Alhendawi announces decision to depart as Secretary General of World Scouting following a transformational tenure
The Secretary General of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), Ahmad Alhendawi, has announced that he will depart from his role in November 2024, concluding a transformational tenure that has seen unprecedented growth in the history of the Scout Movement.
During more than seven years of service, Alhendawi led significant efforts to transform World Scouting, expanding its global reach, deepening its impact, and positioning the organisation for the future. With his service, World Scouting supported National Scout Organizations to reach a record 57 million members across 176 countries and adopted bold new strategies to guide the Scout Movement into the next decade.
In a message to World Scouting’s membership, Alhendawi reflected on his tenure: "My objective was to transform the way we work, expand our outreach, deepen our impact, and enable millions more young people in more countries to benefit from the transformative learning experiences in Scouting. Today, I feel that my mission has been largely fulfilled, and that the timeline I set has allowed us to see meaningful change and chart a new chapter for our Movement."
Alhendawi expressed deep gratitude to his colleagues and the World Scout Movement, adding: "I will know few greater honours in my life than the opportunity to serve our Movement as Secretary General. I would like to thank my colleagues at the World Scout Bureau, successive World and Regional Scout Committees’ Chairpersons and members, and the many volunteers I have had the honour to work with. I thank you for your trust and friendship."
Daniel Corsen Jr., Chairperson of the World Scout Committee (WSC), praised Alhendawi’s leadership and lasting impact: "We are immensely grateful for Ahmad’s outstanding and transformational service as the Secretary General of World Scouting. The impact of his leadership will continue to be felt for many years to come, and thanks to his work, World Scouting is more prepared than ever to embrace future opportunities. The World Scout Committee is grateful for his dedication and vision."
Corsen further noted that the WSC will announce an interim arrangement to support the leadership transition in the coming days following a meeting with the WSC in Jakarta, Indonesia next week. He also noted that the WSC will begin the recruitment process for a new Secretary General in the months ahead.
Ahmad Alhendawi, who took on the role in 2017, leaves behind a legacy of growth, innovation, and unity within the Scout Movement. While he will be taking a new leadership role in the sector, he plans to continue his involvement in Scouting as one of the 5 million grassroots volunteers, supporting the mission to create a better world for every young person.
Read the message from Ahmad Alhendawi here.