Our international programmes

We run programmes in more than 5 countries and we're always looking for more opportunities to make a positive impact.
See what we're up to in each country below.
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See the impact of our International Academy and get involved
That's why we set up the RCN International Nursing Academy. Learn about our international work, from training programmes to government lobbying, and see how you can get involved.
We're committed to promoting the rights, expertise and leadership of nursing staff around the world. If you'd like to get involved in one of our programmes as a nursing professional, partner or funder, contact us today.
Our report, Unreciprocated Care: why internationally educated nursing staff are leaving the UK, is based on a survey of over 3,000 migrant nursing staff, including care workers, nursing support workers and registered nurses.
Read our new report on how the UK government and employers can address this crisis.
We work with humanitarian programmes to help protect nursing staff working in natural disasters and conflict zones.
We partner with national nursing associations to reach and support nursing staff in countries around the world.
We provide members preparing to start work in the UK with helpful resources and opportunities to connect with other nursing staff.
Marcus Wootton MSc PGCE PDTN BSc (Hons) BN (Hons) RN (A) RN (C)
Marcus began his career in Vietnam and then in South Sudan with Médecins Sans Frontières as an outreach nurse, treating victims of war alongside supporting two vaccination campaigns across the Eastern Upper Nile.
His global health has included teaching and consultancy projects in Kenya, Zambia and Uganda alongside working with the charity Medical Justice supporting victims of torture who were mistreated during detention in UK immigration removal centres.
Following the successful completion of his MSc, Marcus joined the global team at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. His initial focus was the colleges' Myanmar Programme and a smaller neonatal outreach programme with Angkor Children's Hospital, Cambodia.
From 2016 to 2021, the Myanmar programme, supported by UNICEF and working across four regions, saw significant reductions in paediatric and neonatal mortality and the programme was awarded a British Medical Journal South Asia award for Excellence in Medical Education. He also worked to develop paediatric care in Nepal.
In his new role,e Marcus is actively supporting nurses in conflict – particularly Myanmar
He continues to lecture at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, is an Honorary fellow of the University of Edinburgh and London Southbank University and has published several articles and book chapters on global health and nursing.
Elsa Afonso, MSc, PGCE, BScN (Hons), HEA Fellow
Elsa began her nursing career in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit in Lisbon, Portugal, where she developed an interest in global and humanitarian health. After completing a Diploma in Tropical Nursing and an MSc in Global Health at Trinity College Dublin, she joined Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in Zimbabwe as a Project Nurse on a remote HIV/AIDS programme, where she led local teams and managed clinical operations in challenging settings.
She has since worked as a clinical and research nurse in Barcelona and served as a clinical education facilitator in the NICU at Cambridge University Hospitals, supporting staff training and also international exchange programmes with Botswana. Her expertise in neonatal care has been applied to global health education projects, including co-developing nurse training programmes in partnership with Cambridge Global Health Partnerships.
Elsa has held a senior academic role at Anglia Ruskin University and is currently an associate lecturer at the International University of Barcelona (UIC), where she coordinates modules on global nursing and international development. She is also a core faculty member of the European Society of Intensive
Care Medicine (ESICM), co-directing the Sepsis and Infection Learning Pathway for ICU clinicians worldwide. She is currently undertaking doctoral research at Ghent University, and she has published several peer-reviewed articles.
As Head of the International Academy at the Royal College of Nursing, Elsa supports global health programmes in Sri Lanka, Malawi, and the UK Overseas Territories.
Chantal Nunes is the personal assistant to the International and leadership academies. She has extensive expertise across the charity and membership sector. Following successful completion of her studies she worked in finance before moving into events and charity organisations. This included work at the Development Trust Association (now known as Locality EK) where she held several roles including executive assistant – her focus included policy and advocacy work on behalf of members and influencing decision making in local and national government.
She then moved to Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), Royal Veterinary College, Royal College of General Practitioners as the assistant Business Manager and worked again in policy and engagement. Following a move into higher education at the University of East London she started at the RCN in 2024.
Ibrahim is the administrator of the international and leadership academies.
We run programmes in more than 5 countries and we're always looking for more opportunities to make a positive impact.
See what we're up to in each country below.
Developed by Ghanaian and UK nursing experts, this programme aims to:
Ghana’s health outcomes have improved over the past decade. Life expectancy has increased, and there’s been a shift towards non-communicable diseases, which cause 45% of deaths. These changes demand higher-quality hospital care. Ghana also faces challenges from 3 of the 5 World Health Organisation-designated neglected tropical diseases. While child survival improved between 2015 and 2021, deaths among babies and under-5s still fall short of Sustainable Development Goal targets.
Our partnership with Ghana includes a programme to address these evolving needs by placing Ghana’s nursing workforce at the centre and strengthening nursing leadership. By effectively supporting leaders at regional boards and hospitals, we can help enhance governance and communication across health care levels.
We’re also partnered with Ghana through the International Council of Nursing’s ODENNA initiative.
Malawi faces a severe nursing shortage, with only 0.7 nurses and midwives per 1,000 population in 2020—one of the lowest in Sub-Saharan Africa. This shortage, worsened by nurse migration and poor working conditions, leaves the country with fewer than 40,000 registered nurses for over 20 million people, especially straining rural health care.
Despite having nursing training institutions, limited professional development and job opportunities hinder retention. Alongside the International Council of Nurses, we’re working to address these challenges through initiatives like ODENNA, which strengthens the National Organisation of Nurses and Midwives (NONM).
Our partnership with Malawi started in 2004. It focuses on leadership development and improving nursing conditions. Under ODENNA, efforts include:
These initiatives aim to improve nurse wellbeing, professionalise the workforce, and boost engagement with NONM.
Nursing staff in Myanmar have faced huge challenges since the military coup in 2021. The political crisis has destabilised the health care system and disrupted care provision. Nursing staff are often targeted for their involvement in opposition groups, facing harassment, detention and violence.
Many have fled the country or relocated, critically weakening the health care system, especially in conflict regions where medical facilities are scarce. Those who remain are working under unsafe conditions with inadequate resources. International humanitarian aid attempts to reach the most needed, but there are huge obstacles in coordination and resource allocation. Meanwhile, rates of infectious disease are on the rise, and essential medications, including vaccinations, are restricted.
Nursing education is a challenge. Lecturers, nurses and student nurses operate covertly in resource-limited facilities. We’re heavily involved in supporting an undergraduate nursing degree and a ‘bridging’ degree in a number of areas in Myanmar. We continue to advocate for our colleagues across the country and will grow this work throughout 2025.
Sri Lanka, recovering from civil war, terrorist attacks and a financial crisis declared in 2022, is stabilising economically through policy reforms and international aid. But non-communicable diseases remain a significant health challenge, accounting for 81% of deaths and 77% of disability-adjusted life years.
To address this, the country introduced the postgraduate specialised role of Public Health Nursing Officers (PHNOs), who provide community-based care for chronic and end-of-life patients. Despite progress, PHNOs face challenges like heavy workloads, low pay and inefficient referral systems. Nursing documentation also prioritises data collection over care planning and follow-up.
In collaboration with the WHO, we supported a 3-day educational programme in November 2024, training PHNOs in communication, dementia care, holistic assessment and documentation. The workshop, co-funded by WHO and endorsed by Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Health, has received positive feedback. We’re now planning for further capacity-building initiatives and a wider programme to enhance the impact of PHNOs in improving patient care.
The United Kingdom Overseas Territories (UKOTs) maintain a constitutional connection with the UK, which supports their health systems due to legal and moral responsibilities. Some of these territories, home to over 300,000 people, face significant challenges in mental health care.
Mental health services are underfunded and fragmented, with only 1-7% of health budgets allocated to mental health in the English-speaking Caribbean. Around 60% of individuals with mental illnesses in the region receive no treatment. Due to limited specialist care, nurses – often non-specialists – provide the majority of mental health care.
There is a pressing need for action plans to improve primary care mental health services, enhance staff capabilities, and support general nurses in delivering effective mental health care.
We supported prison nurses in UKOTs through a community of practice. We’re exploring ways to expand this work and widen the impact to the global nursing community.
Keen to use your nursing skills overseas? We're looking for passionate nursing staff interested in supporting our programmes.
If you represent a nursing association from outside of the UK, get in touch to see how we can support your vital work.
If you represent a philanthropic organisation or funding agency looking to support the global nursing workforce, contact us today.
We're committed to advocating for the nursing profession on a global scale, while upholding our principles of independence and ethical engagement. Read our position on engaging with international governments and administrations.
By collaborating with global nursing organisations and policymakers, we help shape international health policy and support the global nursing workforce. Explore our international policy work and the key issues we’re addressing.
Nursing staff around the world risk their lives to provide care in dangerous settings. This framework provides consistent parameters for when and how we engage in humanitarian crises guided by the principle of 'do no harm.'