Sports Diplomacy in Advancing Environmental Security in Africa: a Case Study of Forest Conservation in Kenya

Abstract

Environmental security remains a major challenge in the 21st century, whose solution has attracted a number of initiatives. Sports diplomacy has achieved great strides in achieving international, regional and local unity among and between populations. However, the use of sports diplomacy in achieving environmental security has received much less research attention. This research examines sports diplomacy in advancing environmental security in Africa basing the study on forest conservation within Kenya. This study was anchored on three theories: the Soft power theory, ecological systems theory and Conservation of Resources (COR) Theory which offer frameworks for explaining the role of sports diplomacy in advancing environmental security. The study adopted exploratory research design to examine the role of sports diplomacy in advancing environmental security. The target population were diplomats, marathoners, coaches, ministry of Foreign Affairs, KFS, KWTA, KWS, NEMA, academia as well as Water Resource Authority. The primary data were obtained through structured open and closed ended questionnaire while secondary data was retrieved from journals, books, newsletters and periodicals. Piloting of the research tool was done for improved validity and reliability. The collected data were analyzed through the use of frequency distribution, and thematic. The study established that sporting event in athletics and volleyball improved diplomacy in several areas of Kenya through strategies such peace. Peace was promoted through sports by respecting human rights, rule of law, and equality among the conflicting groups. Sports also enhanced unity, trust, loyalty, friendship and team building among the conflicting communities. Sports diplomacy advanced environmental security in Kenya, which was better for athletics and volleyball. Environmental security was also enhanced through training, sensitization, conservation efforts, and environmental education. Sport events also allowed a contact-platform for interaction between various groups involved in environment and forest conservation. The actors at the forefront of enhancing environmental security and conservation efforts were mainly state actors through Ministry of Sports, Ministry of Interior and National Government Coordination, KWS, KFS, Kenya Water Towers Agency, African Development Bank, Green Zones Project flanked with several non state actors such as Tegla Loroupe Peace Foundation, Athletics Kenya among others. These actors employed diverse strategies to achieve sports diplomacy and environmental security. This study recommends that sports diplomacy should be used in most of the regions in Kenya experiencing environmental perturbations and the current strategies should be applied in the sports diplomacy and environmental conservation as well as security. Further, the government is also encouraged to appoint more sports ambassadors with proper environmental knowledge to help in environmental management. The role of academicians in sports diplomacy and environmental security was found to be minimal where academicians should be at the forefront as the 21st century diplomats be incorporated into sports to be local ambassadors. Perceiving the significance of sports diplomacy and environmental security, there is need for coordination between various county governments to coordinate their efforts and in the process they should bring on board even the non sports actors to boost the role of sports in diplomacy and environment. There is need for further studies on Kenya’s sports diplomacy and foreign policy on areas such as multilateralism, digital diplomacy and diaspora relations.