KATHMANDU, Sept 4: Nepal’s football governing body All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Nepal have signed a partnership agreement for the promotion and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Nepal through football, one of the world’s most popular sports. The SDGs, also known as the Global Goals -- a set of universal agreements to end poverty in all its dimensions -- aim to craft an equal, just and secure world by 2030.
UNDP and ANFA, under the partnership, will collaborate to undertake joint initiatives to raise awareness on the SDGs and mobilize relevant stakeholders and advocate for their contribution to the achievement of the Goals.
The partnership will also explore ways to promote and maximize the contribution of sports, especially football to sustainable development in Nepal.
“We are pleased to enter into a partnership with ANFA,” said UNDP Nepal Country Director Renaud Meyer upon signing the agreement.
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“Sport has proven to be one of the most powerful and efficient means for promoting peace and development objectives over the world. In Nepal, through this partnership, we look forward to reach out, empower and engage the sports fans and especially the youth across the country in scoring more meaningful Goals for Nepal and the entire planet.”
The United Nations recognizes sport as an enabler of sustainable development in its promotion of tolerance and respect and the contribution it makes to the empowerment of women and of young people. For the same reason, sports institutions are recognized as key partners in advancing the Global Goals. In Nepal, football has long been a popular game that empowers and connects people across cultures and geography.
“Our partnership with UNDP is for a noble cause, which will further maximize the contribution of the sports sector, especially football, to the sustainable development of the country. ANFA has been championing the cause of sustainable development through sports events and CSR initiatives. Now, with this specific mission, our sports events will inspire athletes to become champions of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and drive progress and change at the national level and in their communities,” said ANFA President Karma Tshering Sherpa.
“I believe this will take the Nepali football industry to new heights.”
As part of the agreement, ANFA will start internalizing the SDGs into its program and activities to make them their own and implement concrete measures to create a positive, long lasting contribution. The process of internalization will start with the upcoming A Division football league set to kick off from September 29 after a stalemate of four years, which will adopt the SDGs as a primary message of the games.
The league is set to provide employment to hundreds of youth around the country. Similarly, with an objective to promote women empowerment and gender equality, ANFA is also conducting women’s football games in 45 districts across the country.
