Dr Lin Cherurbai Sambili-Gicheha
IAS Africa Summit
The Commonwealth Secretariat
Dr Lin Cherurbai Sambili-Gicheha is the Adviser, Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) for the Commonwealth-Secretariat. In her capacity she collaborates with members of the Social Policy Development team to provide technical assistance across the 56 Commonwealth member states on ways to enhance the contribution of sport towards sustainable development and to improve the lives of Commonwealth citizens.
Dr Sambili holds a PhD in Sociology of Sport from Loughborough University with a particular focus on Youth Voices and Perspectives on Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) in Preventing Violent Extremism (SDP/VE). Dr Sambili graduated from the International University of Monaco in 2013 with a Masters degree in Sustainable Peace through Sport. Prior to obtaining her Masters, Dr Sambili worked with the United Nations in New York within the Department of Political Affairs and was also a UN Volunteer with the United Nations Office for Partnerships where she provided technical and operational support on various stakeholder initiatives and high-level forums on sustainable development.
Dr Sambili continues to publish in line with her academic work and remains active in her commitment to amplifying youth voice both in research and practice. Dr Sambili has been part of the Loughborough University research team that published the 2020 UNODC Preventing Violent Extremism through Sport Technical Guide for governments and policy makers. Dr Sambili also served as an Editor and contributor to the published 2024 Routledge Handbook-Global-South-in-SDP in Sport for Development and Peace (SDP). Currently she serves as member of the Development and Social Change Advisory Board for Loughborough University London and remains committed to the achievement of translation of policy into impact.