August, 2026

ICSD Institutional Member makes submission to NGO Committee for Social Development for Water Inquiry Project

August 28, 2026

The Centre for Social Development in Africa (CSDA) at the University of Johannesburg, an ICSD Institutional Member, recently submitted a project titled “Beyond Access: Exploring Governance, Inequality, and Emotional Dimensions of Water Insecurity in South Africa” to the NGO Committee for Social Development, as part of a Water Inquiry Project the Committee is running.

Beyond Access contributes directly to global discussions on Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), particularly around equitable access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and inclusive water governance. The South component of the project was conducted within the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province, the project examines the lived experiences of water insecurity in historically marginalised communities, including Motherwell, Zwide, Bethelsdorp, and Uitenhage.

The study was funded under the Canadian The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and moves beyond conventional infrastructure-focused understandings of water access to explore the emotional, social, political, and governance dimensions of water insecurity. Drawing on qualitative and participatory research methods, the project documents how poor governance, historical inequalities, socio-economic vulnerability, and inadequate service delivery continue to shape everyday experiences of water scarcity.

Importantly, the project also highlights community resilience, activism, and grassroots mobilisation in response to ongoing water challenges. Residents described not only the material effects of water insecurity, but also the stress, anxiety, frustration, and social exclusion associated with unreliable and inadequate water access. These findings demonstrate that water insecurity is not simply a technical or infrastructural issue, but also a deeply social and human challenge linked to dignity, citizenship, and justice.

The CSDA welcomes the opportunity to contribute grassroots perspectives and community voices from South Africa to international policy discussions at the 2026 High-Level Political Forum and the 2026 UN Water Conference. We believe the experiences documented through this project offer important insights into the broader challenges of achieving water justice, inclusive development, and sustainable futures globally.

ICSD Africa Branch Colloquium explores African solutions to the Doha Declaration

August 4, 2026

The ICSD Africa Branch hosted its Third Branch Colloquium in Nairobi, Kenya, from 24–25 June 2026. Held as a pre-conference event to the Joint Social Work and Social Development Conference, the gathering brought together scholars from across disciplines under the theme “African Solutions to the Doha Declaration.”

The 1.5-day programme explored how African knowledge, values and experience can inform efforts to advance decent work, eradicate poverty and promote social cohesion. Presentations and breakaway discussions also created opportunities for new research, teaching and institutional collaborations.

A key highlight was Professor Wassie Kebede’s keynote address, Grounding the Implementation of the Doha Declaration on Social Development in Ubuntu Philosophy, Principles and Practices. He highlighted how the Ubuntu values of solidarity, dignity, compassion and collective responsibility offer a distinctly African framework for advancing the Declaration’s social development priorities.

The colloquium also featured an engagement led by Professors Alice Butterfield and Philip Hong on increasing the publication of African scholarship in the ICSD’s Social Development Issues. A new mentorship programme, led by Professors Butterfield and Kebede, will support emerging scholars to strengthen their work and improve their prospects of publication in the journal.

The Africa Branch extends its gratitude to Dr Peter Gutwa Oino and colleagues at Kisii University for hosting the colloquium. Following the event, Professors Kebede and Butterfield visited the university to explore opportunities to strengthen postgraduate social work and social development programmes. Kisii University has also expressed interest in becoming an institutional member of ICSD.

“The colloquium was wonderful opportunity to strengthen the ICSD’s connections in Eastern Africa and I believe that it has laid the groundwork for valuable future partnerships and collaboration,” Prof Lauren Graham, Africa Branch Chair explained.