STRENGTHENING NATIONAL COUNCILS ON SOCIAL WELFARE.

The article presents ways to strengthen the International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW). ICSW has in recent years taken a number of steps to strengthen and develop its effectiveness in the international social development arena. Probably the best known and most dramatic, of these steps was the adoption of the Report of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Future of ICSW, by the ICSW Committee of Representatives meeting in Hong Kong, China in 1980. Acceptance of the Working Group Report will mean far-reaching changes in ICSW program development, global budgeting, national membership subscriptions, admission of new countries to membership and other aspects of ICSW operations. Agreed in principle, their implementation is now being planned and prepared. Essentially, these changes should result in a significant expansion of ICSW resources, capacity, programs and membership, within a unified global strategy for the achievement of its objectives. After several years in planning and seeking financial support, the Strengthening Project formally commenced in September 1980.