ICSD launches Africa branch
International desk: International Consortium for Social Development (ICSD) launches its Africa branch on Wednesday at the 22nd biennial conference organized by the Centre for Social Development in Africa (CSDA) at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. In the branch launching ceremony, ICSD President and Australia’s Charles Sturt University Professor Dr. Manohar pawar said, ‘the main purpose of the branch is to learn from and contribute to dynamic development experiences in Africa and disseminate the same across the globe.’
Asked about the new branch inauguration, Dr. Mostafizur Rahman, Vice President of ICSD and a Bangladeshi scholar hoped that the African branch would grow and reflect under intensive guidance and support of an eminent social researcher, Professor Leila Patel, South Africa Chair in Welfare and Social Development, CSDA. ‘We expect a better outcome from the African branch’, he said.
Professor Leila Patel emphasized the significance of working together by multidisciplinary scholars to solve real problems and develop evidence-based policies, while ICSD Associate Secretary-General for branches and linkages, Professor Chathapuram Ramanathan said, ’African branch could provide a critical platform to test, practice and develop social development knowledge and skills.’
On this occasion, the ICSD President conferred a prestigious James Billups International Social Development Leadership Award on Prof. Ramanathan in recognition of his contributions to the field of social development.
The launching ceremony was chaired by ICSD Secretary-General, Dr. Francis Okello. Prior to this, ICSD Secretary General nominated Professor Lorraine Graham, Director of CSDA as inaugural chair of the branch. ‘I am looking forward to working with colleagues to establish and realize the vision of the ICSD Africa branch, said, Prof. Graham.
Among others Ms. Lorraine Botha, Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament and Chairperson of the Education Committee in the Legislature and Dr. Edson Munsaka, National University of Science and Technology, Zimbabwe were made members of the branch committee.
