Developmental social work in South Africa and Kenya : some lessons for Africa

Abstract

Africa’s governments have made a commitment to both the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Social development has created a platform from which developmental social work could make a contribution to achieving the MDGs. An analysis of developmental social work in South Africa and Kenya reveals that developmental social work could position itself as a major partner in social development, but, to be recognised for its contribution, developmental social work needs to address a number of challenges and have a clear political mandate. Lessons are drawn from the South African and Kenyan experiences to strengthen social work on the continent.