July, 2026 - ICSD

ICSD appoints new representatives to strengthen its engagement with the United Nations

July 27, 2026

Following the granting of United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) consultative status in August 2025, the ICSD has appointed seven representatives along with the ICSD’s President to direct, coordinate and strengthen its participation in United Nations social development processes.

Professor Manohar Pawar has been appointed as the ICSD’s Focal Point Representative. A former President of the ICSD and Professor of Social Work at Charles Sturt University in Australia, he will provide leadership and help coordinate the organisation’s participation in UN processes.

Li Zou will represent the ICSD on the NGO Committee for Social Development. She is Director of International Programs at the Center for Social Development at Washington University in St. Louis (an ICSD Institutional Member) and has been actively involved in the Committee since February 2025. She currently co-chairs its Education Subcommittee and serves as a member-at-large on its Board.

The regional representatives are:

Dr Raj Yadav, Senior Lecturer at the Queensland University of Technology in Australia (Asia Pacific)
Dr Hans Kolstad, a philosopher and long-standing member of the ICSD European Branch, based in Denmark and Norway (Europe)
Professor Jo Ann Regan, Dean of the National Catholic School of Social Service at the Catholic University of America (Americas)
Dr Mashidiso Sello, Senior Researcher at the Centre for Social Development in Africa at the University of Johannesburg (Africa)

Together, the representatives will form the ICSD–UN Engagement Subcommittee. The team will coordinate the implementation of the strategy, monitor relevant UN developments, build partnerships and coalitions, facilitate regional and member participation, report on progress, and communicate opportunities and activities to the ICSD’s members and branches.

ICSD President, Leila Patel said: “Congratulations to our new representatives. This marks a new phase in the ICSD’s engagement in global social development processes”.

A key priority for the sub-committee will be expanding opportunities for ICSD members to participate in UN processes through written and oral statements, side events, collaborative research, regional initiatives and communication platforms. The ICSD will also work with like-minded organisations to strengthen its visibility, influence and evidence-based advocacy.

The appointments form part of the ICSD’s guidelines for UN engagement over the next three years. The strategy provides a structured and practical framework for contributing to global social policy dialogue, particularly through the UN Commission for Social Development (CSocD) and the NGO Committee for Social Development (NGO CSocD).

The sub-committee will also focus on actionable solutions to implement the Doha Political Declaration adopted at the Second World Summit for Social Development and advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This work aligns closely with the ICSD’s mission to eradicate poverty, promote social equality and social integration, and advance ecological sustainability.

21st Annual Helen Joseph Memorial Lecture: Advancing the Global Care Agenda

July 23, 2026

The International Consortium for Social Development (ICSD) warmly invites members, partners and the broader social development community to attend the 21st Annual Helen Joseph Memorial Lecture, hosted by ICSD Institutional Member, the Centre for Social Development in Africa (CSDA), University of Johannesburg.

This year’s lecture comes at a pivotal moment for the global social development community. Following the Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD2), governments reaffirmed their commitment to building more inclusive societies by recognising the central role of care, gender equality and women’s empowerment in achieving sustainable development. As countries work to translate these commitments into action, the lecture provides an important opportunity to reflect on the policies, social movements and partnerships needed to advance a more equitable social and care economy.

The prestigious lecture will be delivered by Professor Leila Patel, founding Director of the CSDA and President of the International Consortium for Social Development. An internationally recognised scholar in social development, Professor Patel has played a leading role in shaping social policy and developmental welfare in South Africa and globally.

In her lecture, “South African Women’s Movements and the Care Agenda: Achievements, Broken Promises, and the Road to Transformative Gender and Equitable Care Policies”, Professor Patel traces the history of women’s struggles in South Africa and examines how these movements have influenced the country’s gender and care policies. She reflects on the progress that has been made, the promises that remain unfulfilled, and the opportunities for advancing more integrated, equitable and transformative care policies.

The lecture will offer valuable insights for researchers, practitioners, policymakers, civil society organisations and students interested in social development, gender equality, social protection and care policy in African and around the world.

Event Details – POSTPONED DUE TO BAD WEATHER

Date: TBC
Time: TBC
Format: Livestream via YouTube or in-person
Venue: TBC

RSVP: https://forms.office.com/r/tBpnxQkTFg

We encourage all ICSD members and colleagues committed to advancing social justice, gender equality and the global care agenda to join this important conversation.

Now Available: Social Development Issues (SDI) Volume 47 (3)

July 13, 2026

The International Consortium for Social Development (ICSD) is pleased to announce the publication of Volume 47 (3) of Social Development Issues (SDI), the Consortium’s international peer-reviewed journal.

Published three times each year, Social Development Issues provides a global platform for high-quality scholarship that advances understanding of the social, economic, political and cultural dimensions of social development. The journal brings together researchers, practitioners and policymakers from diverse disciplines and regions to share evidence, innovative ideas and practical insights that contribute to more just, inclusive and sustainable societies.

The latest issue continues this tradition, featuring a collection of articles that reflect the breadth and diversity of contemporary social development research. Readers will find new perspectives that contribute to ongoing international dialogue and support evidence-informed policy and practice.

ICSD encourages members, scholars, practitioners and students to explore the latest issue, share articles with colleagues and incorporate relevant research into teaching, practice and future scholarship.

As ICSD continues to strengthen access to its publications and expand opportunities for scholarly engagement, Social Development Issues remains a cornerstone of the Consortium’s commitment to advancing knowledge for social development worldwide. Recent developments have also expanded opportunities for contributors through new publication categories and continued growth of the journal’s open-access offerings.

Read Volume 47 (3) here:
https://www.socialdevelopment.net/sdi-articles-access/

What if we designed our cities around people rather than cars? Around care rather than commerce?

July 6, 2026

This is the question that Make Mothers Matter will be bringing to this year’s High Level Political Forum in New York.

Every day, parents – and especially mothers – navigate cities while caring for children, older relatives, family members with disabilities and their communities. Yet the realities of caregiving are too often overlooked in the way our cities are planned and governed.

As many parts of the world experience record heatwaves and other climate-related challenges, the need for cities that prioritise people, care and resilience has never been more urgent.

Why should you participate?
Because this conversation is about much more than cities. It’s about how we recognise and value care, support families, advance gender equality, and build healthier, more resilient communities.

Together with a panel of international experts and civil society representatives, Make Mothers Matter will explore practical examples of how local governments can put care at the heart of policymaking and accelerate progress towards the 2030 Agenda.

Wednesday 8 July 2026
8:30–9:45 am (New York) | 2:30–3:45 pm (Paris)
Online (Zoom)
Open to all – In English with French and Spanish interpretation
Information (background information, list of speakers and more) is available here
Register directly here