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.
Hi there,
I am a social work student in Canada, currently residing in a small community in Newfoundland. As an Indigenous woman, there continue to be many blank, empty gaps that sometimes feel impossible to fill regarding the Indigenous population. These gaps are slowly becoming filled across Canada, but it would be great to see IFSW focus more on the Indigenous population within the social work profession, where we see an even larger increase in education, advocacy and change on a micro to macro level. More needs to be done to meet the needs and address the many issues (and history) of these individuals within social work on a broader level.
Hello,
I am a Bachelor of Social Work student. I have past experience working with children, youth, immigrants, and most recently adults living with mental health illnesses. I would like the agenda of Global Agenda for Social Work 2020-2030 to focus on the lack of economic and employment opportunities for people people who have a mental health illness. Employment can provide income, routine, structure, social support, etc. Perhaps in addressing this, we can help eradicate the barriers that prevent these people from being hired and promoted.
To Whom It May Concern,
I am an Indigenous social work student in Canada at Dalhousie University. Clearly, efforts by IFSW to include Indigenous leaders in talks surrounding international social work can be viewed as a step forward in implementing anti-colonial social work and reconciliation. While I applaud IFSW for these efforts, the inclusion of only one Indigenous group in these important discussions is not necessarily sufficient to bring adequate attention to the varied experiences of different Indigenous groups throughout Canada. Indigenous groups in Canada are culturally, politically, and geographically diverse, in addition to having qualitatively different historical and contemporary issues and experiences with respect to their involvement with social service agencies. Without adequate representation from these groups (e.g., Nunatsiavut and NunatuKavut Inuit), discourse surrounding international social work practice and policy may fall short in both assisting and learning from these unique Indigenous Peoples. Moreover, IFSW’s statements regarding the inclusion of Indigenous leaders while only serving the voice of one Indigenous group, may lead to the perpetuation of misconceptions regarding Indigenous homogeneity. To rectify these issues, I recommend IFSW to reach out to more Indigenous groups in Canada in an effort to provide these unique and diverse Peoples with equal opportunities to participate in future IFSW conferences.
Thank you for your time,
Colin
Hi there,
I am a social work student from Nova Scotia, Canada and I am hoping to contribute to the dialogue around potential topics and thoughts for the planning of the conference.
In my view, I see a growing concern around neoliberalism and individualism. Many services are integrated into communities which seek to solve problems and help clients become empowered, but so few are allowed to be focused on creating wider social change. On top of this, many practitioners in multiple fields, are limited in their abilities to work as advocates due to restrictions from government funders or political challenges.
How do we incorporate a stronger focus on social change as practitioners? I would like to see more work done around complexity, specifically, how we can support social innovation in practice, to work against growing individualism and neoliberalism in practice? Additionally, how can we as a profession work against neoliberalism present in our own practices when many of our educational institutions, governing bodies, and employers are embedded in maintaining the status quo?
I am feeling overwhelmed reading through all of these messages on issues people have discussed in this thread. I find myself also feeling hopeful knowing the level of people’s dedication to various causes. Thank you for your contributions.
I am a social work student in Canada. Many Canadians, like people in other countries, are encouraging austerity measures on social programs or services. Given the wave of population growth for Canada’s oldest age groups and the political context encouraging neoliberalism. I am concerned how this will negatively affect this country’s social determinants of health; particularly, in what capacity health services will be lacking for this country’s caregivers and ageing population.
Greetings from Nova Scotia, Canada.
I would be interested in seeing a priority of examining effective Rural Social Work practices and structures. Often when we attend conferences we are privileged to learn of new emerging programs which are often located in Urban settings. Although many of the practices ideologies and theories can be used in both settings, there are different consideration needed in rural communities. We often generalize what works, yet in rural, remote or Indigenous communities have very different communal cultures and have very different requirements. Furthermore, rural communities are often faced with funding, staffing and local deficiencies. Often we see those in need being pushed or pulled out of rural areas in order to get support. It would be useful to learn about rural issues of poverty, mental health and addictions are they are areas that are lacking.
I am a social work student in Canada. I would like to see a step towards reconciliation through the mandated inclusion of Indigenous knowledges within social work curricula. Graduating students of all backgrounds ought to be equipped with a knowledge base that accurately reflects the histories and experiences of First Peoples and addresses the social ills that were created through colonialism and are perpetuated by the Eurocentric ideologies that continue to guide social work education in Canada and across the globe.