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Special issue June 2026 with North-West University, South Africa

Issue title: School Social Work

Guest editor: Dr Marelize Vergottini; Assistant guest editor: Associate Professor Vincent Mabvurira

Special issue February 2026 with University of Pretoria, South Africa

Issue title: Women and Girls in Conflict: Intersections of Victimization, Criminalization, and Justice

Editors: Dr Nokukhanya Mbonambi, Simone Robinson and Mr Luvuyo Teko

Application:

Postponed: Special Issue on Social Development Approach

Due to guest editor’s workloads, the special issue on The Social Development Approach: Challenges and Prospects has been postponed to a later date. Any inconvenience caused is regrettable.

Previous call: Environmental Social Work

Special issue on Environmental Social Work: African philosophies, frameworks, perspectives and techniques

Guest Editors: Dr. Mildred Mushunje and Dr. Abel Blessing Matsika

Articles in the special issue:

Environmental Social Work: African philosophies, frameworks and perspectives and techniques. | Mildred Mushunje and Blessing MATSIKA

An ecosocial work model for African social work education | Michael Emru TADESSE and James Kutu OBENG

Directions in constructing a body of knowledge in eco-social work education and practice in Uganda: actions, channels, and implications | Venesio Bwambale BHANGYI

Climate change and vulnerabilities of children in rural Zimbabwe: The case of Ward 14 of Bikita District, Zimbabwe | Witness CHIKOKO and Mr Philemon CHIHIYA

Nexus between climate change and environmental social work in Africa | Ezra PEDZISAI, Sunungurayi CHARAMBA, and Rudo MUKURAZHIZHA

An critical analysis of the challenges faced by deaf farmers in their participation in sustainable food production for nutrition and health in Mashonaland region, Zimbabwe | Ashely Ropafadzo TOME

The place of indigenous knowledge in environmental social work in Zimbabwe | Rudo MUKURAZHIZHA, Noel MURIDZO, Sunungurayi CHARAMBA and Samuel SIMBINE

Reflections on integrating environmental social work methods of intervention in Zimbabwean social work curriculum | Tatenda NHAPI

The gap that the special issue addressed

The special issue contains approximately 10-16 articles that focus on the ecological environment and social work.  The focus of this special issue, is informed by our  concern for the African  environment as a source of social functioning, social security and social protection and related issues of climate change and gender. Issues related to social work education, practice, fieldwork and research are also welcome. Accepted manuscripts prioritised African literature, written from an African perspective using African philosophy, theories, ethics, models or frameworks, both long-existing and emerging.

Suggested topic areas

1. Social work and the environment – clarifying environmental social work what it is, how it is being practiced and what underpins the philosophy
2. Income and livelihoods from an-agri-focused perspective
3. Sustainable food production for nutrition and health
4. Environmental care and protection
5. The nexus between climate change and social work practice
6. Gender and the environment
7. Social protection responses to climate induced emergencies
8. Social work and the vulnerable (children, people with disabilities, the poor) in the context of climate change. Relevance of local, regional and global frameworks in addressing issues of the environment
9. Access to the environment – rights, justice, gender etc
10. Indigenous issues/Decolonising the environment

Instructions

A two-step screening process was followed, that is, screening of abstracts followed by screening of full manuscripts. We recommend that you do the following:

• Read the call for papers and understand it
• Decide a topic and create a suitable title
• Find co-authors (you can do it alone. Collaboration of multiple authors from different African countries and across the globe will be an added advantage. Make sure all authors agree to the submitted abstracts and manuscripts.
• Draft your abstract and agree with co-authors, if applicable
• Format your abstract as follows: maximum of 200 words, write in Times New Roman, font size 10 and single line spaced.
• Put key words
• Put names of authors and their contact details, each in a single line
• Put all the details on one page in this order: Title, Author Details, Abstract and Key words
• Make sure your abstract adheres to AJSW author guidelines that are available here: https://africasocialwork.net/aswnet-guide-to-writing-journals/
  • AJSW recommends use of African language for some of the key concepts used in your title, abstract, key words and manuscript. You can also submit your final English language abstract together with a translation in an African language of your choice.
• Email your abstract to asw@africasocialwork.net before the due date stated below.
• Wait for feedback, and if accepted, submit a full manuscript (maximum 5000 words including references and cover page) using the email above. The full manuscript will contain a revised abstract page as above, introduction, suitable sections making the body, conclusion and list of references that adheres to the AJSW citing and reference guide.

Important dates

Opening of abstracts	01 June 2022 – closed
Deadline for abstracts	Closed
Responses to contributors	From 01 October 2022 – finished
Submission of full papers	By 28 January 2023 – finished
Editorial and peer review process from	February – March 2023 – finished
Publication of journal articles from	April 2023 – finished