Strengthening Nursing Associations and Leadership Across Latin America

ODENNA LatAm supports National Nursing Associations (NNAs) in Spanish-speaking Latin America to strengthen governance, leadership, organizational systems, and long-term sustainability. The programme combines structured learning, mentorship, peer exchange, and applied projects to help associations increase their professional influence and impact.

A flagship initiative of the ICN Leadership Centre

ODENNA LatAm sits within the ICN Leadership Centre, ICN’s global platform for advancing nursing leadership and strengthening professional organizations.  

Through the Leadership Centre, ICN connects global expertise, regional insight, and strength in nursing to support organizations and the leaders who guide them at every stage of their leadership journey. 

Learn more about the ICN Leadership Centre

Who can participate?

ODENNA LatAm is designed for NNAs that are: 

• Members of ICN  
• Based in Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America  

Participation is organizational and team-based. Each participating association engages through a core team of leaders and staff who work directly within the NNA and hold operational or decision-making roles. These teams collaborate throughout the programme to strengthen leadership, systems, and long-term sustainability. 

Through this approach, participating associations:  

• Identify organizational and leadership priorities that matter most in their context  

• Equip leadership teams with relevant skills, resources, knowledge, and peer support  

• Grow by applying learning through real organizational projects, supported by mentors and subject matter experts  

This framework ensures consistency across ODENNA regions while allowing flexibility for regional and national adaptation.  

What can participating associations expect?

Participating associations can expect a practical, team-based experience focused on turning learning into action. Each NNA will work on priorities that are relevant to its own context while benefiting from shared tools, peer learning, mentorship, and regional support.

How is the programme delivered? 

ODENNA LatAm is delivered through a hybrid model, combining: 

• Guided online learning and structured reflection 

• Facilitated live sessions and peer exchange 

• Opportunities for networking and connection among participating associations 

• Applied organizational projects led by NNA teams 

• Specialty learning experiences relevant to leadership and organizational development 

Delivery is designed to be practical, engaging, and responsive to the realities of association leadership, while allowing flexibility in how teams connect, collaborate, and learn throughout the programme. 

Building on ODENNA Africa

ODENNA LatAm is informed by the experience of ODENNA Africa, the inaugural ODENNA regional project, which brought together 23 National Nursing Associations and 92 leaders.  

The Africa experience demonstrated the value of:  

• Team-based leadership development  

• Applied organizational projects  

• Peer exchange and mentorship  

• Regional delivery aligned with global standards  

ODENNA LatAm builds on this foundation while adapting delivery to reflect the linguistic and professional realities of Latin America.  

Partnership through the ICN Leadership Centre

Organizations seeking to support nursing leadership beyond a single programme may engage through partnership with the ICN Leadership Centre.

Leadership Centre partnerships support a broader portfolio of leadership and organizational development initiatives across ICN, strengthening nursing leadership at scale.

Inquire about partnership opportunities with the ICN Leadership Centre