Golam Mathbor, Ph.D., interim dean and professor in the School of Social Work, presented at the Joint World Conference on Social Work, Education, and Social Development in Nairobi, Kenya.
Mathbor delivered a presentation, “Community Participation and Inclusive Governance: Fostering Sustainable Communities Through Civic Engagement,” as part of the keynote session “Social Movements, Political Social Work, and Building Democratic Societies.”
During his speech, Mathbor explored the role of community participation in creating more inclusive and sustainable societies. He also discussed the mechanisms of civic engagement and outlined a framework that begins with meaningful public participation and equitable governance, progressing toward sustainability and ultimately fostering adaptive, resilient communities.
The conference centered on the theme, “Harambee for Our Sustainable Futures Conference,” emphasizing unity, collaboration, and shared responsibility in addressing global challenges and advancing social justice, and brought together social work educators, practitioners, researchers, and policymakers from around the world to exchange ideas and collaborate on strategies for advancing social development and social justice.
The event was organized by the International Association of Schools of Social Work, the International Council on Social Welfare, and the International Federation of Social Workers, in collaboration with the Global Agenda Taskforce and the local organizing committee.