BUSSW Co-Hosts International Social Work Conference on Advancing Sustainable Development in Zambia

What is social work’s role in advancing sustainable development—now and beyond 2030?  

In January 2027, a global community of social workers, scholars, and change-makers will gather in Lusaka, Zambia, for an international conference centered on that urgent question.  

Social Work Without Borders: Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Through Local and Global Action will take place January 14–17, 2027, co-hosted by Professor Margaret Lombe and Assistant Dean of Teaching and Innovation, Lyndsey McMahan, from BU School of Social Work (BUSSW), in partnership with The Catholic University of East Africa and Zambia Catholic University. As the global community approaches the 2030 deadline for achieving the United Nations SDGs, the conference will provide a timely space to reflect on progress, confront persistent challenges, and consider what comes next. 

The event will bring together practitioners, researchers, policymakers, educators, and students from around the world to explore how social work bridges global development frameworks with local realities. 

Key themes include: 

• Climate justice and environmental sustainability 
•  Migration, displacement, and human rights 
• Health and well-being across the lifespan 
• Gender equity and inclusive societies 
• Human security 
• Ethical use of digital innovation and generative artificial intelligence for social change 

Participants will also engage in forward-looking dialogue on what success in achieving the SDGs looks like for social work, how the profession navigates structural barriers and competing priorities, and how social workers can help shape future global development agendas beyond 2030. 

Learn More About the Conference