The World Scout Committee (WSC) met this past week in Nairobi, Kenya at the Africa Regional Support Centre from 21 to 23 March for its second full in-person business meeting of the triennium.
The business part of the meeting began with a reflection on the WSC’s Team Charter and the report from the Acting Secretary General covering the period from November 2024 to March 2025 with highlights on the following topics:
- A review of the implementation of the Strategy for Scouting, release of the World Triennial Plan to National Scout Organizations (NSOs), and mapping of over 50 volunteer and World Scout Bureau projects that will guide our work over the triennium and deliver on the decisions taken during the 43rd World Scout Conference.
- A strategic review of the latest census figures and membership trends worldwide, showcasing the state and growth of membership across the Scout Movement. Official membership of World Scouting stands now at an all-time high of well over 51 million, with the estimated total reach of the Movement slightly over 60 million. A record number of 18.7 million girls and young women are now involved in Scouting, representing 36% of our membership.
- The ongoing implementation of World Scouting’s newest educational initiatives, HealthAllies and LifeLeaders, with regional training events and piloting to support NSOs to integrate these programmes in their national Youth Programmes.
- The delivery of International Leadership Training programmes in Egypt, the Dominican Republic, Burkina Faso, and Albania, providing opportunities for Rover-aged Scouts to develop leadership and life skills.
- The open call for volunteers resulted in 414 individuals now ready to support projects and events this triennium. All standing committee members have now been appointed, and workstreams have been established within the operational framework to begin appointing volunteers to World Triennial Plan projects. A full overview of volunteer appointments will be released in the next period.
- More than 1,000 WOSM Services have been delivered to over 200 NSOs and NSAs since 2018. In the past year, 142 services were delivered and over 300 volunteer and staff consultants continue to offer expert guidance, training, and coaching to support Member Organizations worldwide.
- Updates on the implementation of the World Scout Bureau’s “fit for future” project, ensuring support to NSOs is central to World Scout Bureau operations, reducing duplication of efforts and reinforcing capacity of our support centres around the world. Insights were also shared on World Scout Bureau projects to strengthen its people and culture (human resources), cybersecurity, risk management, and data data privacy compliance.
- World Scout Bureau staff received professional development and training opportunities on leadership, management, digital skills, and healthy workplace practices during the OneWSB Staff Academy held in December and January. Sessions also introduced the Bureau’s new professional values focused on respect, impact, collaboration, and being people-centred.
- The release of World Scouting’s latest annual report, providing a picture of key achievements and impact of the organisation across the globe over the last year.
During the meeting, WSC members also spent time with the leadership of the Kenya Scout Association at their national office and took part in Scouting activities with young people at the Rowallan Scout Camp.
The WSC also received briefings from the five Scout Regions and the World Scout Foundation, and took decisions on a range of other topics, including:
- An update on the organisation’s financial situation, progress in our fundraising strategy and approval of the 2023-2024 audited financial statements.
- The WSC also decided to extend the current licensing agreement with UK Scouts to manage the World Scouting brand and operations of the World Scout Shop until the end of 2025, with work progressing meanwhile on a new approach for managing commercial brand licenses.
- Significant steps on the renewal of the Messengers of Peace grant, with positive progress noted by the World Scout Foundation to conclude a new agreement in the next period. The grant aims to continue to enhance Scouting’s core educational programmes, strengthen the capacity of National Scout Organizations, and inspire a global culture of peace through community service.
- A review of our risk registry covering a number of topics such as financial sustainability and funding for civil society organisations, geo-political situations impacting NSOs, and Safe from Harm compliance with membership requirements. The WSC noted that 49% of NSOs and NSAs have now submitted their Safe from Harm self-assessment, as well as the significant buildout of the support modules, trainings and eLearnings available for membership. Reflections were had on further efforts and support required to bring the Movement in full compliance, highlighting this as a strategic priority.
- A report from the Fee Registration Task Force on the existing fee model and collection of fees from Member Organizations, and the work that will be carried forward this triennium to update the fee model through consultation with Member Organizations.
- An update on the implementation of World Scouting’s Climate Impact Strategy, with a first analysis on the carbon footprint of our operations. A complete assessment for the period October 2024 until September 2025 is expected later this year, which will support further discussions on mitigation and offsetting efforts during the remainder of the triennium.
- An update on the implementation of the WOSM Events Strategy to make future World and Regional Scouting events safer and more sustainable, with new professional and volunteer capacity appointed to strengthen the capacity of the WOSM Events staff team and volunteer workstream.
- Preparations for upcoming Regional Scout Conferences taking place between July and December this year, and the progress on future World Scout events, including the 16th World Scout Moot (Portugal), 26th World Scout Jamboree (Poland), 44th World Scout Conference (United Kingdom), and the 68th edition of JOTA-JOTI. Planning is also underway to consider concepts and hosts for the 5th World Scout Education Congress and the 7th World Scout Interreligious Symposium in 2026. More information on this will be shared in the next period with NSOs.
- The WSC approved a concept and terms of reference for adding external advisors from outside the Movement to its own meetings and that of its standing committees, enabling strategic expertise and external perspectives to further strengthen its decision-making. In addition, the WSC agreed on the renewal of seven organisations with consultative status with the WSC, and established two additional task forces:
- One tasked with an ethics and safeguarding review, which will conduct a comprehensive review and assessment of ethics and safeguarding processes within WOSM and use those learnings to inform the Ethics Committee's mandate and operations.
- One focused on board diversity, which has been tasked to develop a concept of what constitutes a “diverse board” in the context of the WSC, drawing on international best practices, including a key focus on regional and geographic diversity.
The WSC also received an update from the task force appointed to support the recruitment of World Scouting’s next Secretary General and discussed plans, in collaboration with its appointed executive search agency, to schedule interviews with final candidates in April working towards a final selection and announcement in May 2025.
Following the productive meeting, members of the WSC and World Scout Bureau travelled to Nyeri for a special event to designate Paxtu as a unique World Guiding and Scouting Heritage Site. During the event, representatives from World Scouting, WAGGGS, the Kenya Scout Association, Kenya Girl Guides Association, and local and national government signed the Paxtu Declaration to ensure the preservation and legacy of the site. The city of Nyeri was also recognised as a Scouting and Guiding landmark. The visit concluded with a high-level meeting at the prime minister’s office in Nairobi to celebrate this key milestone and recognise the growth and impact of Scouting in Kenya.
The WSC’s next business meeting will take place from 3 to 5 October 2025. On behalf of the entire WSC, we look forward to meeting with NSO leadership during the Regional Scout Conferences happening later this year.
Yours in Scouting,
Daniël Corsen
Chairperson
World Scout Committee