Dear 21^st ICSD conference participants,

I would like to extend a warm welcome to you and appreciate your interest in participating in the 21^stInternational Consortium for Social Development Biennial International Conference, kindly hosted by the University of Gadjah Mada (UGM), Yogyakarta, Indonesia, 16-19, July 2019.

The main theme of the conference is Strengthening Social Development to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs). Further research, theoretical development and knowledge and skills relating to social development is necessary to efficiently and effectively work towards achieving the 17 SDGs by 2030. The process of the formulation and implementation of the SDGs throughout the world offers a fertile ground for social development action and research. Balancing among social, economic and environmental development and justice is very much needed, but it is complex, competing and challenging task, though not impossible.  The ideas inherent in social development do provide a strong foundation and framework for achieving the SDGs. The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs has already released SDGs good practices examples on a searchable online database (https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/partnerships/goodpractices). Despite this initial heartening progress, the awareness of the SDGs is still lacking in some important quarters. The ICSD is committed to social development and the SDGs, and has been working in this area for more than four decades. Earlier, the ICSD and its branch have organised conferences on similar themes to promote the development goals. It regularly publishes a journal entitled Social Development Issues (www.socialdevelopment.net/statementofpolicy.htm). The ICSD Asia Pacific branch has initiated a new journal entitled the International Journal of Community and Social Development (https://peerreview.sagepub.com/Home/HomePage). The ICSD supports education, research and training in social development throughout the world. There are already dedicated social development departments and research centres in universities, and national professional bodies such as the Indonesian Social Development Association (ISDA). These and similar ICSD activities will go a long way in promoting the SDGs and realising the wellbeing of the whole population.

The theme of the 21^stICSD conference is conceptualised by its very experienced conveners: Professor Janianton Damanik, Department of Social Development and Welfare of Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at UGM, Indonesia and Chair of the ISDA and Associate Professor David Androff, School of Social Work at Arizona State University, co-founder and Associate Director of the Office of Global Social Work, and the Secretary General for ICSD. With the support of Ms Dian Fatmawati, Department of Social Development and Welfare, UGM, they have been working hard for this conference for nearly two years. I would like to thank and congratulate the conference organising team.

The conference has brought together eminent keynote speakers and leading social development scholars from different parts of the world to this beautiful and bountiful island. Yogyakarta city is known for its intellectual and cultural heritage, and I am sure, you will thoroughly enjoy your stay here and will significantly gain from deliberations and professional networks and friendship you develop at the conference.

I am looking forward to welcoming and meeting you in Yogyakarta!

See you at the conference.

Yours sincerely,

Manohar Pawar, BA, MA, PhD.

President, ICSD

Professor of Social Work, Charles Sturt University Australia