Environmental Social Work
Definition of environmental social work
Environmental social work refers to a collection of strategies and methods used by social workers to solve or prevent social problems or facilitate development using the environment in a reciprocal and sustainable manner
Mushunje and Matsika, 2023
African philosophies, frameworks and perspectives
Cite information below as: Mushunje, M. and Matsika, A. B. (2023). Environmental Social Work: African philosophies, frameworks and perspectives. African Journal of Social Work, 13(2), 48-56. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ajsw.v13i2.1
Environmental social work refers to a collection of strategies and methods used by social workers to solve or prevent social problems or facilitate development using the environment in a reciprocal and sustainable manner. While the environment can be a solution to social problems, for example by being a source of livelihoods or providing space for social institutions such as homes to be established, if this is not done sustainably, the environment can become a source of social challenges, for example, overuse of trees, fossils or animals can result in them depleting.
Indigenous environmental framework
The indigenous model comes from indigenous knowledge that was passed on from previous generations based on their experience and interaction with the environment. The model is grounded in Ubuntu philosophy (Chigangaidze, 2022, 2023). “Environmental social work can expand the profession beyond its boundaries. Similarly, Ubuntu is the philosophy that has the potential to provide global messaging for the interactions between human beings and their environment. Notably, Ubuntu is relevant in the components of human relations to nature, food security, climate change, natural disasters, sustainable development and eco-spiritual social work. Unequivocally, Ubuntu is a philosophy relevant to environmental social work…The importance of respecting indigenous knowledge systems such as Ubuntu has been underscored in the Global Social Work and Social Development Agenda 2020–2030. Overall, the indigenization of the profession of social work by infusing Ubuntu as a principle promoting social development requires social workers to be culturally sensitive and competent. Environmental social work through Ubuntu connects with behavioural studies (how food injustice causes maladaptive behaviours), environmental sciences, clinical social work (e.g. the therapeutic role of animals and nature) and disaster management to mention but a few”, (Chigagaidze, 2023, p. 1).
Continental framework (The African Union (AU) model)
Africa is a continent that is severely impacted by climate change. To address this challenge, in 1968 the AU signed the African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (AU, 2022). The Convention was revised in 2023. The AU’s current development program is the Agenda 2063 which has seven aspirations. One of the aspirations has a goal for “the establishment environmentally sustainable climate and resilient economies and communities” (AU, 2022). The AU says the environmental approach “.alternative approaches to development which seeks to integrate economic development with environment, human well-being, and socially-inclusive growth, thereby mitigating the risks which arise from environmental degradation” (AU, 2022, p12). The AU has many other initiatives, such as the Green Recovery Action Plan 2021-2027 which focuses on climate finance, renewable energy, resilient agriculture, resilient cities, land use and biodiversity. There is also the Strategy on Combating Illegal Exploitation and Illegal Trade in Wild Fauna and Flora in Africa aims to increase the level of political commitment to prevent, combat and eradicate illegal exploitation and illegal trade in wild fauna and flora. The Great Green Wall (GGW) Initiative for the Sahara and the Sahel is an initiative of the AU that contributes to poverty reduction through programs to address or end land degradation and loss of biodiversity. The GGW Initiative aims to support over 425 million Africans living in the drylands to embrace sustainable development practices that protect the environment and fight against hunger and poverty. In Agenda 2063, there is program called the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) whose aim is to eliminate hunger and reduce poverty by raising economic growth through agriculture-led development. A key agreement under CAADP is for each country to allocate at least 10% of national budgets to agriculture. In 2003, Africa Environment Day was founded by the AU, and it became Maathai Day in 2002 in recognition of the environmental work of Wangarĩ Muta Maathai of Kenya. The AU also has many treaties on the environment. The AU model can be summarised as follows:
Figure 1: AU environmental model
| · Using the environment to eliminate hunger, malnutrition · Using the environment to reduce poverty · Using the environment for economic growth · Agriculture-led development, for example, increasing productivity and farm incomes · Enhance resilience to climate variability through development of disaster preparedness policies and strategies · Early warning response systems and social safety nets · Funding for environmental work · Rural development · Improving agriculture research, technology dissemination and adoption · Creating institutions focusing on the environment |
Figure 2: Agenda 2063 environment-focused goals 5-7 under Aspiration 1
| Aspiration 1: A prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development 5. Modern agriculture for increased proactivity and production radically transforming African agriculture to enable the continent to feed itself and be a major player as a net food exporter; 6. Blue/Ocean Economy for accelerated economic growth exploiting the vast potential of Africa’s blue/ocean economy; 7. Environmentally sustainable climate and resilient economies and communities putting in place measures to sustainably manage the continent’s rich biodiversity, forests, land and waters and using mainly adaptive measures to address climate change risks |
In its work around the environment, the AU has several institutions and bodies, such as the e African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), AU Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), African Union Inter-African Phytosanitary Council, (AU–IAPSC), African Union Semi-Arid Food Grain Research and Development (SAFGRAD), African Risk Capacity (ARC) Group and the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE) and Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy (SEBE) Directorate (AU, 2022).
Grassroots or community environmental framework (The Maathai environmental model)
Professor Maathai’s work transformed families and communities. Maathai formed the Green Belt Movement (GBM) in 1977 to champion planting of trees, environmental conservation, and women’s rights. More than 50 million trees were planted in Kenya mainly by women members of GBM, and More than 900,000 Kenyan women benefited from her tree-planting campaign by selling seedlings for reforestation (Africa Social Work Network, 2023). The GBM models focuses on the environment/natural resources and ecosystems (education, conservation, protection, restoration e.g. tree planting and maximum use e.g. water harvesting and eco-tourism e.g. Green Belt Safaris (GBS). The GBM model is presented in Figure 2.
Figure 2: The GBM model
| Green Belt Movement (GBM) Development model | |
| Aspect of development | Description |
| Pan-African identity | Training workshops, protection of culture and economy |
| Civic education and advocacy | Human rights, land rights and environmental justice |
| Environment/natural resources and ecosystems | Education, conservation, protection, restoration e.g. tree planting and maximum use e.g. water harvesting and eco-tourism e.g. Green Belt Safaris (GBS) |
| Gender and development | Improving livelihoods and advocacy |
A grassroots environmental model
Besides planting trees, Maathai’s work also focused on productive and equitable farming, especially for women. She said:
In sub-Sahara Africa 100 million of people are reported to be food insecure and many countries in the sub-region depend on food imports and emergency food aid. Therefore, millions never have enough to eat, are undernourished and are suffering from parasitic infestations and diseases associated with malnutrition and poor sanitation. In such an environment, development is bound to stagnate. Poverty, poor health and sustained hunger become a vicious endless circle in which there is diminished productivity and retrogression…Unfortunately, farmers are paid little for their crops and payments are often delayed. Therefore, many families sustain hunger and malnutrition in places where their own parents and grandparents had surplus food. Most of the available food in Africa is produced by women and children who provide the intensive labour required on small farms under cash crops. Except for the cash crops, agriculture and food production in Africa is still a low priority, political statements notwithstanding, with many farmers having sacrificed food production in favour of cash crops. At the same time, women’s work (even in food production) is still rated low, is not a priority, has no prestige and women farmers are not adequately compensated for their labour. Governments give little attention to food production for home consumption (Maathai, 1995, p. 2).
The AU model and the GBM model are all very important for environmental social work in Africa. This is because they acknowledge the role the environment plays in improving people’s lives, and more importantly in preventing social challenges. They view the environment as a tool to achieve justice for all, including women who are often marginalised.
Model of environmental social work in Africa
Having read the literature on environmental social work, including new works from the several authors who contributed to this special issue, we would like to propose a model for environmental social work suitable for Africa and other resource poor settings.
Figure 4: Model for environmental social work in Africa
| Part of the model | Details |
| Philosophy | Ubuntu or Hunhu philosophy whose key components are: Importance of families, communities and society The environment is an important resource for food security, health, wellbeing, social justice and economic development. The environment as a heritage that should be protected for passing on to future generations The valuing of indigenous knowledge |
| Frameworks or models | Continental level frameworks – African Union model Societal or Country level Community or grassroots frameworks – Maathai model Family frameworks Global frameworks |
| Perspectives | Climate change perspective Food security perspective Environmental justice Marginalised and vulnerable populations perspective Social-economic disruption perspective Spiritual perspective Educational or curricula perspective Global emissions perspective Human rights perspective The sustainability perspective Policy perspective Agriculture perspective Livelihoods perspective |
Literature on environmental social work
Africa Social Work Network (ASWNet) 2023). Wangarĩ Muta Maathai. https://africasocialwork.net/wangari-muta-maathai/
African Union (AU) (2020). Africa Environment and Wangari Maathai Day https://au.int/en/wangari-maathai-day#:~:text=The%20Africa%20Union%20has%20developed,realization%20of%20sustainable%20environmental%20management.
African Union (AU) (2020). Our Aspirations for the Africa We Want. https://au.int/en/agenda2063/overview
African Union (AU) (2022). AU Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy (SEBE) Directorate https://au.int/en/directorates/sustainable-environment
Bhangyi, V. B. (2023). Directions in constructing a body of knowledge in eco-social work education and practice in Uganda: Actions, channels, and implications. African Journal of Social Work, 13(2), 70-77. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ajsw.v13i2.3
Chigangaidze, R. K. (2022) ‘Environmental social work through the African philosophy of Ubuntu: A conceptual analysis’, International Social Work, p. 2087282110733.
Chigangaidze, R. K. (2023). The environment has rights: Eco-spiritual social work through ubuntu philosophy and Pachamama: A commentary. International Social Work, 66(4), 1059–1063. https://doi-org.ezproxy.uow.edu.au/10.1177/00208728211056367
Chikoko W. and Chihiya P. (2023). Climate change and vulnerabilities of children in rural Zimbabwe: The case of ward 14 of Bikita District, Zimbabwe. African Journal of Social Work, 13(2), 78-86. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ajsw.v13i2.4
Dominelli, L, (2012) Green Social Work, Cambridge: Polity Press
Gray, M, Coates, J, Hetherington, T, (2012) Environmental social work, Abingdon: Routledge, http://ifsw.org/get-involved/global-definition-of-social-work/
International Federation of Social Work (IFSW) General Meeting and the IASSW General Assembly in July 2014
Maathai, M. W. (1995). Bottlenecks to Development in Africa Speech. https://africasocialwork.net/wangari-muta-maathai/
Mukurazhizha R., Muridzo N., Sunungurayi Charamba S. & Simbine S. (2023). The place of indigenous knowledge in environmental social work in Zimbabwe. African Journal of Social Work, 13(2), 110-117. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ajsw.v13i2.7
Mushunje, M and Muchacha, M (2019). The gender dynamics of climate change on rural women’s agro-based livelihoods and food security in rural Zimbabwe: Implications for green social work. Critical and Radical Social Work,
Mushunje, M. and Matsika, A. B. (2023). Environmental Social Work: African philosophies, frameworks and perspectives. African Journal of Social Work, 13(2), 48-56. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ajsw.v13i2.1
Nhapi, T. (2023). Reflections on integrating environmental social work methods of intervention in Zimbabwean social work curriculum. African Journal of Social Work, 13(2), 118-126. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ajsw.v13i2.8
Noyoo, N (2022). Green Social Work for Climate Change in Madhanagopal, D., & Nikku, B. R. (Eds.). (2022). Social work and climate justice: International perspectives. London: Taylor & Francis Group.
Noyoo, N. (2000). Preparing South African social workers for social development praxis. Social Development Issues, 22(1), 35–41
Nyahunda, L. (2021). Environmental social work practice. In V. Mabvurira, A. Fahrudin & E. Mtetwa (eds) Professional social work in Zimbabwe, past present and the future (pp 264-296). Harare: National Association of Social Workers of Zimbabwe.
Pedzisai E, Charamba S. and Mukurazhizha R. (2023). Nexus between climate change and environmental social work in Africa. African Journal of Social Work, 13(2), 87-99. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ajsw.v13i2.5
Tadesse M. E. and Obeng J. K. (2022). An ecosocial work model for social work education in Africa. African Journal of Social Work, 13(2), 57-69. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ajsw.v13i2.2
Tome A. R. (2023). A critical analysis of the challenges faced by deaf farmers in their participation in sustainable food production for nutrition and health in Mashonaland region, Zimbabwe. African Journal of Social Work, 13(2), 100-109. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ajsw.v13i2.6