History:

The International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW) was founded in Paris in 1928. It is a non-governmental organisation which represents national and local organisations in more than 70 countries throughout the world. Membership also includes major international organisations.

Our member organisations represent tens of thousands of community organisations that work directly with people in poverty, hardship or distress. Our members are independent organisations working in their own communities rather than branches of organisations based in other countries. Many have been established by people who are themselves experiencing hardship.
 
Within their own communities, our network of organisations provides help for a wide range of people who are poor, ill, disabled, unemployed, frail or oppressed. They help young people, older people, families, indigenous peoples, migrants, refugees and others who are experiencing special hardship or vulnerability.