The Intersection of Indigenous Practices and Global Standards: A Scoping Review of Social Work Education and Practice Models

A significant challenge in advancing the indigenization and decolonization of social work in Africa is the lack of locally developed theories, methods, and practice models that inform indigenous and culturally competent social work education and practice. These elements are crucial for improving the quality of education and practice within the profession. However, there has been no comprehensive systematic study that summarizes and critically examines the theoretical frameworks and practice models that inform culturally competent social work in Africa. Existing studies rarely engage in systematic discussions on the core principles of Afrocentric perspectives and how they are related to dominant social work theories and practice models. To address this gap, we conducted a scoping review of major theoretical perspectives and practice models that inform Afrocentric social work and critically examined their key principles with selected social work theories and practices models. We reviewed the Ubuntu perspective, the Ujamaa practice model, and other similar theoretical and practice models, and critically analyzed their key principles in comparison to common social work theories (e.g., ecological systems theory) and practice models (e.g., problem-solving model and solution-focused therapy). A key gap identified in our review is that existing studies are mostly descriptive and rarely provide comparative insights to scrutinize their commonalities, unique differences, and implications for advancing culturally competent social work research and practice in the Global South. While many of these theories are important for informing social work education and practice, some are context-specific and have limited applicability beyond their original settings. Additionally, existing Afrocentric perspectives are underdeveloped for informing evidence-based education and practice in social work. This review identifies the current knowledge gaps and offers a comprehensive summary of these theories and models, along with recommendations to advance the profession and strengthen culturally competent social work education and practice across the continent. Furthermore, we reflect on the proactive role of social work educators, researchers, and practitioners in advancing the social work profession.