IFSW Social Work at the United Nations Initiative

RHEINFELDEN, Switzerland (December 10, 2021) — The International Federation of Social Workers announces the establishment of the IFSW Social Work at the United Nations Initiative at Monmouth University in the School of Social Work. The establishment of the IFSW SW at the UN Initiative fulfills a need to combine international social work experience, networks, and key contacts with the global strategies of the United Nations (UN). This vision has been jointly articulated by Paul Ladd, director of the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development: “Social workers are the frontline community workers on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, active in all regions of the world, expanding opportunities and ensuring that no one is left behind. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development will simply not be met without their commitment and support.”

Since the formation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a number of UN agencies are increasingly interested in success models that have been initiated and supported by social work. At the present time, there is no dedicated center that can provide advice and link together the UN or social work bodies that maximizes the opportunities to fulfill the aspirations and objectives of the SDGs. This Initiative will offer a key and high-profile role leading the necessary and essential relationships to achieving the SDGs. An approach of building partnerships between social workers, allied disciplines, and local communities where there is a development focus, alongside the UN has been evidenced as a key requirement for sustainable development.

The International Federation of Social Workers is a membership organization of social work organizations in 143 countries from every continent of the globe, representing more than 3 million professional social workers. IFSW has had membership as a non-governmental organization with the UN since 1959 and has been granted Special Consultative Status by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the UN and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

 “A number of our faculty have been active representatives of the IFSW UN Team in New York for over 20 years,” said Robin Mama, dean of the School of Social Work at Monmouth University. “Our expertise working with the United Nations made the Monmouth University School of Social Work the ideal setting for this innovative center.” 

For more information on the IFSW SW at the UN Initiative, please contact Dean Robin Mama, at rmama@monmouth.edu

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Advisory Committee

• Rory Truell, D.H.Sc., Secretary General, IFSW – Co-Director of the Initiative
• Robin Mama, Ph.D., Professor and Dean, Monmouth University – Co-Director of the Initiative
• Aniruddha Kulkarni, Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF
• Hugh Salmon, Director – Global Social Service Workforce Alliance
• Priska Fleischlin, IFSW Global Commissioner for the United Nations
• Vasilios Ioakimidis, IFSW Global Education Commissioner
• Angelo McClain, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer – National Association of Social Workers
• Randall Abate, J.D., Rechnitz Family Endowed Chair in Marine and Environmental Law and Policy, Monmouth University
• Tony Macdonald, J.D., Director – Urban Coast Institute, Monmouth University