Strengthening the role of social work as a driver of social cohesion and an essential pillar of truly sustainable development is the major objective of the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) Conference, which brings together 25 countries from West, Central, and East Africa over three days.

Hosted by the Senegalese Federation of Social Workers for the first time in a French-speaking country, this meeting has the mission every two years to take stock of social work on the continent and to identify the most effective actions in order to strengthen and popularize them.

From the opening yesterday Thursday, November 27, 2025 at the National School of Health and Social Development (ENDSS), under the central theme "Social work facing the challenges of social cohesion and sustainable development in Africa", the presidents of the federation of social workers in Africa, representatives of UNICEF as well as many participants presented their daily constraints namely the lack of resources, humanitarian crises, migration emergencies, increasing vulnerability of populations and insufficient professional recognition.

A strategic meeting for the continent

“Today, social work must be resilient and able to respond to shocks related to climate change, migration and insecurity. Social service staff play a vital role in supporting children and their families by helping them identify and mitigate risks, facilitating access to services and improving children’s well-being,” said UNICEF Representative in Senegal, Jacques Boyer.

Faced with numerous global crises, social workers are on the front lines. This edition therefore aims to reaffirm their crucial role in public policies for truly sustainable social transformation. "Social work is now essential to stabilizing our communities and supporting populations in a context of profound transformation," emphasized Dr. Samba Cor Sarr, Chief of Staff at the Ministry of Health and Social Hygiene, who was present at the meeting.

A space for discussion to find concrete solutions

For three days, delegations from Morocco, Gambia, DRC, Cameroon, Ghana, Guinea Bissau and many other countries will analyze what works on the ground, identify obstacles encountered, propose joint action strategies and prepare a unified African position for the 2026 world conference in Kenya.

"This meeting is not just a showcase of good practices. It is a space where we expose our constraints, those that stifle our daily work," recalled Abib Ndiaye, president of the Senegalese federation of social workers.