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.
I woud like to have more studies about Military Social Work.
My social work practice with indigenous peoples in Northern Philippines to which I belong, has given me this commitment to walk with the struggles of all other indigenous communities the world over. As a young community organizer some twenty years ago , I understood how the dispossession and dislocation of indigenous communities have been systematically carried out by state power and neocolonial interests. Despite the continuing oppression of indigenous peoples the world over, I bear witness to global solidarity which catalyze resistance and organize transformative action. Today, I am teaching in a social work university in Germany. I take it as my critical task to draw students away from traditional Eurocentric social work practice that can reduce the social work profession to no more than an implementing tool of neoliberal policies.
I am so heartened to read that colleagues in Canada are enlisting support from indigenous communities in the organization of the 2020 Conference in Calgary. I look forward to engaging with colleagues in global dialogical action to decolonize the social work profession.
I would like to see raised global focus on wellbeing issues that affect Social Workers who work in trauma-laden environments, how supervisors can identify and manage these issues in their workforce, research into how service delivery is impacted when social workers are experiencing work related trauma based wellbeing and mental health concerns etc
Hi Fiona,
My name is Ashley and I am currently completing the last year of my social work degree in Canada. I agree with you that this is a very important area of focus, especially for future social workers. While I haven’t worked as an official social worker yet, I have held related positions that were extremely stressful. As new social work pracitiocners enter the field, I feel it’s essential that they know they will be supported by their superiors, and that they will know how to effectively deal with traumatic situations.
I currently live in Azerbaijan but am a child protection social worker from the UK. I am working with NOG’s currently tirelessly trying to get social work on the map in Azerbaijan. The culture here means that the family has the sole responsibility for children and we are struggling to get people to understand that everyone is responsible for our children. There are safeguarding laws but no one follows them or is made accountable. I would like support and advice on how to move things forward in Azerbaijan and how best to be heard.
Technology Mediated and Managed Social Work is a major e-factor for countries in development context. Technology integration demands that Social Workers in the 21st century must be techno savvy.
Hello everyone, I am Shadare Victor from Nigeria. You are doing great job. I will like IFSW to discuss unemployment and the how graduates in Social work can be placed in there field of study. Nigeria is lacking behind here, many graduates wants to practice Social work but are not privileged.
Themes for next Global Social Work Agenda 2020-2030:
1. Promoting a World Order without Imperialism and Coloniality
2. Democracies with Economic Development and Social Justice
3. Towards a Free-Violences World
4. Gender Identities, Power Relationships and Patriarchy
5. Promoting the rights of Original Populations
Juan:
Thank you for writing these core components to take into account. As a person of color, an immigrant myself i do believe bringing the voices of those individuals and communities whom have historically been marginalized at the center of the IFSW agenda it is key for creating real change in this new decade.
1. Indigenous, Black and Afro-Indigenous, and ALL communities of color, LGBTQ+
2. Promoting Anti-racism practicies, Pro-Immigrants/Refugees actions in which the experiences and stories of communities of color are told and heard by us.
3. Promoting actions toward decolonization of people’s minds and praxis. One example is to push back on the wrong use of terms such as ‘third world countries’.
Peace,
Erika