The Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development started in 2010 when 3000 social work representatives and social development professionals came together to set the priorities for the profession until 2020. This significantly successful period of the Global Agenda has been an essential voice in proactively setting and fulfilling the Sustainable Developmental Goals, working towards more peaceful and just societies and strengthening the voice of the social work profession.
Now, the social work profession needs to examine new themes and processes to expand the Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development for the years 2020 to 2030. From IFSW, we are launching a consultation process, where your input is essential to build a robust and inclusive Global Agenda that meets the real needs of all people. The consultation period will end in July 2020.
Please make your contributions to the Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development 2020 – 2030 by filling in the comments box at the bottom of this page.
To see the reports of the Global Agenda from 2010 to 2018 please visit the IFSW Bookstore where you can download the reports for free. Below is a video message from the IFSW President Silvana Martinez and Secretary-General Rory Truell providing some examples of the success of the Global Agenda and inviting all people interested in the development of social work to participate in the consultation process. The video is subtitled in both Spanish and English.
Comments Section
Please leave any comments on your proposed Global Agenda themes for 2020 to 2030 and any suggestions for how to integrate the themes across the decade which also allows the Global Agenda process to effectively respond to any unforeseen social issues that may arise.
Hello guys,
I’m writing from The Gambia in the western part of Africa, I want the IFSW to focus on working with my Government to include the study of social work in our school curriculum, so that the love for country and voluntarism will take the lead in national development from an early age, thus curbing the corruption in our nation, where the rich is getting richer and living the poor with no hope.
I am an undergraduate social work student from Kenya, Africa. The pillars already listed on the booklet are good. More suggestions:
1. The anti-corruption pillar.
That all social workers will in their operations work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.
2. Harmonized professional knowledge and training pillar.
That IFSW recognize the title “Social Worker” to apply to only persons who have received social work training and that the training and knowledge shares some common elements, skills and methodologies. – And they have really tried to do that!
3. Humanitarian principles pillar.
That social workers will always act as per the humanitarian principles – humanity, impartiality, neutrality and in case of conflicting interests or directions from the employer – Independence.
I am also happy to see that IFSW is working closely with the U.N. Make an M.O.U with U.N (The United Nations) to give priority to qualified and effective social workers when they are employing people in the social services delivery section. That would not be favoritism but matching the right professionals with the job they are trained for. Thank you.
I feel honoured to share my story about my commitment to making a stand for Social Justice and what has been my inspiration and who stands behind it. I have reflected on my lived experiences from my childhood to adulthood and I have observed and learnt that there was further discrimination against gender preferences, gender roles, disability and mental illness within the society.
My lived experiences have given me an inner strength, making me stronger and stronger, enabling me to empathize and show compassion to others, and I felt that I had a lot to offer others less fortunate than myself. I had always been of an altruistic nature, and during this period of my life I realized social work, as a career, would allow me to practice altruism on a larger scale, gaining emotional gratification.
In 1997, I finished my Homoeopathic Medicine Studies and in order to practice altruism, I had started my own clinic for the people who were in need. Now was the time to explore more broadly about stigma in the society which encouraged and led me to stand-up against these issues and stigma. I have personally experienced and witnessed inequality within the society and people feel powerless and discriminated. I have found that Equality is the very important element of social justice. Social Justice means to me Equality which means a fair distribution of each of the capacities and treating everyone equally especially in rights and opportunities.
In March 1998 , Led a group of people who have started a human rights Organization names HOPE Worldwide-Pakistan (Humanitarian Organization for Poverty Eradication) for the rights of women and disable people in the society. HOPE started a group for disabled women to empower them.
New Zealand is my home since 2009 , changing to a new country and different culture was a big challenge for me. I was not able to offer my services in social services settings and felt powerless but passion and interest for working for people and speaking up for rights led me to offer my services as a volunteer in different not for profit organizations in New Zealand. In order to o equip and enhance my knowledge in a culturally diverse society and social services settings, I have gained experience and formal qualifications in Community Skills, Addiction, Mental Health and wellbeing and finally gained my degree in Social Practice.
Since 2013, I am leading a non governmental and not for profit organization “Hope Worldwide-Pakistan” and carrying vision “Empowering the Marginalized”. Therefore from my personal narrative demonstrates that my values and my lived experiences shaped me into my current career as a Social Worker and I would say that my lived experiences are my strength and have made me the person I am, and utilising my skills, both personal and educational, will help me tp perform more efficiently.
DAGNON Boubacar
Bonsoir,
diplome à l’institut national de formation des travailleurs sociaux de Bamako je partage presque l’opinion de:
“tout ce que je peux dire jusqu’à là, est que le contexte politique nationale n’est pas favorable à l’action du travail social. Par rapport à l’ambition du travail social à savoir l’élargissement du Programme mondial de travail social et de développement social pour les années 2020 à 2030, nous pensons qu’il est impératif dans un premier temps de développement sur le territoire national des actions de formation et d’éducation de sensibilisation et de plaidoyer pour la promotion du travail social enfin de mettre en lumière la valeur ajouter du travail social dans la dynamique de la réalisation des objectif du développement humain et durable. Je reste persuadé que des actions du travail social permettront le pays de lutter efficacement pour la réduction de la pauvreté; la création d’emplois; la protection de l’environnement; l’instauration d’un Etat démocratique dans lequel les droits humains seront respectés; la promotion de la participation de la Femme dans la gestion du développement du pays; la création de conditions pour une protection sociale pour tous; etc…Pour parvenir à cette ambitieuse chantier il faut absolument que des liens et des rapprochements soient établies entre le travailleur social que je suis et les instances internationales des travailleurs sociaux comme l’IFSW et les autres”. Merci
Dear friends and colleagues, in the link below, are vision statements from the IASSW, ICSW and IFSW Presidents as well as from Rose Henderson and myself as IFSW representatives to the Global Agenda. The statements are intended to promote further discussion and we look forward to your reflections. Best wishes to all, Rory
https://www.ifsw.org/reflections-on-the-next-global-agenda/
I read about social work colleagues working in the field as they risk personal safety and family security when campaigning for the rights of the most vulnerable sectors. Among all other international social work organizations, it is the IFSW that is clearly vigilant in articulating a standpoint against violent atrocities committed by governments or any other vested interest group such as big industry or the military. As a teacher, I would still wish to have that assured conviction when standing before young social workers, that indeed we can unequivocally identify ways of advocating for justice as pathway to peace building. But again, social work does have a claim to a legacy of resisting despotic regimes, exposing rapacious historical crimes, helping to prevent ethnocides, or calling out racist attacks against specific peoples. Among all others, should not the decade ahead focus on sharpening our advocacy skills, distilling knowledge from these critical experiences, and advancing global social work solidarity campaigns with those whose collective lives are most threatened by wars, hunger, dislocation/ dispossession?
P.S. I did read about IFSW’s almost controversial decision to hold the 2020 conference in Calgary. I am supportive of IFSW’s plans and am very impressed by the substantive conference program. So may I sincerely thank you for your leadership, and your effort to work with IASSW and ICSW.
Lakwo Tonny Omon – Social Work Students Leader in Uganda.
It’s really great to have our global agenda that will streamline our achievements or social work services however, my opinion is that for this agenda to be achieved youth participation should be put in the front line because they are innovative, idealist and future agents. Localization of the agenda in to different contexts is also another way to go I. e international, regional and even national. This will create the sense of social workers participation in the implementation and thus owning the agenda, Handling environment issues with a lot of vigor and care because conducive environment(holistic perspective or eco-social work) will play a central role in the achievement of the agenda………….etc