Young and emerging nurses have gained a stronger voice in global health decision-making as the International Council of Nurses (ICN) Alliance of Student and Early Career Nurses joins the WHO Youth Council.
The Youth Council advises the World Health Organization on meaningful youth engagement and provides a channel through which young people can contribute their lived experience and expertise to the most urgent global health priorities. The ICN SECN Alliance is one of 25 organizations appointed to the Youth Council for its 2026–2028 term.
Josephine Agyei, Chair of ICN SECN’s Alliance, took part in the Council’s first meeting of the new term, held in Berlin on 9–10 October immediately before the 2026 World Health Summit. The meeting brought together WHO leaders and organizations representing young people working across nursing, medicine, pharmacy, public health, mental health, HIV, nutrition, climate and health diplomacy. The Council began defining priorities for work over the coming years on key issues including health care accessibility and equity, health education and literacy, and planetary health.
Ms Agyei said:
“The future of global health must be shaped with and by the nurses who will deliver it. Student and early career nurses see the world’s health issues from a unique position. We experience the realities of nursing education and practice firsthand, and we bring evidence, practical expertise and new thinking to the challenges confronting global health care.
At a time when health systems are under intense pressure from workforce shortages, inequities, conflict, climate change and rapid technological transformation, the voices of young, student and early career nurses are more important than ever at WHO. Through the Council, ICN’s SECN Alliance can influence global health discussions, learn from leaders across the world and advocate for the ambitious investment in nursing and health care the world urgently needs, for today and tomorrow.”
During the meeting’s Leadership and Sustainability Capacity-Building Session on 10 October, Ms Agyei delivered a presentation on building meaningful youth leadership in nursing and global health. She highlighted the importance of providing structural support through sustained leadership opportunities and long-term investment in emerging health professionals.
Ms Agyei also represented ICN’s SECN Alliance at this week’s World Health Summit in Berlin, where world leaders are addressing major global challenges including health security and financing, health workforce capacity, digital health and artificial intelligence, climate and planetary health, and health in conflict and crises.
ICN President Dr José Luis Cobos Serrano led ICN’s delegation to the World Health Summit and participated in an important session on strengthening global professional standards and health system resilience, empowering nurses to take the lead in responding to evolving health needs.
Dr Cobos said:
“ICN is at the World Health Summit to ensure that the world’s 30 million nurses are recognized as leaders whose expertise must inform all major health decisions and policies. We are advocating for the investment, leadership voice, and clear professional standards nurses need to deliver safe, high-quality care and lead the health systems of the future.
That leadership must begin at the earliest stages of a nurse’s career. The appointment of our SECN Alliance to the WHO Youth Council is an important step in connecting emerging nurses with global decision-making and enabling their experience and ideas to influence the policies they will help deliver.”
