Secondary Partners:
• European Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry
• World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry
• European Health and Fitness Association
• Homeless World Cup
• Nordic Youth Associations
• European Confederation for Sport and Health CESS
• European Fair Play Movement
• European Federation of Company Sport
• International Workers’ Sport Association CSIT
• ENGSO Youth
• ENGSO
• TAFISA/ESFAN
• AGE Platform (Network of 150 organizations of and for Seniors)
We will further strengthen our relations and partnerships with the commercial sector.
We will describe our own interests and capacity and actively seek committing partnerships that lead to concrete cooperation projects. The initial analysis will deliver concrete products and possibilities as well as a first list of potential partners. ISCA seeks this cooperation as it can inspire ISCA members and provide them with new opportunities as well as because it can provide a new development opportunity for ISCA as an international umbrella.
Governing bodies
ISCA aims to have ongoing dialogue and strong relations to governmental bodies of relevance to ‘Sport for All’. ISCA will focus on international bodies with political influence, financial and/operational capacity, and will further cooperate with member organisations in their contact with national and regional governments.
ISCA will seek formal representation with governmental bodies where possible and relevant.
ISCA aims to have ongoing dialogue and strong relations to governmental bodies of relevance to ‘Sport for All’. ISCA will focus on international bodies with political influence, financial and/operational capacity, and will further cooperate with member organisations in their contact with national and regional governments.
List of our formal representations:
• European Union: Member of European Platform for Action on Diet, Physical Activity and Health
• Council of Europe: Member of Consultative Committee of Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport
• Council of Europe: Member of the Advisory Group on Youth
• Member of the Steering Committee of International Platform for Sport and Development (chairing 2009-2011)
• Member of the Program Committee of Play the Game
• Member of European Civil Society Platform on Life Long Learning
• Member of ECAS – European Citizens’ Action Service
• 2011: Member of the European Year of Volunteering Alliance
• 2012: Member of the European Year for Active Ageing Coalition
ISCA will seek formal representation with governmental bodies where possible and relevant.
European Union: Observer of Expert group: Sport, Health and Participation
Alliances
ISCA will actively encourage and engage in international alliances between umbrella organisations in the field of ‘Sport for All’.
ISCA will actively encourage and engage in international alliances between umbrella organisations in the field of ‘Sport for All’
ISCA has an open attitude to likeminded international organizations in the field of Sport for All and recreational physical activity. So far, cooperation that has political and practical impact has been limited. We will however continue to openly invite for such cooperation.
We will prioritize cooperation were contribution and benefits are two-ways and developing seen from an ISCA perspective.
5. Networks, Project and Events
Networks
ISCA facilitates self-sustaining thematic networks that share knowledge and develop actions.
ISCA facilitates self-sustaining thematic networks that share knowledge and develop actions.
ISCA networks are a source of information and inspiration, a medium for bilateral contacts and a way to identify and discuss ongoing and new challenges and how to meet them.
ISCA networks are lead by one or more member organizations that define the network agenda, activity level and ambition. The work in ISCA networks can be supplemented by ISCA projects with external funding where relevant and possible.
ISCA networks are in principle open to organizations from other sectors that share an interest in the network theme.
Projects
ISCA will implement and join major projects in partnership with member organisations and bodies from related sectors. We will also facilitate project cooperation inside the ISCA network.
We will strive for a better continental outreach to enable members from various continents to join our projects.
ISCA will implement and join major projects in partnership with member organisations and bodies from related sectors. We will also facilitate project cooperation inside the ISCA network
Based on external funding opportunities, ISCA will fundraise and develop projects of relevance to its members. Where possible, external sectors will be included in the project partnership to provide further inspiration. Projects should be financially sound, preferably have multiple funding sources and large enough to have a lasting impact and reasonably low administrative burden.
ISCAs project portfolio will be monitored by the Political Project Group, which is composed by Executive Committee members.
We will strive for a better continental outreach to enable members from various continents to join our projects.
Funding opportunities have been most plentiful in Europe to date, but ISCA will actively prioritise projects that has a broader geographical scope. Where needed, ISCA will invest more own resources in such projects.
Events
ISCA will organise open events to share international knowledge as the basis for continuous learning and development in the ‘Sport for All’ movement. Every year, we will host congresses, trainings, seminars and workshops of high quality and impact for old and new audiences.
We will strive for a better continental outreach to enable participants from various continents to join our events.
ISCA will organise open events to share international knowledge as the basis for continuous learning and development in the ‘Sport for All’ movement. Every year, we will host congresses, trainings, seminars and workshops of high quality and impact for old and new audiences.
ISCA will organize its congress annually in connection to the General Assembly. The congress should be the “flagship” of knowledge sharing and development, and will be an open event organized in a broad consortium of partners whenever possible.
Further events can be organized inside the framework of a project, or outside. Where there is a specific development need, ISCAs own resources can be invested in special development-oriented or experimental events.
We will strive for a better continental outreach to enable participants from various continents to join our events.
ISCA will ensure that all continentally organized events are opened for inter-continental participation. We will further work actively to place events so to contribute to bigger geographical variety. Where needed, ISCA will invest more own resources in such events.
6. Communications
Mass communication tools
ISCA will use a diverse set of efficient mass communication tools including social media in order to reach in particular sport organization leaders, youth leaders, political decision makers and member organisations. ISCA will annually publish magazines, newsletters, provide web information and target relevant information to sectors in ‘Sport for All’.
ISCA aims to have a very broad outreach to stakeholders in grassroots sport. In particular, we target Leaders at different levels as they have the capacity for transferring international knowledge into national action and change. Our mass communication tools will vary according to the different needs and experiences of our target groups and should provide reader-friendly, accessible information on international developments in grassroots sport.
Knowledge sharing and facilitation
ISCA will enable organisations and individuals to transform international knowledge to national and local action. Therefore, ISCA secretariats will be open and accessible hubs of information and motivation for international cooperation.
ISCA will provide contacts, opportunities, materials and individual advice to members and stakeholders. We will share our knowledge freely and openly.
ISCA will engage its members to develop their own international contacts and bilateral exchanges as well as their own international projects, where relevant with external funding.
Political and media visibility
ISCA will be the advocate of ‘Sport for All’ vis-à-vis political bodies and the media. We will highlight the societal potential of the sector and voice the challenges ahead.
ISCA will supplement its direct political contact with broad communication in different international and national media in order to create maximum awareness about sport for all and ISCA viewpoints. We will formulate easily accessible visions and messages and vividly advocate for the grassroots sport sector.
7. Finance
The last three years have been the most successful in ISCAs lifetime when it comes to financial turnover. This is due to a combination of income for the general operating costs and for an increasing number of externally funded projects with a demand for co-financing. Co-financing requirements is however also a barrier for ongoing project expansion.
In 2012-2013 we will work to ensure further income for general operating costs as well as co-funding for projects from alternative sources, in order to lessen the barriers posed by project co-financing requirements
We will develop larger projects to lower the relative administrative burden and to increase sustainability.
We will work to increase the equity to up to 20% of turnover to reduce financial vulnerability
