Image - From left to right: Dr. Sang-Mok Suh, Global President, ICSW and Hon. Dr. E. Muinjangue, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Health and Social Services, Namibia

As part of the activities of the International Council of Social Welfare (ICSW) Seminar on Social Policy and Social Protection in Africa (28th and 29th September 2023, Windhoek, Namibia), ICSW Africa Region convened local and global social scientists and professionals from state and non-state agencies together in Windhoek to deliberate on social policy and social protection issues in the African Region and to draft a road map towards accelerated progress in achieving the SDGs in the Region.

From left to right: Paulo Pedroso, Director INOVHUMRE; Antonio López Peláez, UNED-ICSW; Jorge M. Ferreira, ISCTE; Sangmok Suh, ICSW President; Annamaria Campanini, IASSW President; Joachim Mumba, IFSW President

On November 16, 2023, in Lisbon, within the activities of the ISCTE Winter School, and as a result of the Erasmus+ INOVHUMRE project, involving partners from Turkey, Spain, Portugal, Colombia and Brazil[1], the presidents of IFSW, IASSW and ICSW, and the representatives of ISCTE and UNED, have signed the Lisbon Declaration for the development of Social Work and Humanitarian Action in the 21st century.

It is a declaration that puts on the table the strengthening of humanitarian aid, the improvement of the competencies and skills of social workers, the design of new training programs, and the need to bet on participation and co-design as strategies to improve social inclusion. In this sense, this declaration is a very relevant contribution to social work in the field of humanitarian aid, approved with the unanimous consensus of IFSW, IASSW and ICSW.

Annamaria Campanini, President of IASSW, commented, "The Lisbon Declaration is a milestone in our collective journey towards a more equitable and responsive social work environment globally. Its focus on specialized training and digitalization reflects the evolving needs of our times and the necessity of staying ahead in our humanitarian endeavors."

Joachim Mumba, President of IFSW, added, "This Declaration marks a new era in humanitarian action, where collaboration between state, civil society, private sectors and ordinary community members is paramount. The emphasis on peace, security, and good governance as foundational principles paves the way for more effective and equitable social interventions."

Sang-Mok Suh, President of ICSW, stated, "The Lisbon Declaration's call for international cooperation and its inclusion in the European Agenda signify a major step forward in global social work and humanitarian efforts. The creation of a digital platform and the push for internationalizing universities are particularly exciting developments, promising a future of shared knowledge and innovative practices."

DOWNLOAD THE DECLARATION HERE

[1] Fundacao Getulio Vargas – Brazil; Icesi University – Colombia; Hacettepe Universitesi – Turkey; Universidad Nacional de Educacion a Distância (UNED) – Spain; Instituto Marques de Valle Flor – Portugal; Magtel Foundation – Spain; Sened Derneği Turkey; Sosyal Hizmet Uzmanları Derneği Ankara Şubesi – Turkey

The International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW), the International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW) and the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) are delighted to launch the theme for the Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development 2024: “Buen Vivir: Shared Future for Transformative Change“. The theme will also be presented at the 2024 World Conference on Social Work and Social Development in Panama.

Date: 28th and 29th September 2023
Venue: HILTON HOTEL, WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA
Contact Information: Yunji Kwon This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For the past 100 years, ICSW globally and the different ICSW regions in Africa have worked tirelessly to promote social welfare in Africa. The International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW) Seminar on Social Policy and Social Protection in Africa (28th and 29th September 2023) addresses the main challenges facing social policies in the African Region , and the key role of knowledge-based organizations such as ICSW.

The special focus is on the role of social policy experts, social workers and humanitarian aid professionals in the different contexts of the African continent. Special attention is paid to the challenges faced by African societies after COVID-19, and the most successful strategies that we can implement in the immediate future, giving citizens a voice and presenting good practices of social inclusion in different areas, from child protection to food security,  healthcare and so on.

Under the global framework of the SDGs, the Global Agenda, and the thematic priorities addressed by the UN Secretary General’s Report “Our Common Agenda”, this seminar presents diagnoses, proposals, and good practices that are carried out in Africa and that can serve to redesign the social policies of the 21st century.

The aim is to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs by 2030 and the social dimension of sustainable development beyond with the focus on African Regional priorities.

The seminar will conclude with the launch of Windhoek Declaration on Social Policy and Social Protection in Africa

Download the Seminar Program (DOCX) here.