Social work has only recently embraced sustainable development as part of its global engagement for the improvement of the living conditions of people. This calls for greater global cooperation for monitoring sustainable development in which the betterment of people is the main goals of development. It acknowledges the global roots of local problems and the need for global joined action as part of the core ethical statements of social work in order to handle challenges created by globalisation of neoliberalism. This includes even marketisation and standardisation of professional social work as part of ‘taking care of the problems’ created by recent decades’ neoliberal structural and institutional transformations. This paper aims at exploring the role of social work in counteracting the destructive ‘developmental’ consequences of neoliberal globalisation, including the destruction of local communities’ opportunities and people’s living conditions. Following questions are guiding this study: ‘How can social work research and education help to fulfil the goals of sustainable development? How can social work tackle neoliberal obstacles to sustainable development in its daily practices? The study is based on, research reviews, interviews and documents concerning standardised methods and practices in social work. The results show that critical knowledge of neoliberal models of development and educating students of social work about the necessity of a global sustainable development in which the improvement of people’s living condition and the future of the planet lies at the heart of social work practice are vital for a solidary global social work. It is argued that since neoliberal globalisation have been assisted by political decision makings, social work should be highly engaged in global political and protest social movements, which nurture new and solidary horizons promoting a sustainable and better future for everybody.