Special Issue on The Social Development Approach: Challenges and Prospects
AFRICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIAL WORK (AJSW)
Social development is an approach that focuses on the development of capacities of people, promotion of self-reliance, prevention of social problems and early intervention, a focus on the poor (alleviation of poverty and inequality), participation, improvement of quality of life, and multi-sectorial collaboration (Kurevakwesu, Dzoma, Mundau, Magocha, Chizasa and Takangovada, 2022).
Back in 1972, by 1971 the Association of Social Work Education in Africa (ASWEA) engaged in social development and it was their key theme until the organisation closed in around 1989 (ASWEA, 1972, 1973, 1978, 1982, 1985). During its existence, ASWEA promoted social development and did not see social work as a viable solution to reduce poverty and contribute to the development of Africa. The ASWEA challenged colonial education in social work, and related social services for its lack of prioritisation of income, livelihoods, development and prevention. Colonial social work education was based on welfare, institutionalisation, treatment, charity and humanitarianism. The organisation worried about social work’s disengagement with development programs of the Organisation of African Unity (now African Union, AU). In line with the socio-economic problems facing Africa, the social development approach has gained momentum as the most preferred approach to social work and social welfare services provision in Africa (Chitereka, 2009; Mupedziswa, 1998; Mupedziswa, 2001; Kurevakwesu et al., 2022). Most developing countries are trying to reorient their social welfare systems towards social development. At the current moment—despite several challenges (Gray & Lombard, 2022)—South Africa is the only country in Africa that seems to have a social welfare system predicated on the social development approach. From several studies that have been conducted throughout (Mhiribidi, 2010; Lombard and Wairire, 2010; Kurevakwesu, 2017; Gray et al., 2017; Van Breda, 2018; Muleya, 2020), it seems there are various challenges affecting the adoption of a social development approach in social work and social welfare services provision.
We are looking for papers that interrogate the adequacy, feasibility and applicability of the social development approach (developmental social work) in selected African countries together with existing challenges, solutions and prospects. We are also looking for papers that look at issues at the continental level, concerning policies such as Agenda 2063 of the AU and also the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. If this area remains under-researched, it will be difficult to record much progress.
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