MLA721 Moving with the Times: Using Sport to Address Development Goals Assessment Brief 2026

Conduct a MLA721 critical literature review that examines the role of Participatory Action Research (PAR) in sport in development programmes, with a specific focus on the field of Sport for Development and Peace (SDP).

Your review should address the following key areas:

Briefly describe and critique the use of PAR in development projects more broadly and then evaluate the effectiveness of PAR in delivering on the various agendas around sport as a tool for development, analysing both successes and challenges in PAR initiatives. Use specific case studies to support your arguments and assess their relative strengths and weaknesses in achieving development goals.

You should draw on at least 15 peer-reviewed academic sources published in the last 10 years and include cases from diverse geographical contexts to provide a global perspective on SDP.

You should include:

• an introduction which sets out what sources you are going to examine and why, as well as what United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) you are going to be engaging with in each.
• a critical, comparative analysis of the selected sources;
• and a conclusion that makes a final comment on the sources discussed as well as the state of the SDP field.
• A reference list should accompany your literature review, compiled in Harvard style.