The International Journal Social Work Education is inviting delegates of the 2026 Joint World Conference on Social Work, Education and Social Development (SWSD 2026) in Nairobi to submit proposals for a special edition: Harambee, for Sustainable Shared Futures: New Directions for Social Work, Education, and Social Development
Building on the conversations, research and practice shared at SWSD 2026, the special edition will showcase selected contributions that explore how social work, social work education and social development can respond to pressing local and global challenges.
Reflecting the conference theme, Harambee, a Kiswahili concept expressing solidarity, community-building and collective responsibility, the edition seeks contributions that advance new thinking and approaches towards more just, inclusive and sustainable shared futures.
Potential contributions may address areas including decolonising and reimagining social work; innovations in social work education and research; families and communities across the lifespan; sustainable development and the SDGs; health and wellbeing; responses to conflict, migration, climate change and other complex global challenges; political social work and social movements; and digital social work and artificial intelligence.
The call is open to delegates of SWSD 2026. Interested authors are invited to submit a 200-word abstract, together with author affiliations and a short biography of no more than 100 words for each author.
Abstract submission deadline: 30 November 2026
Full manuscript deadline for invited authors: 30 June 2027
Target publication: October 2028
The Special Edition will be guest edited by Prof. Antonio López Peláez, Executive Director of the International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW), and Prof. David Androff, Global Coordinator of SWSD 2026.