Abstract
Vision
The three global partner organisations (International Association of Schools of Social Work, International Council on Social Welfare, International Federation of Social Workers) affirm the vision of the Global Agenda which makes explicit the contribution of social work and social development in building a ‘society for all’ in which every individual has an active role to play within a fair and just world.
Purpose of the Observatory
The Global Agenda Observatory is the mechanism for monitoring and reporting on the implementation of The Agenda Commitments. The Observatory will gather evidence about the activities of social workers, educators and social development practitioners, which support the implementation of the Global Agenda, in order to give visibility and credibility to their contributions and to promote further action. Activity is structured around the four themes of The Global Agenda: Promoting Social and Economic Equalities (2012-14) and Promoting the dignity and worth of the person (2014–16). The themes to be covered in subsequent years are: Working towards environmental sustainability and Strengthening recognition of the importance of human relationships. A focus on ensuring an appropriate environment for practice and education will be included throughout.
Observatory structure and process
The Global Agenda Observatory, established by IASSW, ICSW and IFSW, is a process and a structure which are evolving; it is our aspiration to have established a strong, credible Global Observatory during the first ten years. The Global Agenda Observatory will consist of regional networks or consortia composed of institutions of higher education and professional/practice-based organisations that jointly research, analyse, synthesise and report on Agenda activities.
The first phase of The Global Agenda Observatory (2012-14) involved a joint activity, organised through the regional structures of the 3 global partners and facilitated by global and regional Coordinators appointed by each of the 3 partners.
The 3 partner organisations are now launching the second phase of The Global Agenda Observatory process. This phase involves the selection of regional Observatory arrangements to generate evidence on the implementation of the priority themes of the Global Agenda, informing the regional reports which will form the basis of the 2016 global report on Promoting the dignity and worth of the person.
The second Observatory Report will be launched at and form the focus of the 2016 Joint World Conference in Seoul, Republic of Korea. It is intended that the report will be published as a supplement to International Social Work journal and reported widely in the international media.
The benefits of becoming a Regional Observatory partner
The 3 global partners are confident that the award of the status of Regional Observatory will bring significant benefits not only to the 3 global partners but also to the institutions that host the Regional Observatories. The Regional Observatories will provide the core material for the bi-annual Observatory Report, which will be published by the 3 global organisations and widely promoted at world conferences and beyond. We anticipate that these reports will become standard points of reference for global partners such as the United Nations, as well as for professional bodies and educational institutions. We hope that consortia will attract significant additional human and financial resources to the host organisations, which will also be beneficial to the global bodies. The bodies anticipate that the hosting institutions will achieve a higher profile and recognition, enhancing their global reputations through participation in the Regional Observatory and as a result should be able to attract additional human and financial resources.
The bid and decision making process
IASSW, ICSW and IFSW invite concrete proposals from interested bodies as the first stage in the selection process.
Global observatory timeline to the 2016 global conference in Seoul
Before July 2014
The three global partners agree the process for engaging with bidders and conducting the selection of bids for the regional observatory bodies.
July 2014
The first Global Observatory report is launched at the world conference in Melbourne.
The selection process for the Regional Observatories is formally launched at the world conference.
30 October 2014
Deadline for receipt of bids, to be reviewed by regions facilitated by the global organisations.
30 November 2014
End of screening process and start of formal engagement with bidders (i.e. discussions and exchanges about improvement of bids and possible merger of bids to form regional consortia).
19 December 2014
End of formal engagement process and dialogue.
5 January 2015
Deadline for submission of revised tender bids. Start the process of selection facilitated by the global organisations.
31 January 2015
Selection of Regional Observatory consortia complete.
Regional Observatory partners formalise the arrangements and start the process of gathering evidence for the 2016 report. The global bodies facilitate contact between regions and confirm expectations.
March 2015
The regional structures of the global bodies in cooperation with the global organisations review progress and offer support where needed.
March 2016
Global report completed by the global bodies, in cooperation with the regional structures, including global overview analysis, coordinated with the publication timetable for the possible publication of a supplement to the International Social Work journal (ISW) (see below).
June 2016
The 2nd Global Observatory report published as a supplement to International Social Work and launched at the Seoul world conference.