Conduct desk research on child safeguarding in football academies in Cameroon

Host entity: Cameroon Association of Active Youths (CAMAAY)

Areas of expertise: Knowledge management, research, reporting

Application deadline: 10/11/2026

Mission and objectives

CAMAAY is a non-political, non-religious, non-profit association. CAMAAY envisions a society wherein every individual has the opportunity to grow and contribute to the socioeconomic development of the community. We endeavour to achieve our goals through activities that promote sustainable community development in Cameroon. These activities involve strong participation from local community members with the guidance and valuable assistance of CAMAAY and its volunteers. We, the members of the members of Cameroon Association of Active Youths (CAMAAY), a non-profit association, commit ourselves to work in the interest of humanity without distinction as to race, sex or religious background with due respect to the law. We pledge to work closely with other associations, foreign representatives/institutions, NGOs and the Cameroon Government in promoting the principles and practices of quality agriculture, education, healthcare, sports, social well-being and environmental protection. We agree to join forces in the attainment of the United Nations objective in making the world a better place in which to live, with sufficient food and conducive environments. We therefore commit ourselves to achieving our objectives through our activities and the implementation of policies consistent with our objectives. We agree to work with respect to the laws governing the functioning of associations. We believe that: 1) Agriculture is the backbone of our economy. 2) Agriculture is top among our efforts in the fight against poverty, which is a global challenge 3) 80% of our people still live in rural areas and solely depend on agriculture for survival. 4) Our environment is and will remain the only natural habitation for humanity and if care is not taken mankind will be eliminated from his environment. 5) Health is the basic requirement for a productive and progressive community and can only be achieved through what people eat, the environment in which they live and mental well-being. 6) T

Assignment context

CAMAAY (Cameroon Association of Active Youths) is a nonprofit working on community development across Cameroon, in areas from agriculture and education to health, the environment, and youth programs. Our work runs on donations and grants. Football has a strong following in Cameroon, and many children join football academies hoping to build a career in the sport. CAMAAY has received reports of children in these settings being abused, exploited, and in some cases trafficked, often drawn in by the promise of training or a place on another team and kept silent through threats. This research is the first step of a possible child protection program: it will show what is already documented and where the gaps are, so we can decide whether to run field research and shape later awareness work with academies, parents, and children.

Task description

The online volunteer will carry out desk research, entirely online with no fieldwork, on child safeguarding in football academies. The focus is Cameroon, with reference to the wider African and international context where useful. The volunteer will:

Gather and review reports, news coverage, academic articles, and NGO and government sources
Document the forms of abuse, exploitation, and trafficking reported in youth football settings
Map the child protection measures academies currently use or lack, such as reporting channels, transport arrangements, staff vetting, and support for victims
Summarize the national laws and international frameworks on children's rights and safeguarding in sport, and what they require of academies
Identify the gaps between the protections that should exist and current practice
Pull the findings into a clear, well-sourced research brief

The work is remote and can be done on the volunteer's own schedule. We start with a short video call to align on scope, then keep in touch by email and WhatsApp. We ask for a brief written status update once a week and a reply to messages within about two days. A CAMAAY coordinator with a research background will guide the volunteer and review drafts. The brief is due about six to eight weeks after the start date.

Skills and experience

Confident finding, assessing, and summarizing reports, news, and academic sources
Clear written English and organized note-taking
Discretion and sensitivity with a difficult subject
A background in social sciences, human rights, child protection, law, or sports management is an asset, though not required

Full eligibility requirements, conditions of service and application instructions are available on the official UNV platform.