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Call for Abstracts for the 2026 Joint World Conference on Social Work and Social Development (SWSD 2026) is now open!
This post was copied for the conference website.
The official Call for Abstracts for the 2026 Joint World Conference on Social Work and Social Development (SWSD 2026) is now open!
Organised by the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW), the International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW), and the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW), SWSD 2026 will take place in Nairobi, Kenya, from 26 to 29 June 2026.
The event will be hosted by the Kenya National Association of Social Workers (KNASW) at the iconic Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), under the theme “Harambee for Sustainable Shared Futures”. Rooted in East African philosophy, Harambee calls us to collective action, unity, and mutual support as we work together to advance the global social work agenda.
SWSD 2026 invites social workers, educators, researchers, policymakers, community leaders, and activists to share their insights, innovations, and experiences. Submissions are welcome in various formats, including papers, posters, workshops, and research presentations.
Abstracts should respond to one or more of the conference’s key sub-themes:
- Reclaiming and Reimagining Social Work Practice
- Social Work Education, Pedagogy and Research
- Social Work and Social Welfare Across the Lifespan
- Social Work and Sustainable Development
- Clinical Social Work, Health and Wellbeing
- Social Work Practice in the Face of Complex Global Challenges
- Social Movements, Political Social Work and Building Democratic Societies
- Digital Social Work
Whether you are a seasoned practitioner or an emerging voice in the field, we encourage you to be part of this important global dialogue as we build pathways toward equity, dignity, and sustainability.
To submit your abstract or register, please click here.
Download the conference flyer and share with your networks
Join others in Nairobi – in the spirit of Harambee – to shape the future of social work and social development together.
Use the form below to subscibe to Owia Bulletin.
Pls what are the sub topics for the abstract l cannot find it anywhere.It had delayed my submission,l am from Nigeria, Prof Daniel Uranta of University of Port Harcourt Rivers State.
On Fri, Oct 3, 2025, 12:02 PM Africa Social Work & Development Network |
Hello Prof Uranta,
The subthemes are:
Reclaiming and Reimagining Social Work Practice
Addressing post-colonial challenges and colonial continuities in social work and social development; global inequities, diversity, equity, and inclusion in practice; Decolonizing and indigenizing social work, Indigenous and alternative philosophies (Ubuntu, Buen Vivir, Harambee, Ujamaa, Sankofa, etc), Culture, religion and spirituality in social work; empowerment and community resilience; Social service workforce strengthening.
Social Work Education, Pedagogy and Research
Innovating and reconfiguring the social work curriculum to meet emerging local, regional and global challenges; Co-creation in social work education; innovative teaching and learning methods; Field practice education; Inter-Professional collaboration; Mentorship and supervision; Lifelong learning and continuous professional development; Innovative and Indigenous research methods; Bridging the North – South divide in scientific writing and publishing; Democratising knowledge and promoting epistemic freedom in social work.
Social Work and Social Welfare Across the Lifespan
Strengthening families and communities; Safeguarding and protecting children and other vulnerable populations; Intergenerational solidarity: promoting participation of youth and older persons; Bridging policy and practice: developing legal frameworks and social protection systems for universal and sustainable coverage; Social care and support frameworks and strategies; Addressing pressing social challenges: poverty, inequality, and social justice; Integrating intersectionality and lived experiences in social work; Navigating ethics, ethical dilemmas, and human rights in practice; Advancing participatory approaches in social work.
Social Work and Sustainable Development
Sustainable development and transformative change; 2030 Agenda for sustainable development (SDGs); Consensus and contradictions on sustainability and social development; Building sustainable and inclusive urban and rural communities; Climate change: Social work in the green economy and clean energy transition; Food security and sustainable food systems; Promoting sustainable livelihoods in the face of economic shifts; Gender equality and women’s empowerment; Social work in schools and education settings: Creating safe and inclusive learning environments; Social work in the criminal justice system: innovative approaches and practice methods; International aid and development, how much are we losing/gaining? Social work in a post foreign aid practice environment; Social work and rural social innovation for social development; Employment for social workers- responding to the emerging policy arena as a profession; transforming social policies.
Clinical Social Work, Health and Wellbeing
Mental health and psychosocial well-being in crisis contexts; Disability, rehabilitation and inclusive health technologies; Social work in the digital health era, Addressing substance abuse; Addiction, and recovery pathways; Medical Social Work: Holistic health care and patient advocacy, Social work ethics and practice in ‘medical tourism’; Service involvement in medical social work education; Self-care in clinical social work.
Social Work Practice in the Face of Complex Global Challenges
Addressing systemic inequalities caused by globalization, climate crises, political conflicts, and economic transitions; Social work in a post-COVID world; Migration, refugee crisis, global mobility; Labour migration, human trafficking and the role of social work; Addressing domestic violence, gender based violence and violence against children; Combating child labour and exploitation; Social work intervention in conflict and post conflict situations, environmental disasters and social emergencies.
Social Movements, Political Social Work and Building Democratic Societies
Governance, politics, peacebuilding, and conflict resolution; Emancipating voices; Youth movements, and social justice; Cross-cultural movements—the global impact of coalitions in influencing social policies; Social work, political activism and citizen empowerment to promote social change; Models of social welfare in a democratic society; Social work’s response to the role of media, technology, and communication in shaping social narratives.
Digital Social Work
Social work and technology (Digital social work and artificial intelligence, navigating and addressing the digital divide; ethics in digital social work education and practice. Digital platforms for social service delivery; Technology-mediated interventions; Virtual communities and online support networks; Data privacy, security and informed consent in digital practice; Tele-assistance and remote counselling ethics; Digital literacy for practitioners and service users; Algorithmic bias and digital inequality; Technology-enhanced supervision and collaboration models; Ethical frameworks for AI applications in social services; Preparing future practitioners for digitally integrated practice.