Draft:Association of Social Work Education in Africa

The Association of Social Work Education in Africa, or ASWEA, was formed 1965 and operated until 1989. Its role was to promote social development in Africa. It had consultative status with the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now the African Union (AU). The organisation was formed in Alexandria, Egypt although most of its members were from sub-Saharan Africa. At the time it was formed, African countries, except Ethiopia which had successfully resisted colonisation, were under colonial occupation with a few having gained independence. The objectives of ASWEA were to address issues related to social work education, including dominance of Western social work curricula and provide opportunities for member  schools  to  meet  regularly  to  discuss  social  work’s  role  in  national  development  planning.

In 1989 the organisation closed mainly because of unrest in Ethiopia where it was based. ASWEA did not build capacity to survive without financial coal support from outside, including support from the OAU. When it closed, it hoped to 'open soon' but this did not happen. It was succeeded by the East and Southern Association of Schools of Social Work (ESASS) which only lasted a year, and folded. The ESASS covered two regions of the continent.

ASWEA's legacy was the creation of a social model for development. Their work in the 1970s, resulted in an understanding that social work constructed in western countries was not suitable for Africa but a new social development approach was desirable.

ASWEA published the Journal for Social Work Education in Africa.

Some of the key people in the founding and administration of the ASWEA were Selassie Seyoum Gebre and Arega Yimam, both from Ethiopia.