IGLYO Consultancy Call: LGBTQI Inclusion in Sports

About this call

IGLYO — The International LGBTQI Youth & Student Organisation is launching a call for tenders for consultancy services related to research on LGBTQI youth and inclusion in sports. Please read through the full call and send your application through the application form by 13 April 2025 at 23:59 CEST.

About IGLYO

Founded in 1984 and based in Brussels, IGLYO is the largest member-based network in the world dedicated to LGBTQI youth and their rights. Today, we gather over 125 Member Organisations in more than 40 Council of Europe countries, as well as countless friends and partners worldwide. Our work focuses on the protection, empowerment, and freedom of LGBTQI young people between 18-30 years old.

We strive to ensure the voices and experiences of LGBTQI young people are present and heard by decision-makers at European and international levels by designing and conducting research, advocacy, and communications on our concerns.

In addition, IGLYO aims to build the confidence, skills and experience of LGBTQI young people and give them opportunities to connect through cross-cultural, cross-border exchange, peer learning, and training activities that support our communities as well as the protection of our rights. You can read more about IGLYO on www.iglyo.org.

Background

LGBTQI youth continue to face significant barriers to full and equitable participation in sports, and sports environments often remain exclusionary and unsafe spaces for LGBTQI young people. Marginalisation, homophobia, and transphobia are still prevalent in many sports settings, discouraging participation and limiting access to opportunities for personal and professional development. LGBTQI young people come from diverse backgrounds, with their experiences shaped by intersecting factors such as gender identity, race, disability, and socioeconomic status. IGLYO recognises the compounded barriers that LGBTQI youth face in sports environments and structures due to homophobia, transphobia, racism, ableism, class, and other forms of discrimination.

Over the past years, IGLYO has worked closely with its Member Organisations and young queer activists to better understand the challenges and the barriers LGBTQI youth face in sports. Through direct feedback from LGBTQI young people, previous research initiatives, and policy analyses, we have identified sports as a critical area where inclusion remains insufficient. Existing studies - including the recent IGLYO Report on Trans, Gender-Diverse, and Intersex Youth in Sports (2024) - highlight ongoing issues such as discrimination, lack of inclusive policies, and limited awareness among sports professionals.

To address these challenges, IGLYO is commissioning a Qualitative Research Study on LGBTQI Inclusion in Sports to document LGBTQI young people’s experiences in sports (including formal and non-formal education). This research will explore key themes such as discrimination, access to safe and affirming sports environments (including in formal and non-formal education), the impact of exclusionary policies, and best practices for fostering inclusion. The findings will contribute to ongoing advocacy efforts at the European level, informing policy discussions on LGBTQI inclusion in sports and supporting the development of more inclusive and equitable sports environments and structures.

Research Goals

This qualitative research study aims to assess the barriers LGBTQI youth encounter in school and community-based sports settings while identifying pathways towards safer, more inclusive and affirming environments.

The consultant will:

Assess the needs, barriers and discrimination experienced by LGBTQI youth related to inclusion/exclusion in sports.
Identifying best practices for fostering LGBTQI inclusion in sports that could serve as inspiration for youth organisations, sports and educational institutions, and policymakers.
Provide evidence-based recommendations in coordination with IGLYO.
Develop a comprehensive 20-page narrative report.
Meet with the IGLYO Policy and Research team and other relevant stakeholders to guide the research process and ensure alignment with advocacy efforts.

Deliverables

The consultant will be responsible for delivering the following outputs:

Develop a structured and detailed work plan, including a timeline for all deliverables in line with the project’s proposed timeline.
Conduct comprehensive desk research and literature review of existing studies, policies, and legal frameworks related to LGBTQI inclusion in sports (including formal and non-formal education) across Europe. Identify key barriers, best practices, and gaps in policy, research, and practice regarding LGBTQI youth participation in school and community-based sports.
Develop a qualitative research methodology proposal for data collection, including participant selection criteria and description, interview methods and guidelines, data analysis plan, and ethical considerations.
Conduct a minimum of 25 online interviews with LGBTQI young people across the Council of Europe region, using storytelling-based qualitative methods to capture personal narratives. Ensure diverse representation in the sample, considering intersecting factors such as gender identity, sexual orientation, race, disability, socioeconomic status, migration and asylum status.
Identify and engage with relevant stakeholders, if necessary.
Develop a 20-page narrative report summarising key findings and best practices, including a qualitative discourse analysis of the interviews and evidence-based recommendations, in coordination with IGLYO, for policymakers, youth organisations, and sports and educational institutions.
Draft the final report and incorporate IGLYO’s feedback. The final report should be finalised by 1 September 2025.

Timeline

March - April 2025

Recruitment and kick-off: the consultant is selected and briefed about the project; the consultant delivers the work plan.

Mid-May 2025

Desk research and literature review: the consultant identifies key barriers, best practices, and gaps in policy, research, and practice.

May - June 2025

Development of research methodology and interview guide.

June - July 2025

Conduct interviews.

July - August 2025

Draft report, including policy recommendations.

Eligibility Criteria

The consultant should demonstrate that they fulfil the following criteria:

Demonstrated experience in conducting qualitative data collection and analysis with LGBTQI communities and/or other marginalised groups, particularly in the context of sports, youth, or inclusion.
Strong understanding of the barriers and needs of LGBTQI youth in sports, with a proven record of incorporating an intersectional approach in research methods.
Familiarity with relevant policy frameworks related to LGBTQI inclusion, youth empowerment, and sports policies at the national and European levels.
Proven experience in storytelling-based qualitative research, including narrative analysis and in-depth interviewing techniques.
Excellent analytical and writing skills, with experience in drafting research reports and policy recommendations.

How to apply?

Interested applicants should submit the following documents:

Updated CV
Expression of interest (maximum 500 words): This should summarise the consultant’s key skills and experience relevant to this call
Abridged research proposal (maximum 3 pages), including:
- Background section outlining the consultant’s understanding of LGBTQI youth inclusion in sports
- Research proposal, including technical approach, methodology, and target group (should consider LGBTQI youth aged 15-30)
- Work Plan
- Financial proposal
1 sample of previous work (in English)
1 reference letter from someone who worked with you previously on a similar project

Applications should be sent through this application form by 13 April 2025 at 23:59 CEST.

If you have any questions, you can reach out to our Policy & Research Officer, Ahmed El-Salawy (He/him) at ahmed@iglyo.org.