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Current call: Social Development Approach
The Social Development Approach: Challenges and Prospects
Special issue editors
- Wilberforce Kurevakwesu (MSW), PhD Candidate (Stellenbosch University, SA), and Social Work Lecturer, Midlands State University, School of Social Work, Zimbabwe
- Noel Garikai Muridzo (PhD), Director, Midlands State University, School of Social Work, Zimbabwe; Research Fellow, Department of Social Work, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
- Anesu Aggrey Matanga (MSW), Lecturer and Fieldwork Coordinator, Midlands State University, School of Social Work, Zimbabwe
- Janestic Mwende Twikirize (PhD), Associate Professor of Social Work, Department of Social Work, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
- Mel Gray (PHD), Professor Emeritus of Social Work, School of Humanities, Creative Industries and Social Science, University of Newcastle, Australia
- TBA
Keywords
- Poverty reduction
- Agenda 2063
- Development
- Income and livelihoods
- Decolonised education
Definition of social development
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).
Background
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. In Zimbabwe, efforts have been made to adopt the social development approach since the department responsible for social welfare services provision changed its name to the Department of Social Development in 2021 (Kurevakwesu et al., 2022). Despite the name, there has not been any notable progress on the ground towards transformation. In other parts of Africa, the story is nearly the same. There has been no formal adoption of the social development approach, but strands within social work education and social welfare programs. It is in light of these wherefores and ongoings that the Editors are soliciting articles that bridge existing gaps, promote research, and ignite enthusiasm among scholars, practitioners and policymakers on social development and social work in selected African countries. 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.
Call for papers
- We are seeking papers from social work practitioners, faculty, students, and staff. We are especially interested in papers from the developing world, particularly Africa.
- The preference for types of papers is experiential (sharing experiences), research-based, systematic literature, meta-reviews, calls-to-action, practice or educational commentaries.
- To encourage wide participation in this special issue, we welcome brief practice or commentary papers (up to 5 pages) or full-length (20-25 page) scholarly papers.
Focus areas
Focus areas may include, but are not limited to:
- Conceptualisation of the social development approach, for example
- What the ASWEA did or documented about social development in the 70s, what they did in the 80s
- The work of researchers, writers and academics in Africa globally in the 80s onwards
- The history of the social development approach in Africa, and in particular countries
- The work of the AU and African governments
- The work of the UN
- Calls to action for social work researchers, practitioners, educators and students.
- The application of the social development approach in social work
- Progress that has been made in some African countries in terms of developmental social work
- Challenges for developmental social work in specific African countries
- Prospects for developmental social work in specific African countries
- How social work field education can embrace a social development approach (developmental fieldwork practice)
- Developmental research.
- Developmental social welfare services provision
- Remedial vs developmental social work
- Country comparisons
- Papers that look at issues at the continental level, conerning policies such as Agenda 2063 of the AU.
Instructions
- If you want to submit a paper for the special issue, please email kurevakwesuw@staff.msu.ac.zw and cc matangaa@staff.msu.ac.zw and muridzon@staff.msu.ac.zw with your proposed topic and author names (including affiliations).
- This should just be a short email letting us know you plan to submit an abstract. Include the type of article, the stage of the research and the type of research.
- Next, submit a brief abstract (max 300 words) and title page by March 15 2024, via the same emails.
- Authors will be notified of the invitation to move forward with a full paper by March 31, 2024—and this will be done on a rolling basis.
- Please note that full papers will be reviewed per the AJSW’s usual peer review process. See the AJSW website for the journal’s peer review policy here. The core guidelines are:
- A minimum of 75% African literature should be used. A list of core references is available here (ASWDNet Development Work Database).
- African theories and ethics should be prioritised and valued.
- There must be sufficient evidence that research was done. One piece of evidence is an ethics advice or letter. If you do not have access to an ethics committee, you can use the African Independent Ethics Committee (AIEC).
- Manuscripts should be prepared for a continental and global audience and implications for these audiences must be clear.
There are no open access fees for publishing in this special issue.
Key dates
See the schedule below for more details.
| Timeline for Submission and Publishing | Activity Date |
| Call for papers distributed | February 7, 2024 |
| Email intent to submit an abstract | February 28, 20234 |
| Abstract submission for finished research or non-research papers | March 15, 2024 |
| Abstract submission for ongoing or new research | April 15, 2024 |
| Paper invitation | March 31, 2024 |
| Paper submission | June 15, 2024 |
| Paper submission (research-based) | August 15, 2024 |
| Reviewer feedback to authors – first round | July 15, 2024 |
| Revisions deadline – first round | August 15, 2024 |
| Reviewer feedback to authors – final round | September 15, 2024 |
| Revisions deadline – final round | October 15, 2024 |
| Papers submitted to publisher | October 31 2024 |
| The anticipated publish date | December 30 2024 |
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
- Social work and the environment – clarifying environmental social work what it is, how it is being practiced and what underpins the philosophy
- Income and livelihoods from an-agri-focused perspective
- Sustainable food production for nutrition and health
- Environmental care and protection
- The nexus between climate change and social work practice
- Gender and the environment
- Social protection responses to climate induced emergencies
- 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
- Access to the environment – rights, justice, gender etc
- 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 |