20 Apr AHKGA and ISPAH develop a long-term partnership

We are pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance (AHKGA) and the International Society for Physical Activity and Health (ISPAH).  The MOU was signed on March 31, 2022 and will remain in force for five years, with an opportunity for extension and a content review every two years.

The scope of the long-term partnership outlined in the MOU relates to key actions of the AHKGA, such as the Global Matrix 4.0, and more broadly, to the overlapping key goals of both partners –  supporting physically active lifestyles in children and youth through thought leadership, knowledge translation and mobilization, capacity building, and advocacy.

“The Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance is pleased and proud to partner with the International Society for Physical Activity and Health in an effort to power the global movement to get kids moving,” says Professor Mark Tremblay, President of the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance. “Through collaborative efforts like this partnership to get children and adolescents more physically active, we aim to promote their health and wellness, and that of their families, neighbourhoods and communities”.

“Our new partnership with the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance is firmly aligned with our mission to advance physical activity as a global health priority by excelling in research, education, capacity building and advocacy” Professor Jasper Schipperijn, President of the International Society for Physical Activity and Health, says. “We’re continually finding new ways to advance science communication and advocacy. Report cards and advocacy briefs, such as the Global Matrix 4.0, are an important product for the physical activity advocacy community.”

“For a number of years now, we’ve been proudly working with the Global Observatory for Physical Activity who produce the Country Report Cards for adults. Our partnership with AHKGA can further advance this excellence in advocacy and scientific communication”, Professor Schipperijn added.

The main themes of the partnership include:

• Collaborative activities and support for the launch of AHKGA Global Matrix 4.0
• Joint AHKGA – ISPAH initiatives to build capacity enabling research on physical activity and health in children and young people, particularly in low- and middle-income countries
• Dissemination of knowledge and research on the status of physical activity promotion for children globally, with a view to informing policies and actions to support countries in getting young people more physically active
• Co-organization of webinars, symposia, training events, seminars, and workshops related to physical activity in children and youth that will be of interest to ISPAH and AHKGA members

The inaugural joint activity arising from this MOU will be the release of the Global Matrix 4.0 in conjunction with the ISPAH 2022 Congress on October 23-26, 2022 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

About AHKGA

AHKGA is a registered not-for-profit organization made up of researchers, health professionals, and stakeholders who work together to advance physical activity in children and youth around the world. AHKGA’s vision is a world of active healthy kids. AHKGA’s mission is to power the global movement to get kids moving through thought leadership, knowledge translation and mobilization, capacity building, and advocacy. The dominant effort of the AHKGA to date has been its Global Matrix initiative. For further information please visit the AHKGA website at www.activehealthykids.org.

About ISPAH

ISPAH is the leading global society dedicated to physical activity and health. ISPAH’s vision is a healthy active world where the opportunities for active living are available to all. ISPAH’s mission is to advance and promote physical activity through excellence in research, education, capacity building, and advocacy. ISPAH aims to support the communication of research and practice on physical activity through the Journal of Physical Activity and Health (JPAH), develop capacity through training, lead advocacy actions, and partner in global collaborations to advance physical activity research and practice. For further information please visit the ISPAH website at www.ispah.org.