GLOBAL COOPERATION NEWSLETTER
February 2010
In this edition
2010 Joint World Conference on Social Work and Social Development The Agenda
UN Commission for Social Development Meets in New York
China Association of Social Welfare Launched
4th ASEAN GO-NGO Forum
Donors’ mixed aid performance for 2010 sparks concern
New Book on regional social policy and global governanceWorld Bank Social Development Notes
Finland National Institute for Health and Welfare
2010 Joint World Conference on Social Work and Social Development The
Following last month’s news that Hong Kong received nearly 2000 abstracts; theAgenda

organisers have extended the early bird registration to 1st April. This enables those who have just
had their abstracts accepted to take advantage of the cheaper registration rate. Notices are goingout right now from Hong Kong advising of abstract acceptances.
The conference will be held from 10th to 14th June 2010. Visit the website to see what you will be
missing if you do not register and attend www.swsd2010.org

UN Commission for Social Development Meets in New YorkThe Commission for Social Development
passed a resolution on promoting social
integration in order to eradicate poverty,
promote full and productive employment
and achieve stable, safe, peacefulharmonious and just societies for all.
These goals were set forth in theCopenhagen Declaration on Social
Development and its Programme ofAction. The Commission also approved
texts relating to the rights of people withdisabilities and older people.

The resolution on social integration urges governments to develop and broaden social protection
systems, including coverage for workers in the informal economy, focus on the needs of the poorand people at risk of falling into poverty. The resolution gives particular attention to universal accessto basic social security.
ICSW particularly welcomes the focus on social protection. In the ICSW statement to theCommission, ICSW states: What is really needed is the development of comprehensive social
protection systems that can be established before another crisis hits. ICSW supports the ILO/WHO
led social protection floor initiative that has two elements. First ensuring the availability, continuity
and geographical and financial access to essential services such as water and sanitation, food andadequate nutrition, health, education, housing and other social services such life and asset saving
information. Second, realising access by ensuring a basic set of essential social transfers, in cash
and in kind to provide a minimum income and livelihood security for poor and vulnerable populations
and to facilitate access to essential services . The ICSW submission can be found in UN languages at
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/csd/2010_ngostats.html or http://www.icsw.org/un/un.htm
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From left Yao Ngoran Chief NGO Unit UN Dept Economic & Social Affairs, Christian Rollet (hidden) Charles Abbey
The Commission resolution expressed deep concern over the negative implications for social
development caused by the world financial, economic, food, energy and climate change crises, thelack of results in multilateral trade negotiations and the loss of confidence in the international
economic system. Recognising the need for policies to promote social justice, social cohesion,
economic recovery and growth, and environmental sustainability and the inadequate implementation
nationally and internationally of the broad social development agenda, the Council would call forfurther attention to employment and social integration issues.
Hoi Wai Chua (second from right)
representing ICSW member the HongCouncil of Social Service and host of
this year’s conference was a memberof the High level panel discussion tocommemorate the 15th anniversaryof the World Summit for SocialDevelopment. Charles Abbey Vice
President of ICSW spoke during thepanel discussion on behalf of ICSW.
In part he said, there is a new waveof governments and civil society whowish to reclaim the spirit of theCopenhagen agenda.

The comprehensive vision of social development agreed upon at the World Summit provides an
excellent and durable base to shape the agendas of national governments and internationalorganisations. On this occasion of the 15th Anniversary let us join together to recommit ourgovernments and civil society to the Commitments and Programme of Action of the Copenhagen
Summit.
The priority theme for the Commission’s 2011-2012 review and policy cycle is poverty eradication,
taking into account its relationship to social integration and full employment and decent work for all.
Thanks to the UN Division for Social Policy and Development for the use of their photos.

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The China Association of Social Welfare
was launched in Beijing on the 22ndJanuary. 300 delegates from all over
China attended the opening ceremony inthe People’s Congress Hall. The launch
was honoured by the presence of many
dignitaries including Mr. Chen Changzhi
Vice Chairman of the National People’sCongress. Prior to the official ceremony
delegates elected Mr. Liu Guanghe first
Chairman of the Association.
ICSW Executive Director Denys Correll
was invited to be present and speak atthe launch. Mr. Correll congratulated theChina Association of Social Welfare on its
impressive beginnings.
In his remarks Mr. Correll recognised the Mission of the Association to look to the future of social
welfare in China by bringing together the thousands of organisations that are providing services todisadvantaged people in the community. He noted that creating links between social welfare theory
and practice will aid the work of practitioners in welfare delivery. ICSW welcomes the Association’s
international commitment through the exchange and cooperation with international social welfareorganisations. The establishment of accreditation of social welfare services to ensure that wherevera person is located in China they can expect the same standard of service.
During his visit to China Mr. Correll had the opportunity of many discussions on social welfare issues
with his host Ms. Feng Xiaoli who is a Vice Chairman and Secretary General of the Association.

4th ASEAN GO-NGO ForumThe 4th ASEAN GO-NGO Forum for Social
Welfare and Development was held inSingapore in January 2010. It wasorganised by the ASEAN Secretariat andthe Singapore Ministry of Community
Development, Youth and Sports.
ICSW
enabledacomprehensive
attendance by civil society leaders fromBrunei Darussalam, Cambodia,Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar,Singapore, Philippines, Thailand and VietNam.
This was the first Forum at which NGOs from all ten countries were attended. ICSW presented theresults of its research and with its members negotiated recommendations to go to governments.
Prior to the formal meeting with government officials ICSW conducted a meeting for participating
NGOs and gathered views on key issues to be considered by the Forum.
Two ICSW research papers were submitted to the Forum – The Global Financial Crisis and its Social
Impact in the Countries in ASEAN and Closing the gap: Making the Rights-Based Approach Real for
Peope with Disabilities (PWDs) in the ASEAN Region, December 2009 are on the ICSW website
http://www.icsw.org/region/seap.htm

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Donors’ mixed aid performance for 2010 sparks concern

http://www.oecd.org/document/20/0,3343,en_2649_34447_44617556_1_1_1_37413,00.html
The OECD reports that aid to developing countries in 2010 will reach record levels in dollar terms
after increasing by 35 per cent since 2004. It will still be less than the world’s major aid donors
promised five years ago at the Gleneagles and Millennium + 5 summits. Though a majority ofcountries will meet their commitments, the underperformance of several large donors means there
will be a significant shortfall.
Africa, in particular, is likely to get only about USD12 billion of the USD25 billion increase envisaged
at Gleneagles, due in large part to the underperformance of some European donors who give large
shares of official development assistance (ODA) to Africa.
In 2005, the 15 countries that are members both of theEuropean Union and of the OECD Development
Assistance Committee (DAC) committed to reach aminimum ODA country target in 2010 of 0.51% of their
Gross National Income. Some will surpass that goal:
Sweden, with the world’s highest ODA as a percentage of
its GNI at 1.03% is followed by Luxembourg (1%),
Denmark (0.83%) and the Netherlands (0.8%).
Belgium comes in at (0.7%), the United Kingdom (0.56%), Finland (0.55%), Ireland (0.52%) andSpain (0.51%). (See table: all figures are in 2004 dollars and relate to net ODA).
Others will fall short: France (0.46%), Germany (0.40%), Austria (0.37%), Portugal (0.34%),
Greece (0.21%), and Italy (0.20%).
Aid has increased strongly as 16 donors have honoured their commitments. But underperformanceby the others, notably Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, and Portugal, means overall
aid will still fall considerably short of what was promised. These commitments were made andconfirmed repeatedly by heads of governments and it is essential that they be met to the fullextent.”

New Book on regional social policy and global governance

B. Deacon, L. van Langenhove, M. Macovei and N. Yeates (eds.) World-regional social policy andglobal governance: new research and policy agendas in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America
London: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-45659-3, 244 pages
This volume explores the case for and the prospects of the development of world-regional social
policies as integral elements of a pluralistic, equitable and effective system of global governance.
Further details about the book can be found by following this link:
http://www.routledgepolitics.com/books/World-Regional-Social-Policy-and-Global-Governanceisbn9780415456593

Finland National Institute for Health and Welfare

http://www.thl.fi/en_US/web/en
The National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) is a world renowned research and development
institute under the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. THL has an International Affairs Unit
http://idc.stakes.fi/EN/index.htm which specialises in health and social sector development. It
comprises three specialised teams: International collaboration and project development, theInternational Association of National Public Health Institutes (IANPHI) and International Coordination. Recent publications include two new books on social work in Russian.
The content of this Global Newsletter may be freely reproduced or cited provided the source is acknowledged.
Views do not necessarily represent policies of ICSW. Newsletter Editor: Denys Correll – Executive Director.
ICSW C/- MOVISIE Netherlands Centre for Social Development
PO Box 19129
3501 DC Utrecht
Netherlands
Website www.icsw.org Email: icsw@icsw.org
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