The upcoming Commonwealth Civil Society Policy Forum (CCSPF), scheduled to take place online on Friday, 28 February 2025 (11:00–13:00 GMT), will focus on the urgent need for a resilient and sufficient health and social care workforce across Commonwealth nations and beyond. The Forum, hosted by the Commonwealth Health Professions and Partners Alliance (CHPA), with the Commonwealth Organisation for Social Work (COSW) as an active member, aims to generate recommendations for Commonwealth Health Ministers ahead of their annual meeting in Geneva in May 2025.
Sylvia Daisy, COSW President, underscored the gravity of current challenges: “As I write, the world is shaking from the abrupt cancellation of US-AID which is causing serious and life-threatening harm to thousands and disrupting health and social wellbeing. Commonwealth Organisations have raised concerns with the Commonwealth Secretariat and are exploring next steps. Protecting and sustaining the workforce in the face of this and other global challenges must be a key focus for governments.”
The webinar will address three critical themes: sustainable financing for a sufficient health and care workforce, forward planning to meet future workforce needs, and the return on investment from a resilient and well-supported workforce.
Joachim Mumba, IFSW President, highlighted the importance of collaboration between social work and health professions, stating, “Joint working between social work and health professionals is vital to ensure integrated, effective services that promote the health and wellbeing of communities. By fostering stronger partnerships, professionals can address the complex social determinants of health, enhance service accessibility, and create more sustainable, community-based support systems.”
The Forum takes place amidst growing concerns over deteriorating working conditions globally. A recent IFSW sponsored study revealed declining job satisfaction, increasing stress levels, and reduced autonomy, all of which undermine the well-being and effectiveness of social workers. The findings emphasise the link between role clarity, peer support, and workforce resilience, offering evidence to strengthen policy and funding advocacy efforts.
Interested participants are encouraged to join the webinar and contribute to this vital discussion on strengthening the health, social work, and social care workforce across the Commonwealth and beyond.