Africa has a long experience with reducing poverty and vulnerability. In the contemporary period, social development and social work are at the forefront of dealing with abject poverty and some of the world’s most difficult problems. This book highlights the contemporary African experience in addressing poverty and meeting the needs of vulnerable groups. Two decades ago, James Midgley challenged social workers and others involved in international work to learn from their colleagues in developing countries. This challenge has brought scholars from the North-South together through collaborative research, program development, and technical assistance and training. Social Development and Social Work highlights development-oriented work in Africa in areas such as juvenile offender programs, asset-based community development, women and HIV/AIDS, trafficked women, and children affected by war. It includes models of indigenous welfare and integrated development through collaborative and interdisciplinary efforts by universities, government and non-governmental organizations.

This book brings African scholarship in social development and social work to the attention of academics, students and practitioners worldwide, so they too can learn from it. It was originally published as a special issue of the Journal of Community Practice.