The GNLI is a year-long programme that builds on the International Council of Nurses’ (ICN) legacy of working with senior nurses from around the world to increase their leadership understanding and expertise.

The GNLI 2025 programme focuses on:

• The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, health disparities, gender equity, and universal health care
• The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery, 2021-2025 (GSDNM)
• The WHO Regional Offices and their priorities

Nurses from around the world will be selected as GNLI 2025 scholars through a competitive process. Successful applicants will be expected to find their own source of funding to attend, while bursaries may be available for those from low- and lower-middle-income countries (as per the World Bank classification).

During the programme, scholars will enjoy opportunities to network with ICN, the WHO and other global and regional health institutions and leaders, while developing policy-based projects based on the WHO priorities for their regions.

* The GNLI programme is fully taught in English. Participants are expected to have a good level of English in writing, comprehension and speaking. Applicants are also expected to submit a letter of support from their employer, national nursing association or other professional organisation.

Watch our GNLI 2024 scholar interviews!

Who should apply?

Programme Outcomes

By completing the programme, you will be able to:

• Shape, develop, support and drive evidence-based health and social policy
• Undertake stakeholder analyses and political environmental analyses to influence the definition of problems, building of coalitions and framing of solutions
• Use political, strategic and advocacy skills to work with policy stakeholders, including politicians and government officials, health system leaders, and international and non-governmental organisations
• Review and frame the evidence base in local, national and international political, health and social care contexts
• Create and communicate clear policy messages that appeal to politicians, policy-makers, and the public
• Join a network of regional and global nurse leaders in policy

Programme Overview

The GNLI encourages you to focus on your personal and professional development as a necessary foundation to becoming a more effective leader. You will set your own programme goals during Module 1, using templates and support documents; review and develop your competencies during Module 2; and create an individual development plan to work on during and beyond the programme.

Module 1

The aims of this module are:

• To orient you to GNLI to enable you to get the most out of the programme
• Meet the programme faculty and each other
• Become familiar with key concepts and information
• Become more familiar with your WHO regional office and priorities

By the end of Module 1, you will select a focus for a Regional Project that aligns with the WHO regional office’s priorities and the WHO Global Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery (GSDNM). You will be required to complete 12 assignments, with some to be submitted by specific deadlines. These assignments include preparatory reading, reviewing health and nursing data in your country, and identifying a project relevant to your work that you will continue to develop throughout the programme.

Module 2

This module provides the intensive interactive learning experiences that constitute the core of GNLI. Scholars are expected to arrive in Geneva on or before 3 October to begin the in-person programme on the morning of 4 October. Scholars are expected to be fully present for the entire week. Meals are shared with other scholars, faculty and guests. The days begin at 08:00 CET and end after dinner around 21:00.

This module includes discussions on:

• Policy process and its political context
• Strategies for evidence-based policy change that promote population health
• The role of nurses in leading local, national, regional and global health and social policy
• Effective communication skills for leaders including framing, messaging and use of media
• In-depth explorations of the social determinants of health (SDOH), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), health disparities and gender equity, with reflections on their relevance to the work of ICN, WHO and the WHO Global Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery (GSDNM)

It also includes a site visit to WHO headquarters and meetings with global leaders.

Module 3

The module includes assignments on continuing work with in-country mentors, continuing to refine and implement your individual development plan, presentations of Regional Project plans and implementation.

Note that scholars are required to participate in 80% of the scheduled online sessions in Modules 1 and 3 and be fully present during the Module 2 on-site week in Geneva to successfully complete the programme, receive a certificate of completion, and participate in the GNLI Alumni Network.