Questions and Answers about the IFSW Friends Program


What is IFSW?
The International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) links professional social workers around the globe. It represents professional social work organisations from 84 countries with more than 510 000 social workers in all parts of the world. And it continues to grow.

Each association member recognizes that social work's common goals transcend borders and that a global voice benefits the profession, and most important, the people it serves.

Specifically, IFSW aims to
  • Promote social work as a profession through cooperation and action on an international basis
  • Support national associations in promoting the participation of social workers in social planning and the formulation of social policies, nationally and internationally
  • Encourage and facilitate contacts between social workers in all countries
  • Present the viewpoints of the profession on an international level by establishing relations with international organizations.
What Does IFSW Do?
The International Federation of Social Workers
  • Sponsors biennial international symposia and conferences
  • Develops and publishes policy statements to guide social work practice worldwide
  • Advocates for the protection of human rights of practising social workers
  • Publishes Principles and Standards for the Ethics of Social Work
  • Pairs social work organizations in economically developed and developing countries for an exchange of social work practice experience
  • Provides consultation to the United Nations on issues of human development and human rights
  • Conducts special projects such as the Professional Training Manuals "Human Rights and Social Work" and "Social Work and the Rights of the Child".
What Is An IFSW Friend?
An IFSW Friend is a professional social worker, an agency, a corporation or others supporting the social work profession and global social development.
What Do IFSW Friends Receive?
IFSW Friends are entitled to
  • The monthly electronic ifsw update
  • IFSW publications at reduced rates or free
  • Discount registration rates and Friends reception at IFSW international conferences
  • IFSW policy statements addressing social work concerns around the world
  • The IFSW Friend pin
  • A certificate of recognition
  • Other information
What Is The Annual Cost For IFSW Friends?
There are five categories of IFSW Friends:
Annual IndividualUSD 50.00
StudentUSD 25.00
Life IndividualUSD 600.00
Non-profit organizationUSD 100.00
CorporateUSD 1,000.00
or equivalent amount in Euro, Sterling or Swiss francs

Contributions to IFSW may be tax deductable in some countries.
  Become an IFSW Friend


page last updated on 22.04.2008