24. Etsuko Yamada (Japan) - Why is passion not enough to sustain Sport for Development?

Erika speaks to Etsuko about the Sport for Development landscape in Japan, her experience working for UNOSDP in Switzerland, and the importance of bringing a business perspective into SDP programs.

Etsuko Yamada earned a Master of Public Policy at Graduate School of Law, Tohoku University in Japan. From 2014-2016, she worked for the United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace (UNOSDP) based in Geneva as a Programme Officer, assisting the Special Adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General on Sport for Development and Peace. Coming back to Japan, Etsuko now works for Japan Sport Council as the Head of International Sport for Development, trying to integrate SDP into its policy, suggesting measures and strategies to the Japanese national and local governments. She has been leading the project that JSC and Swiss Academy for Development (SA4D / sportanddev.org) launched in 2018, seeking to build capacity for policy makers and practitioners in how to use sport as a tool for sustainable development when designing, delivering and evaluating initiatives by developing comprehensive and practical guidebooks in English and in Japanese.

Etsuko’s LinkedIn

Erika’s LinkTree: ⁠https://linktr.ee/erikamchen⁠

Resources:

1. Japan Sport Council
2. Bridging the Divide in Sport and Sustainable Development Guidebook by Japan Sport Council and the International Platform on Sport and Development: English version, Japanese version, Short video overview of the guidebook, Guidebook Launch Webinar Recording
3. Harnessing the Power of Sport for Development and Peace: Recommendations to Governments (or condensed summary) (2008) by Right to Play and the Sport for Development and Peace International Working Group (SDP IWG)

Episode Info:

• Episode recording date: December 18, 2022.
• See Erika’s LinkTree for episode transcript.
• “The Podcast Intro” by “Music_Unlimited” was retrieved from Pixabay. ⁠Licensor's Username⁠ and Licensee Username - erika_mueller.

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed by the Guests of the Inspira Podcast do not necessarily represent the official policy or position of any Agency of the United States Government, or any organization public or private.