IFSW POLICY PAPER
Social Work and the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs)
1. Concern
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) wereestablished in 2015. With the 17 goals, the mainareas for progress were identified to achievetransformational change in our world. As withthe Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), theSDGs have proven difficult to implement andgain traction. Poverty, and all the otherinterrelated SDGs have made little progress. The
situation has worsened and some member states
have struggled even more during the current
COVID 19 pandemic.
The concern from the Social Work profession is that the agenda of the SDGs may get overridden in theaftermath of the pandemic, and the predicted global economic turmoil, that will significantly impact global
governance in the next 5-10 years. Unfortunately, we have to expect a devastating negative impact on
people and communities with whom we work together, and the gap between the very rich and the majority
already living in poverty will widen and deepen the existing inequality gap in societies, locally as well asglobally. Additionally, the unfair paradox is that those who often suffer the most from global failures, maldevelopment and negative effects are the ones who usually contribute the least to these societal andecological ills, and this is known as environmental injustice. This is de-stabilising for individuals and theircommunities. Such global challenges underline the need for global transformation.
This paper affirms toa) articulate the support of the UN SDGs by the IFSWb) enunciate the social work professional contribution to the UN SDGs

2. Background
Why Social Work supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The UN Agenda 2030 is a milestone agreement – never before in history has a total of 193 nations establishedand agreed upon ONE common agenda. The SDGs consist of three thematic pillars - social, economic andecological challenges, defining 17 goals and 169 indicators to address change. All goals and indicators are ofequal rank and interrelated, but their relevance for action varies by country and between geographic regions.
The interrelation means that in every change or development, the social, economic and ecologicalachievements shall be included equally, for instance: no economic goals without social and ecological impact
in equal size.
IFSW Policy Paper: Social Work and the UN Sustainable Development Goals

1

Moreover, the SDGs are now part of the global language among governments, multilateral organizations,non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the business sector. Social Workers around the world are
already taking an active part, working with their communities to achieve transformational change, as
published by IFSW in the Global Agenda Reports, further Social Workers publications and demonstrated inmany contributions during World Social Work Days. The concern is that with recovery from COVID 19, someof this positive progress may get lost in the crises that might follow in the projected global economictsunami.
The SDG goals are ambitious. The Global Civic Society spotlight report of 2019 demonstrated that, despite
the great hopes for the UN SDGs’ transformational power, five years after the adoption most countries are
off-track with the achievement of their set goals. Governments struggle with their attempts towards the UNSDGs transformational vision1.
Similar negative results have been reported by the UN’s own research group in 2019. After having
recognized that insufficient action has been taken and many countries are not working towards achieving
the UN SDGs, the UN changed its language and called for action on EVERY level: more people need tobecome active and measures need to be coordinated. The Expert Group Meeting on UN SDGs summarized
the lessons learned from the first four years of the UN Agenda 2030, that the:“[…] whole-of-society approach is important here, not just to reach those populations, but toempower them and give them access not just to basic services, but also to give them opportunities.
Besides that, there is still a high need for awareness raising, among not only societies but also
governments.”2
In his call to action, the Secretary-General of the UN calls on everyone across professions, societal levels,regions and nations, to work towards the creation of innovative solutions and strong policies to fulfil thegoals3.
IFSW knows that the social work profession can and shall be a strong and recognised partner. However,structural change is necessary on the themes of all 17 Goals that are mentioned. Housing, ecology and social
protection are only a few themes mentioned, but there are many more.
IFSW affirms and supports the UN’s Social Development Goals, recognizing their momentum and theopportunities they create to foster social, economic and ecological transformational change globally.

How Social Workers Contribute to the UN SDGs
Social Work Definition of SDGs
To ensure an effective use of the instrument the UN SDGs provide to social work and vice versa, it isimportant to clarify social work’s very own definition and understanding of the terms sustainability,
development and goals, particularly because social work is giving this mandate to itself.
Sustainability Social workers understand sustainability as patterns and policies that establish long-termsolutions for the wellbeing of the entire ecosystem, including humans and nature, for current and future
1

Global Civil Society Report on the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs (2019). Spotlight report 2019.
United Nations (2019). The future is now.
3
United Nations (2020). Ten years to transform our world.
2

IFSW Policy Paper: Social Work and the UN Sustainable Development Goals

2

generations. Sustainability includes ways we can reduce aspects of our ‘ecological footprint’ or consumption
patterns to decrease the harm and injustices from occurring in the first place. An ecological footprint is an
estimate of the burden we place on our world as we consume energy, food, land, and water. 4
Climate change represents an essential global subject. Climate change has now become a climate crisis andis close to a tipping point where unprecedented natural catastrophes must be expected. It is clear that theplanet has undergone water, land, and air contamination from travel, industrial pollution, toxic agricultural
practices, soil erosion, desertification and destruction of the natural environment generally. Therefore, tohave a healthy circle, that people give back to nature as much as they take, that should be the goal to reach.
In its policy paper on Globalization and the Environment, IFSW calls“[…] to develop environmental responsibility and care for the environment in social work practice andmanagement today and for future generations, to work with other professionals to increase our knowledge
and with community groups to develop advocacy skills and strategies to work towards a healthierenvironment and to ensure that environmental issues gain increased presence in social work education.” 5Development. The best for people (the whole society), peace and planet must be the focus of all activities.
Profit of a minor amount of people on the shoulder of the majority of people, is a negative sign of economiconly driven development. For social workers, ‘development’ is not understood in an economic sense, norshould it define an ‘underdeveloped’ group or society that ought to normatively reach the level of any other‘developed’ group or society. Development is a dynamic all-inclusive process of change, within a person,groups or society pursuing/seeking wellbeing for both people and planet. Social Workers consider various
theories, such as the capability approach6, taking into account historical, cultural, and environmental
underpinnings of societies, therefore social worker’s actions are driven by principles of social justice, humanrights and holistic and sustainable development to reach freedom and wellbeing7. The words ‘development’and ‘transformation’ are closely linked; while development is process-oriented, the aim of transformation isa complete change to an unprecedented situation/circumstance. Both need a vision, and both – in order tobe sustainable and the best possible positive outcome for all – a holistic society approach, wherecommunities are involved in ALL steps of creation, planning, acting and evaluation.
Goals. Social workers have and create their very own goals according to the IFSW’s Social Work Global
Agenda. The Global Definition of Social Work, the Statement of Ethics and the Policy Papers all express ourunderstanding of the needs and purpose of social work action. Our social work approach mainly createsgoals in a participatory manner from the bottom-up (community and people-driven) including theknowledge and needs from people (leave no one behind).

Partnership – a basic principle in social work
For social workers, to partner means sharing knowledge and insights and collaboratively and coherently
creating and establishing solutions.

4

See the website of IFSW & Workbook series Social Work Promoting Community and Environmental Sustainability andthe IFSW Climate Justice Program. The Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development (2010-2020)
5IFSW (2012). Policy Paper on Globalization and the Environment.
6OPHI. (2021). Introducing the Capability Approach.
7IFSW (2014). Definition of Social Work.
IFSW Policy Paper: Social Work and the UN Sustainable Development Goals

3

It is in the IFSW’s vision and ethical principles that the social work profession fulfils its obligations in working
strategically with other partners. IFSW members already work jointly with UN agencies and governments,
enabling engagement between communities, the SDGs and other UN agendas. Together with individuals,
groups and the civil society, social workers are building the bridge between theory and practice and between
local and national authorities. Analysing the structural underpinning is necessary, to protect the communities
and to take the unique responsibility for social work to share with various partners.
Bottom-up and top downSocial workers understand that the combination of their bottom-up approach along with the UN SDGs more
top-down approach represents the great potential to bridge the gaps between governmental regulatory
efforts (i.e. policy papers, global agendas) and practice (i.e. daily work with people and civil societies,
operational implementation).
Global policies and agendas also have financial implications – and vice versa. Therefore, the current
inequitable global capitalism has to be transformed to a new sustainable global financial system, that bans
exploitation of both people and planet, that is based on solidarity, fairness, and the betterment of the wholesociety and environment. Social workers will continue to promote social change and social development,
standing against exploitation of people and nature and against unjust structures that allow for wealthconcentration in the hands of the few.
COVID 19 the aftermath of the Pandemic
The world after the COVID 19 pandemic presents itself as vastly different from the world at the time when
the SDG Agenda was set in 2015. The COVID 19 pandemic has now superimposed itself as a driver of theglobal economic future. It has provoked unprecedented social change. At the same time, the issue of Climate
Justice has emerged as another major factor, so that the three pillars are enormously visible and important.
The visibility on the work of the social work profession will rise. This requires that IFSW continues to address
the task ahead and supports these global movements on the previously agreed support of the SDGs.
To sum up, IFSW’s goals should be aligned with the UN SDGs because of their value for a global
transformation to a just and fair world with the vision of ‘leaving no one behind’. The vast potential andglobal accord of the UN SDGs outweighs much of their shortcomings, making them an unprecedented,
agreed instrument for action on every level.

IFSW Policy Paper: Social Work and the UN Sustainable Development Goals

43. IFSW Policy Statement on Incorporating the UN SDGs in Social WorkProgrammes
The momentum towards a successful and sustainable impact targeted at the defined common global goals of‘transforming the world’ and ‘leaving no one behind’ is now. Global and national agendas are important forthe people and communities and their environments we work with. In this sense, the social work profession
is a key partner for the UN SDGs and its ambitions, as it can contribute in relaying and articulating
communities’ grievances and pre-occupations with policy goals.
With a social work lens, we promote people’s rights (bottom-up approach) by providing the communities
with information and education for transparency and participation. We underline everyone’s contribution
and strive to influence decisions at a policy level with regard to infrastructure, systems and services. As
advocates for change, social workers further influence transition, impacting the communities to enabletransformation to a just, fair, solidary and eco-friendly world.
Social workers facilitate and foster partnerships within communities and between various partners, at local,
national and international levels, to translate UN SDGs in various ways (social, economic and ecological) anddesigning together a new knowledge of sustainable solutions for the implementation action.

4. Implications of this Policy Paper
IFSW CALLS TO•ADDRESS opportunities and gaps concerning the implementation of the UN SDGs that socialworkers see locally. Last but not least, the government’s accountability and obligation to theobjectives of the UN SDGs shall be recognized in a balanced manner (the three pillars) in every policy
development, political decision and budget plan.

•RECOGNISE Social workers are agents of change – the UN SDGs offer a unique network to liaise withother professions, partners, social movements and stakeholders to establish and deepen a holisticand interdisciplinary multi sectoral achievement/approach.

•ASSERT the need for climate justice that is affecting the people we work with who, even before theclimate crisis, were already in vulnerable situations. Therefore, social workers and their associations
shall give strong commitments to sustainable and eco-friendly solutions.

•INVITE global, national and local governments to build strong partnerships and to commonly
endorse the realization of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Governments shall recognize
social work as a human rights profession for the achievement of social policies and the UNSustainable Development Goals.

•ADVOCATE for social services and promote a strong and skilled social work profession and nationalsocial work association in order to a be visible to partners and stakeholders.

•INTEGRATE into Social work educations, schools and training the Social Protection Systems, the UNSDGs, as well as the critical guidelines contained in this document into their curriculum.

•SUPPORT its members to contribute to a critical analysis of power relations and to actively
contribute to future agendas and policies.

Policy Paper: Process lead by the UN Commissioner 2019-2021 and approved by the IFSW global board in March 2021.
IFSW Policy Paper: Social Work and the UN Sustainable Development Goals

55. Sources•••••••••••••IFSW (2012). Globalization and the Environment. Found in May 2020 underhttps://www.ifsw.org/globalisation-and-the-environment/
IFSW (2014). Global Definition of Social Work. Found in March 2020 underhttps://www.ifsw.org/what-is-social-work/global-definition-of-social-work/
IFSW (2016). The role of social work in social protection systems. The Universal right to social
protection. Policy paper. Found in Jan 2020 under: https://www.ifsw.org/the-role-of-social-work-insocial-protection-systems-the-universal-right-to-social-protection/
IFSW (2018). Social Work Statement of ethical principles. Found in Jan. 2020 underhttps://www.ifsw.org/global-social-work-statement-of-ethical-principles/
OPHI (2021). Introduction to the Capability Approach. Found in Jan. 2021 underhttps://ophi.org.uk/introduction-to-the-capability-approach-2/Powers, Meredith et al. (2020). ‘De-growth for transformational alternatives as radical social workpractice’. In Critical and Radical Social Work, Vol 7, No 3, (pp. 417-433). Policy Press. Found under:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/336766528_Degrowth_for_transformational_alternatives_as_radical_social_work_practice
Reflecting group on the 2030 Agenda (2019). Spotlight Report 2019. Found in February 2020 under:
https://www.2030spotlight.org/en/book/1730/chapter/1-increasing-concentration-wealth-andeconomic-power-obstacle-sustainable#footnote10_utsqgho
Sustainable Development. (2019). Knowledge Platform. Found in February 2020 under:
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs
The Partnering Initiative and United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (2019).
Maximising the impact of partnership for the SDGs. Found in February 2020 under:
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/2564Partnerships_for_the_SDGs_Maxi
mising_Value_Guidebook_Final.pdf
UNDP (2018). What does it mean to leave no one behind? Found in February 2020 underhttps://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/librarypage/poverty-reduction/what-does-it-mean-toleave-no-one-behind-.html
United Nations (2019). The future is now. Found in February 2020 under:
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/24797GSDR_report_2019.pdf
United Nations (2020). Ten years to transform our world. Found in February 2020 under:
https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/decade-of-action/
United Nations Development Programme and Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative(2019). Global Multidimensional Poverty Index 2019. https://ophi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/GMPI_Report_2019_pdf

6. Review
According to the IFSW policy paper on policy statements, reviews of such papers shall take place no later
than six years after their adoption. For the policy paper at hand, the review will be due in the year 2027.

IFSW Policy Paper: Social Work and the UN Sustainable Development Goals

6