Where Is Developmental Social Work as Social Work Practice Method in Tanzania? The Case of Dar es Salaam Region

Abstract

There is a consensus that developmental social work method is increasingly gaining support as a panacea for social and economic problems facing the African continent. The main emphasis of the method is centered on pulling together community resources in addressing social and economic problems. The literature shows that the method is currently underutilized in Tanzania and the reasons propelling such a situation are not clear. This study has found that developmental social work is confronted with the following barriers in Tanzania: lack of resources, nature of social work training and curricula, organizational factors/nature of social service agencies activities, lack of innovation and absence of regulations/clear guidelines. The findings also suggest that in order to make full utilization of developmental social work, structural, institutional, professional and individual factors have to be addressed. The recommendations of this study are: developmental social work is very important so as to bring about social and economic development. The nature of economic and social problems facing vulnerable populations in Tanzania today requires a combination of different methods including that of developmental social work, if sustainable development has to be realized.