Volleyball for Peace in Africa: A Comparative Analysis of Program Design and Transferable Lessons

Abstract

This scoping review, guided by the Arkoses and O'Malley framework, systematically maps volleyball-based Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) initiatives across diverse African contexts. Despite growing recognition of sport's role in peace building, a comprehensive comparative understanding of these programs' designs, implementation strategies, and theoretical underpinnings remains underexplored. This study addresses this gap by synthesizing evidence from 11 African nations, including Rwanda, Kenya, and South Sudan. Findings reveal significant similarities across programs, such as volleyball's accessibility and low cost, a strong emphasis on youth and community engagement, and pervasive multi-stakeholder collaborations. Crucially, the review highlights consistent application of psychological frameworks like the Contact Hypothesis, Common In-group Identity Model, and Empowerment Theory. However, substantial differences in program design and objectives emerged, directly shaped by unique socio-political contexts and specific conflict types (e.g., post-genocide reconciliation, IDP integration, gender empowerment). Transferable lessons emphasize the critical importance of context-specific design, robust institutional support, and holistic integration into broader peace building ecosystems. This research offers valuable, evidence-based insights for designing sustainable, context-aware volleyball peace programs, particularly relevant for Ethiopia and other conflict-affected regions, by underscoring the necessity of tailored approaches, strong partnerships, and strategic policy integration for lasting positive change.