Calling Global Nurse Leaders: Applications open for ICN’s 2026 Global Nursing Leadership Institute

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) is inviting applications for the 2026 Global Nursing Leadership Institute (GNLI), a world-renowned nurse leadership development programme that equips senior nurses to influence health policy and drive change on the global stage.

Supported by The Burdett Trust for Nursing, GNLI is a year-long programme that builds on ICN’s long-standing commitment to developing nurse leaders who can shape health systems and advance equity worldwide. GNLI is one of a number of significant projects and programmes under ICN’s Leadership Centre which aims to empower nurses to be positive agents of change within our health systems.

A Platform for Global Nursing Leadership

Led by Dr Diana Mason and Dr Patsy Yates, the GNLI 2026 programme will focus on key global frameworks including:

• The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with emphasis on health disparities, gender equity, and universal health coverage (UHC).
• The World Health Organization’s Global Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery (GSDNM) 2025–2030.
• The priorities of the WHO Regional Offices around the world.

Throughout the programme, GNLI Scholars will work closely with ICN, the WHO, and other global and regional health institutions. They will develop policy-based leadership projects aligned with regional health priorities while gaining invaluable opportunities to network with leading global health experts and peers.

The impact of the GNLI programme is already evident: at ICN’s Congress in Helsinki, many GNLI alumni came together to showcase innovative solutions to pressing global health challenges, including recent projects tackling critical issues such as workforce migration.

ICN CEO Howard Catton has highlighted how the global nursing workforce now has the numbers, momentum, and opportunity to lead health system transformation. Referring to the renewed WHO Global Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery and ICN’s latest reports, he underscored that delivering on this strong roadmap depends on empowered and well-prepared nursing leaders — exactly the kind of leaders GNLI is designed to develop.

Competitive Selection and Global Reach

Nurses from across the world are invited to apply through a highly competitive selection process. Shortlisted candidates may be invited to an online interview. Successful applicants are expected to secure their own funding; however, partial or full bursaries are available for candidates from low- and lower-middle-income countries.