Africa has always had something powerful to offer the world, not only in resources, art, and culture, including human resources through migration and slavery, but also in wisdom. At the heart of this wisdom is Ubuntu, a philosophy of reciprocity and justice: I am because we are. Ubuntu is not an abstract idea, it is a philosophy that guides how people relate to each other and make decisions for the common good.

In Kenya, this philosophy is expressed through the value of harambee, which calls for working together, sharing responsibility, and supporting one another. Harambee puts Ubuntu into action, showing how African philosophy shapes everyday life and collective progress.

The 2026 Joint World Conference on Social Work and Social Development (SWSD 2026) will take place in Nairobi, Kenya, under the theme “Harambee for Sustainable Shared Futures.” The conference is 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), and will be hosted by the Kenya National Association of Social Workers (KNASW) at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) from 26 to 29 June 2026.

Why this matters

The conference is an important forum to make Ubuntu through harambee clearer for the world. When Ubuntu was promoted globally as a theme in 2021 by IFSW and IASSW, the focus tended to be on social solidarity and interconnectedness rather than justice, community, and reciprocity.

For too long, dominant narratives in social work and development have been shaped elsewhere, with Africa often viewed only as a recipient of ideas rather than a source. SWSD 2026 opens a space to reverse this gaze and showcase African-centred knowledge. From practices of communal care to grassroots social movements, Ubuntu and harambee offer guidance for global discussions on equity, dignity, and sustainability.

How Ubuntu and harambee connect to the conference themes

Ubuntu and harambee can inform each of the conference themes in practical ways. For reclaiming and reimagining social work practice, Ubuntu encourages collaboration and collective problem-solving, ensuring interventions respect community values and shared responsibility. In social work education, pedagogy, and research, harambee can guide teaching and learning methods that emphasise mentorship, knowledge-sharing, and co-creation between students, educators, and communities.

In social work and social welfare across the lifespan, Ubuntu encourages care practices that consider the interconnectedness of families and communities, promoting holistic wellbeing. For social work and sustainable development, harambee demonstrates the power of communal effort to achieve environmental, economic, and social goals. In clinical social work, health, and wellbeing, Ubuntu fosters empathy, respect, and shared decision-making between practitioners and clients.

When addressing complex global challenges, Ubuntu provides a framework for understanding interdependence and collective responsibility, while harambee encourages coordinated action. In social movements and building democratic societies, these African values promote participation, inclusivity, and solidarity. Even in digital social work, Ubuntu and harambee can guide ethical technology use, ensuring digital tools connect people and support shared goals rather than isolating them.

Ubuntu through harambee

The conference offers more than presentations and discussions. It is an opportunity to see how African philosophy and values can guide practice worldwide. By grounding social work and social development in Ubuntu and harambee, practitioners, educators, and researchers can promote justice, dignity, and collective wellbeing while demonstrating that Africa’s knowledge has a central role to play in shaping sustainable shared futures.