Event - ICSD

Call for abstracts opens for ICSD European Branch conference in Assisi

October 28, 2026

The ICSD European Branch has opened its call for abstracts for its next conference, taking place in Assisi, Italy, from 4–7 June 2027 under the working theme “Building the Peace”.

Against a global backdrop of war, military escalation and growing insecurity, the conference will explore the relationship between peace and social development. It will bring together perspectives from across disciplines to consider how peace can be built and sustained through research, policy and practice.

Submissions are invited around three key questions:

What do we mean by peace? Exploring peace beyond the absence of war, including its connections to wellbeing, social justice, human rights and social development.
How can social development contribute to peace? Examining the role of solidarity, social welfare, shared values and responses to challenges such as displacement, conflict and environmental pressures.
How can social policy and practice change to promote peace? Identifying practical innovations, institutional reforms and actions that support peaceful societies.

The call welcomes contributions from social development scholars, social workers, other social scientists, philosophers, humanists, religious thinkers, artists, activists, practitioners and policymakers.

Find out more and submit an abstract on the conference website.

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.

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

INVITATION TO ATTEND | Third ICSD Africa Branch Colloquium | Nairobi, Kenya| 24 – 25 June 2026

May 14, 2026

African Solutions to Achieving the Vision of the Doha Political Declaration

The colloquium is organised as a pre-conference event of the 2026 Joint World Conference on Social Work and Social Development, themed “Harambee for Sustainable Shared Futures.”

The International Consortium for Social Development (ICSD) Africa Branch is pleased to invite you to attend the Third ICSD Africa Branch Colloquium, taking place from 24–25 June 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya.

The colloquium is convened in the wake of the Second World Summit for Social Development held in Doha, Qatar, in November 2025. It provides a critical African platform for examining how the summit commitments can be realised across diverse African contexts through locally grounded, evidence-based, and socially just approaches.

Held under the theme, “African Solutions to Achieving the Vision of the Doha Political Declaration,” the colloquium will bring together scholars, practitioners, policymakers, students, and civil society actors from across the continent to critically engage with Africa’s development challenges and advance contextually grounded social development solutions.

The programme will focus on key social development priorities, including:

Eradicating poverty
Promoting full and productive employment and decent work for all
Advancing social integration
Addressing the social development skills and human capital loss in Africa

KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Professor Wassie Kebede, Professor of Social Work at the School of Social Work, Addis Ababa University. Prof Kebede is the first social work scholar in Ethiopia to attain this position.

Date: 24 – 25 June 2026
Venue: Sarova Stanley Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya
Cost: $50 (details regarding payment will be provided once registered)
Registration link: https://form.jotform.com/261133641543551

Please note that participation is limited to 70 attendees, and registration will be confirmed on a first come, first served basis.

We look forward to welcoming you to Nairobi for what promises to be an engaging and impactful colloquium.

For further information, kindly contact Dr Khanya Ndhlovu at kndhlovu@uj.ac.za

REGISTER HERE!

Advancing Social Development at CSocD64: Civil Society Engagement at the United Nations

February 5, 2026

The 64th session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD64) is currently taking place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, bringing together Member States, UN agencies, and civil society organizations to strengthen global action on poverty eradication, social inclusion, and sustainable social development. This year’s session continues to emphasize the central role of inclusive policies and partnerships in advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

As part of CSocD64, the NGO Commission for Social Development is convening its Civil Society Forum, providing a vital platform for dialogue between civil society actors and global decision-makers. The Forum will feature a panel of distinguished speakers and will be moderated by Li Zou, (Member, International Consortium for Social Development; International Director at the Center for Social Development, Washington University), facilitating discussion on key social development priorities and the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030.

We encourage our members, partners, practitioners, and scholars to join this important session and engage in collective efforts to ensure that social development policies leave no one behind.

Civil Society Forum – Session Details
Date: Friday, February 6, 2026
Time: 10:00–10:30 AM (EST)
Live Stream: UN Web TV
Link: https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1b/k1b394qy2d

Civil society participation remains essential to advancing inclusive, equitable, and sustainable development outcomes worldwide. We look forward to your engagement in this timely global conversation.

ICSD Delegates to Participate in the 64th UN Commission for Social Development

January 22, 2026

Delegates from the International Consortium for Social Development (ICSD) will be participating in the 64th session of the United Nations Commission for Social Development, which will be held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from February 2 to February 10, 2026.

The Commission for Social Development is a key global forum focused on social policy and development issues. This year’s session will emphasize advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Doha Political Declaration, both of which guide international efforts to promote social inclusion, equity, and sustainable development.

Through their participation, ICSD delegates aim to contribute to global discussions, share knowledge, and engage with international partners working toward inclusive and sustainable social development worldwide.

You can find details of the event here.

Updated flyer and event details (Jan 29, 2026)