The World Scout Committee (WSC) met in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 3 to 5 October for its third full in-person business meeting of the triennium, generously hosted at the Misk Foundation office.
The meeting began with a welcome to recently elected Chairpersons from the European and African Regional Scout Committees, and a first report from David Berg in his role as Secretary General, covering the period from March to October 2025. The report provided updates and highlights on the following topics:
- A review of the implementation of the Strategy for Scouting and the World Triennial Plan, with highlights of early outcomes on volunteer-led projects, including an updated youth representative model for advocacy, expansion of our Scout Ambassadors programme, establishment of a new network of researchers, and strengthening peace education resources and partnerships.
- An update on the submission of Safe from Harm assessments by National Scout Organizations (NSOs) and National Scout Associations (NSAs), highlighting it as an area requiring continuous work from Member Organizations. The update included global and regional compliance figures in relation to WOSM’s membership requirements for child and youth safeguarding. These efforts have been supported through targeted capacity-building initiatives, including in-person training and assessments conducted by WOSM Safe from Harm Consultants aimed at fostering a leadership culture of safeguarding and child protection throughout the Movement.
- Work underway to review and update World Scouting’s key education, volunteer, youth leadership, and safeguarding policies together with volunteers and staff.
- An update on our humanitarian and peacebuilding work, including Scouts and NSOs that have been active supporting emergency response and humanitarian relief efforts in Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Mozambique, Mexico, Palestine, and Greece, and peace education workshops run in Southeast Asia through the Young Peacebuilders Programme developed in partnership with Temasek Foundation.
- World Scouting’s engagement at the 80th UN General Assembly, where we showcased our impact through events, strategic meetings, and advocacy efforts with WOSM’s Youth Representatives actively participating in roundtables on climate resilience, sustainable development, and innovation through youth-led solutions. A new partnership between the UN Youth Office and the Big Six Youth Organizations based on the Global Youth Mobilization was also announced to strengthen youth leadership and action towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
- The renewal of Messengers of Peace funding from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to increase impact of Scouting worldwide over the next decade, and a recent Messengers of Peace youth leadership event held in Riyadh for 60 Scouts, which also included high-level engagements with representatives from the Ministry of Education.
- The continued implementation of World Scouting’s newest educational initiatives, HealthAllies and LifeLeaders, including national and regional training events from South Africa to Brazil to the Philippines to support NSOs to integrate these initiatives into their national Youth Programmes.
- Highlights from the recently concluded European Scout Conference, and Africa Scout Conference and Youth Forum, which included the election of new Regional Scout Committee members, adoption of the Regional Triennial Plans aligned with the Strategy for Scouting, as well as key decisions and resolutions on youth engagement, membership development, sustainability, and peace.
During the meeting, WSC members also spent time with the leadership of the Saudi Arabia Scout Association and HH Princess Sama Bint Faisal Al Saud, World Scout Foundation Board Member, and participated in cultural activities with young Scouts showcasing the Kingdom’s hospitality.
Earlier in the month, the WSC also reviewed and approved the World Scout Bureau’s (WSB) 2025-2026 budget, noting a significant anticipated decrease in overall income due to ongoing economic constraints and shifts in the funding landscape. The WSC also reviewed management measures aimed at reducing expenditure and ensuring balanced financial operations, while maintaining the WSB’s core capacity to support NSOs.
The WSC also received briefings from the five Scout Regions and the World Scout Foundation, and updates on a range of other topics, including:
- Progress on implementing World Scouting’s fundraising and resource mobilisation strategy, including a joint fundraising pipeline tracker with the World Scout Foundation, confirmation of the first disbursement of the renewed Messengers of Peace Fund, and an update on identifying a viable partner to manage the operations of the World Scout Shop.
- A review of our risk registry covering a number of topics such as child and youth safeguarding, cuts in international development aid affecting NSOs, ongoing conflicts and geopolitical situations impacting Scouting, and other good governance issues that require the WSC’s attention.
- Nearly 200 WOSM Services were delivered in the past year to over 100 NSOs and NSAs. Looking ahead, our focus will be on tailoring support for very large and very small Member Organizations, and making stronger use of GSAT as our standard for quality Scouting to inform services and support.
- Reports from the three Task Forces on WOSM Registration Fees, Ethics and Safeguarding, and Board Diversity. These updates included details on progress towards developing a new fee model and engagements on this topic with Member Organizations, assessment of ethics and safeguarding processes within WOSM, international best practices for diversifying boards, and progress on identifying an external advisor from outside Scouting with expertise on child and youth safeguarding to join the meetings of the WSC.
- The continued implementation of the WOSM Events Strategy and programme development for the WOSM Events Academy, which is scheduled for the first quarter of 2026. The Academy will offer training for future Hosts in event planning, management, and delivery, with a focus on the unique needs of World and Regional Scouting events.
- An update on the successful delivery of the 16th World Scout Moot, hosted by the Portuguese Scout Federation, involving over 5,000 participants and 1,500 volunteers. The event offered a comprehensive educational programme across 118 learning paths and effectively implemented oversight and risk management systems to ensure a safe environment for participants.
Preparations for upcoming Regional Scout Conferences and Youth Forums taking place in the Asia-Pacific, Interamerica, and Arab Regions in October and November, and progress on planning for the 26th World Scout Jamboree (Poland), 44th World Scout Conference (United Kingdom), 6th World Scout Inter-religious Symposium, 5th World Scout Education Congress, and the 68th edition of JOTA-JOTI.
The WSC also took time to reflect on geopolitical developments, their impact on Scout Organizations, and the role of World Scouting in fostering dialogues and unity based on our Movement’s shared values.
Towards the end of the meeting, the WSC observed a moment of silence and reflection in honour of Hartmut Keyler (Germany), who has “gone home” peacefully after a lifetime of dedicated service to Scouting internationally.
The WSC’s next business meeting will take place from 27 to 29 March 2026 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. On behalf of the entire WSC, we look forward to meeting with NSO leadership during the upcoming three Regional Scout Conferences happening later this month and next.
Yours in Scouting,
Daniël Corsen
Chairperson
World Scout Committee