The ICSD Africa Branch is pleased to announce the Third ICSD Africa Branch Colloquium, to be held on 24–25 June 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya, as a pre-conference event of the 2026 Joint World Conference on Social Work and Social Development (SWSD 2026), themed “Harambee for Sustainable Shared Futures.”

Convened in the wake of the Second World Summit for Social Development (Doha, November 2025), this colloquium provides a critical African platform to examine how the commitments of the Doha Political Declaration can be realized within diverse African contexts through locally grounded, evidence-based, and socially just approaches. The colloquium is organized under the theme:
“African Solutions to Achieving the Vision of the Doha Political Declaration.”

Recognizing that sustainable solutions to Africa’s complex development challenges must emerge from within the continent, this event seeks to bring together scholars, practitioners, policymakers, and civil society actors to critically engage with these challenges and advance contextually relevant and transformative social development innovations.

Call for Abstracts

We invite abstracts for papers that provide empirical insight into African social development innovations engaging with the Doha Declaration, particularly in relation to the following priority areas: (1) eradicating poverty; (2) promoting full and productive employment and decent work for all; (3) advancing social integration; and (4) addressing social development skills and human capital loss in Africa.

Submissions should emphasize rigorous empirical research rather than descriptive accounts of programs. Abstracts must clearly articulate the novelty and significance of the innovation, outline the research design and methodology, present empirical findings and observed impacts, and discuss implications for social development theory, policy, and practice within African contexts.

Submission Guidelines

Abstracts should be 250–300 words and include author(s) names, institutional affiliations, and contact information.
Submission link: CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR ABSTRACT

Important Dates

• 10 April 2026 – Abstract submission deadline
• 20 April 2026 – Notification of acceptance
• 24–25 June 2026 – Colloquium dates

Participation will be limited to 70 participants, with confirmation on a first-come, first-served basis upon acceptance. A registration fee of USD $50 applies. Further details regarding registration and payment will be shared with accepted participants.

We warmly encourage ICSD members and affiliated scholars to contribute to this important forum and to engage in advancing evidence-based, contextually grounded, and socially just solutions for social development across Africa.