As a result of the conflict in the Middle East, which has disrupted global travel and increased its risks, the World Scout Committee (WSC) met virtually from 27 to 29 March for its fourth business meeting of the triennium.
The meeting began with a welcome to the newly elected Chairpersons of the Asia-Pacific, Interamerica, and Arab Regional Scout Committees, a review of the WSC Team Charter, and a report from Secretary General David Berg covering the period from October 2025 to March 2026. The report provided updates and highlights on the following topics:
- The latest membership census figures highlighted in the Membership Report show strong growth across the Scout Movement, with more than 1.6 million new members registered. This includes an increase in the number of girls and women in Scouting, and a 3% growth in adult volunteers. Out of all registered members, 4.5 million are adult volunteers, and more than 18.8 million are girls and women. We estimate Scouting continues to reach over 60 million young people worldwide.
- Highlights from the most recent Regional Scout Conferences and Youth Forums held since its last meeting in Asia-Pacific, Interamerica, and Arab Regions. The WSC discussed the resolutions and outcomes of these Conferences in the areas of event accessibility, safeguarding, youth and women leadership, good governance, and the unity of the Scout Movement. It also welcomed the five new Regional Triennial Plans, providing a solid rollout for the Strategy for Scouting.
- The implementation of the World Triennial Plan is on track, with a critical period for progress over the next 12 months. The WSC noted good progress on projects such as the review of the four World Policies, subnational GSAT pilots (NSATs), the search for the next cohort of World Scouting ambassadors, and many more. The WSC provided strategic guidance on these efforts, welcoming stronger alignment between the World and Regional Triennial Plans, continued attention to volunteer engagement in project teams, and preparation for the upcoming mid‑term survey, which will be shared with NSOs in the next period.
- Safeguarding remains a critical priority for World Scouting. In total, 68% of NSOs have submitted their Safe from Harm Assessment, of which 23% are fully compliant, and 24% are partially compliant. The update also highlighted strengthened reporting measures, capacity‑building efforts, including in‑person training, learning modules, and assessments conducted by Safe from Harm Consultants. This work is being further supported by a renewed partnership with the Office of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Violence Against Children, which specifically includes providing strategic advice and guidance to the WSC on safeguarding.
- Initiatives to strengthen youth leadership, including International Leadership Training programmes delivered in the Africa, Arab, and Interamerica Regions, engaging more than 300 young adults, along with the recruitment of youth representatives across the Africa, Arab, Europe, and Interamerica Regions to support the implementation of a new youth advocacy model.
- The implementation of our fundraising and resource mobilisation strategy, including a joint fundraising pipeline with the World Scout Foundation, which has led directly to new funding and pro-bono commitments from Accenture, Martine & Bertram Pohl Foundation, Victorinox, Ferrero, and the European Commission through the Youth Empowerment Fund.
- USD 4.5 million World Scouting grants in 2025 to 139 national, regional, and global community impact projects promoting peace and sustainability around the world, which includes supporting 52 NSOs through 98 projects.
- Humanitarian action work where NSOs and Scouts have responded to environmental disasters, conflicts and humanitarian crises over the past six months in Mexico, Jamaica, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Chile, Portugal, and across the Middle East.
- World Scouting’s external engagements, which included participation at COP30 in Brazil and the MISK Global Forum in Saudi Arabia, as well as high‑level meetings with the CEOs of the Big 6 Youth Organizations and the WAGGGS–WOSM Consultative Committee.
The WOSM Registration Fee Task Force also presented an in-depth overview of the feedback collected so far from NSOs on the proposed registration fee and World Event fee model. Throughout the consultation, it was emphasised that the proposal does not intend to increase World Scouting’s overall fee income, but rather ensure a fairer distribution of fees aligned with current membership levels and economic realities. Built‑in safeguards are included to adapt to evolving circumstances and keep the model affordable for the large diversity of NSOs around the world. Over the next month, a comprehensive information campaign will be rolled out to present and explain the proposed fee model and decision-making process to all NSOs.
In addition, the WSC heard updates on the organisation’s current financial position, collection of fees from Member Organizations, planning underway for the 2026–2027 budget, and approved the audited financial statements for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. The WSC further approved a new reserves policy for all World Scout Bureau (WSB) Support Centres and welcomed the Audit Committee’s work on appointing a new team of internal auditors, further strengthening transparency, accountability and resilience of WOSM’s financial operations.
The WSC also received reports from the five Regional Chairpersons, as well as updates on a number of other topics, including:
- Implementation of the Messengers of Peace Fund, including outcomes from the recent open call for grants for NSOs, preparations for the second year disbursement of the fund, and an overall progress update on the partnership with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
- A first full report on the carbon footprint of the WSB's operations across all Support Centres was presented to the WSC. The production of the report is part of the organisation’s climate impact strategy, designed to address a World Scout Conference resolution in 2021. Next steps will include developing reduction and mitigation measures.
- The approval of a new World Scouting position paper on youth, peace, and security, which has been developed by volunteers, youth representatives, and WSB staff. The paper will be shared with NSOs and external audiences in the next period and reflects a strategic shift toward a more policy- and evidence-based approach to advocacy.
- 69 WOSM Services delivered to 49 NSOs in the past six months, with 61% of services delivered by volunteer WOSM Consultants. The WSC also noted the upcoming training for new cohorts of WOSM Consultants over the next period, with continued high demand for services in safeguarding, strategy and governance, the Youth Programme, and Adults in Scouting.
- A review of the risk registry covering major risks, such as the escalation of the Middle East conflict, affecting NSO and World Scouting operations, global development aid budget cuts, geopolitical risks impacting World Scout events, and global civic unrest affecting NSOs.
- Reports from the Ethics and Safeguarding Task Force and the Board Diversity Task Force, reviewing key governance questions on World Scouting’s ethics and safeguarding processes, as well as an initial facilitated discussion on measures that could be taken to strengthen the future composition of the WSC in terms of diversity, skills, and geographic representation.
The WSC also reflected on lessons learned in crisis management following the disruption of the WOSM Events Academy in Qatar earlier this month, which was affected by the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East.
Finally, the WSC granted Consultative Status to the International Fellowship of Scouting Rotarians and the World Buddhist Scout Council, and reflected on its ongoing relation with WAGGGS and pathways to strengthen collaboration and partnerships with our sister organisation.
In the coming months, the WSC will meet online to cover several other items, including the biannual report from the World Scout Foundation, joint WSB–WSF fundraising efforts, and a review of safeguarding compliance, support, and culture across the Movement. The Committee will also discuss oversight of upcoming World Scout events and the implementation of the WOSM Events Strategy, while monitoring ongoing feedback from NSOs on the proposed fee model to inform the next steps in the decision‑making process.
The next in-person business meeting will take place from 24 to 27 September 2026 in London, United Kingdom, at Gilwell Park, enabling the WSC as well to review the venue and preparations for the upcoming 44th World Scout Conference.
From the entire WSC, we look forward to sharing another update with NSOs through the Midterm Review Report and during the next online Town Hall happening later this year.
Yours in Scouting,
Daniël Corsen
Chairperson
World Scout Committee