International Scouting

The World Organization of the Scout Movement. 

Scouting worldwide is coordinated by the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM). This is:

• an international, nongovernment organization composed of national Scout organizations. 
• Members of the World Scout Organization are national Scout organizations, not individuals or Scout troops (groups). 
• There are 131 national Scout organizations within the WOSM, representing more than 16 million Scouts and leaders. In some countries, there is more than one Scout association. Associations in these countries form themselves into a national federation, in order to be a member of the World Organization, since there can be only one member per country. 
• The World Organization works closely with the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), which has its headquarters in London.

  The WOSM has three principal parts: 

the Conference, the Committee, and the Bureau:

  The World Scout Conference is held every three years.It is the “general assembly" of Scouting, made up of all member Scout organizations. Each member organization must adhere to the purpose and principles of World Scouting, and operate as an independent, nonpolitical, and voluntary organization.

Each member organization is represented in the Conference by a maximum of six delegates. Observers authorized by their national Scout organization may also attend. Delegations usually include the top leaders of each national organization, including International Commissioners, and the Scouters responsible for relations with the World Organization of the Scout Movement,and with Scout organizations in other countries.The aim of the Conference is to promote the unity, integrity, and development of the Scout movement world- wide. It encourages the exchange of ideas and information between members and makes general policy. It considers reports and recommendations from the World Committee and from member organizations; and conducts the formal business of the World Organization, including elections, applications for membership,amendments to the Constitution, and rules.

  The World Scout Committee. The World Scout Conference elects and delegates some of its authority to the World Scout Committee, which meets at least once a year. It is the executive of the organization, responsible for implementing the resolutions of the World Conference, and for acting on its behalf between meetings.The Committee has 14 members, of whom 12 are elected by the Conference. The two remaining members, appointed by the 12 members, are the secretary general of WOSM and the treasurer. Each must come from a different country and represent not that country, but the interests of the movement as a whole. it also appoints subcommittees to deal with specific subjects such as the youth program, adult leadership, and research.

  The World Scout Bureau is the secretariat of the World Organization. it carries out the instructions of the Conference and the Committee. The Bureau is directed by a secretary general, appointed by the World Committee, who acts as the chief administrative officer of the

organization.

  The Bureau was first established in London in 1920. it moved to Ottawa, Canada, in 1959, and finally to Geneva, Switzerland, in 1968. It has a staff of 31 people who work out of six offices. The head office is in Geneva and there are regional offices in Costa Rica, Egypt, Kenya, the Philippines, and Switzerland.

  The secretariat has a number of functions. These include assisting the World and Regional Conferences, and the World and Regional Committees, and their subsidiary bodies. It provides services for the development and promotion of Scouting throughout the world. It maintains relations with member organizations and assists them in developing Scouting in their country. It encourages the development of Scouting in countries where Scouting may exist, but where there is no member organization. It also supervises the organization of

International and regional Scout events, such as world and regional jamborees. It maintains relations with international organizations whose activities are concerned with your matters.

  The World Scout Bureau provides the secretariat for WOSM’s committiees, task forces, and working groups. It assists in the development of youth programmes and publishes regular newsletters, which provide  communication among national Scout organizations.

  The World Scout Foundation is a separate legal entity and an integral part of World Scouting. It helps the WOSM by providing part of the finance needed for its activities and for further development. The foundation generates money donations in the form of investment to produce revenue for the benefit of the World Organization.

  The Foundation seeks support from governments, foundations, the business community, individuals, and the Scout movement worldwide. It  focuses on 30 priority countries with outstanding economic potential. The Foundation’s Board is led by on honorary president.In 1990, the honorary president was King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden.The Board is responsible for the Foundation’s policies and programs.It has 25 members, who include business people and Scout leaders from more than 12 countries.The Foundation has a parmanent Scretariat, headed by a director general, located at the World Scout Bureau in Geneva.