Cooperating countries: Tanzania and Austria

Coordinating institution: Institute of Social Work

Project coordinator: Zena Mnasi Mabeyo

Partner institution: Management Center Innsbruck

Project duration: 01.09.2023 - 31.08.2026

In September 2015, the United Nations adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as an integrated approach to economic and social development and a framework for action to meet needs of vulnerable individuals and communities worldwide. The Goals were developed in recognition that environmental issues and many health and social challenges have no boarders; hence, all countries are obliged to commit themselves to realize them by 2030.

The thrust, emphasis and focus of SDGs is interconnected and directly linked with social work.  Being a change oriented and human rights profession, social work has key role to play in translating the SDGs through aligning those related into practice. However, despite the observed efforts by the governments of the two countries in translating the goals into national-long and medium term plans there is lack of empirical evidence regarding how actors in social work profession have adopted and aligned the directly-related Goals into  practice, education and policies. Thus, this project is implemented in order to bridge this professional gap.  Planned project activities include:

1. Country specific studies on the role of social work in the realization of SDGs.
2. Publication of two national reports and two journal articles with recommendations towards realization of SDGs in Austria and Tanzania.
3. Organization of dissemination workshops in Austria and Tanzania.
4. Exchange visits for professional knowledge sharing and transfer.

The project enhances and further expands efforts that were already done in Tanzania and Austria since 2011 to promote professional social work through the project titled PROSOWO 1 and 2 where research projects, publications, staff and student exchanges  were implemented.