Introduction
Social work plays a vital role in promoting social justice, protecting vulnerable populations, and strengthening communities. Yet in many African countries, the profession lacks formal legal recognition. Legislation is essential to:
- Establish clear professional standards and accountability.
- Ensure social workers are recognized as key actors in national development and humanitarian response.
- Safeguard the rights of citizens to access qualified social work services.
- Strengthen advocacy for resources and institutional support.
By securing legislation, social work becomes a protected and regulated profession, enabling practitioners to contribute more effectively to national policies and social protection systems.
Purpose
The International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) Africa Region invites National Associations of Social Workers across African countries to apply for small grants of USD 500 per country. These grants are designed to support legislative advocacy efforts aimed at securing legal recognition and regulation of the social work profession. The grants are administered by the IFSW Africa Region.
Priority will be given to associations that have already initiated steps toward legislation and can provide evidence of progress. The funds are intended to help finalize these efforts and achieve formal backing by law.
Eligibility
Applications are open to:
- National Associations of Social Workers in African countries that are financially up to date with IFSW.
Additional requirements:
- Must have a functional bank account.
- Must submit a concept note outlining the legislative initiative, with evidence of steps already taken.
- Must include a detailed budget specifying how the funds will be used to finalize the legislative process.
Grant Amount
- USD 500 per country
- Up to 5 grants available (one per eligible association).
Application Process
Interested associations should prepare and submit:
- A concept note (maximum 2 pages) describing the legislative initiative, evidence of progress made, and how the grant will help finalize the process.
- A detailed budget showing allocation of the grant funds.
Selection Criteria
Applications will be assessed based on:
- evidence of prior legislative engagement;
- feasibility of achieving progress within the grant period;
- clarity of the proposed activities and budget;
- potential impact on professional recognition and regulation.
Successful applicants will be required to submit a short narrative and financial report within 60 days of project completion.