How can social work contribute to the global agenda of sustainable development goals?

Social work and the SDGs share the common vision of promoting a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable world. In my experience conducting intersectional research in social work, I fully recognize the pressing challenges facing humanity and the planet that the SDGs aim to address. By working together towards these goals, social workers have the opportunity to create positive and lasting change in the lives of individuals and communities around the world. With skills and expertise applied at the individual, community, and systemic levels, social work provides the necessary framework to achieve a better future in accordance with the SDGs.

An example I would like to give when it comes to Social Workers helping at the micro level. I had a client who's had 6 kids, but he and his wife are unemployed. I counseled both partners one the need to go for family planning, referred them to where they can get it done easily, without being exploited and one of their children who was greatly looking undernourished was also taken into care by the government.

I absolutely agree that social work can contribute to the SDGs at the micro level by providing direct services to individuals and families affected by social, economic, and environmental challenges addressed by the SDGs. Social workers can assist by providing counseling, case management, advocacy, and other services that support individuals and families in overcoming barriers to health, education, employment, and housing. This kind of support can lead to a more equitable and sustainable society, working towards achieving the overall goal of the SDGs.

Social work, especially at the mezzo level, plays a crucial role in contributing to the SDGs. This is done by promoting community development and organizing activities that foster collective action to achieve social change. Social workers can engage with local communities to identify their needs, mobilize resources, and empower them towards active participation in the development process. By doing so, social workers can help create sustainable solutions that address issues such as poverty, inequality, and social injustice. Through their advocacy, education, and outreach efforts, social workers can drive the creation of inclusive and equitable communities that promote human dignity and well-being, as per my personal experience.

Social work has the potential to make a significant impact on achieving the SDGs by advocating for policies that prioritize human and planetary well-being. By influencing social development agendas, social workers can help shape a more sustainable and equitable future for everyone.

Aprendí que trabajo social es una profesión pragmática y a la vez una disciplina académica con enfoque abarcador e integrado. Por tanto, puede desempeñarse en cualquiera de las áreas de los ODS. Incluso en forma multisectorial. El/ la trabajador (a) social (TS) , reconoce que factores históricos, socioculturales, socioeconómicos, políticos, estructurales, entorno medio ambiente, geográficos y geopolíticos, tecnológicos son determinantes en el logro o no del bienestar de las personas, comunidades o sociedades. Por lo tanto, el mundo ahora requiere TS que aboguen por políticas públicas con programas que respondan a los derechos de las personas según ciclo de edad, gobiernos que respondan buscando justicia social y más igualdad.

El TS realiza sus actividades bajo los principios del Trabajo Social, el cual es: promover los derechos humanos y la justicia social de las personas con especial atención a los que se encuentran en situación de vulnerabilidad. Así mismo ejerce su rol profesional basándose en la normativa legal de cada país y bajo los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible, siendo un agente de cambio y teniendo un papel fundamental en la construcción de sociedades más justas, inclusivas y sostenibles; independiente del campo de intervención en donde se encuentre laborando.