International Societies, Agencies, and NGOs

The Council of International Neonatal Nurses (COINN) is a dynamic organization representing nurses specializing in the care of newborn infants and their families. COINN plays a key role in the growing international neonatal nursing community and serves as a vital resource for nurses aiming to start national or local organizations, develop care guidelines or professional standards, or seek guidance on neonatal nursing issues.

The Family-Centered Care Taskforce is the first international, multicenter, collaborative initiative solely dedicated to quality improvement in NICU Family-Centered Care. Our mission is to support NICUs as they seek to begin or strengthen FCC in their units by providing free education, resources, and opportunities for quality improvement work.

The Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF) is a registered charity that aims to improve the health of pregnant women and their babies through research and training in fetal medicine. It is supported by The Fetal Medicine Centre and private donations.

With the backing of an international expert group, the Foundation has introduced educational programs for healthcare professionals and parents, along with certificates of competence in various areas of fetal medicine. Both the Foundation and the Centre are led by Professor Kypros Nicolaides, their founder and director.

The Global Breastfeeding Initiative is a long-term public health campaign to raise societal awareness about the importance of breastfeeding for all infants. Developed by the Excellence in Pediatrics Institute (EiP), the initiative seeks to inform and educate stakeholders on the long-term health and wellbeing benefits of breastfeeding.

The initiative’s goal is to develop a global outreach strategy to identify and address real-life barriers to breastfeeding, making a measurable impact at the national level, country by country. Its multidisciplinary educational approach ensures effective engagement with parents, pediatricians, and policymakers.

The Global Sepsis Alliance (GSA) is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to reducing the global burden of sepsis. GSA initiated World Sepsis Day (September 13) and the World Sepsis Congress, a series of free, online global conferences to spread knowledge about sepsis.

Working with over 90 member organizations, patient advocacy groups, professional societies, healthcare authorities, and governments, GSA is helping to implement systemic changes in how sepsis is prioritized, diagnosed, and treated – aligned with the WHO Resolution on Sepsis.

The Healthy Newborn Network (HNN) is a partnership of organizations and individual members committed to improving newborn health worldwide. Launched in 2010 as an initiative of Save the Children’s Saving Newborn Lives (SNL) Program, SNL serves as the HNN secretariat and is primarily responsible for maintaining the HNN website, including compiling resources and content. Active participation is encouraged – members can post resources, blogs, and comments.

HNN connects advocates across the globe and provides a platform for discussion and interaction on a wide range of newborn and maternal health topics. It also features a shared library of newborn health resources, offering the latest research, news, tools, events, articles, success stories, and more from HNN partners around the world.

The International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement (ICHOM) is a non-profit founded in 2012 by Michael E. Porter (Harvard Business School), Martin Ingvar (Karolinska Institutet), and Stefan Larsson (Boston Consulting Group). ICHOM’s mission is to unlock the potential of value-based healthcare by defining global Standard Sets of outcome measures that truly matter to patients and driving their adoption worldwide.

ICHOM has worked with over 30 countries and 600 organizations to implement routine outcomes measurement and facilitate the exchange of best practices to deliver higher value for patients and providers.

In August 2020, ICHOM launched the Preterm and Hospitalized Newborn Health Standard Set (NEO-SS). Developed by a working group of 21 international experts and patient representatives from 20 organizations across 15 countries (including GFCNI, then still EFCNI), NEO-SS sets the standard for measuring outcomes in neonatal care.

The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) is the only global organization representing obstetricians and gynecologists, with member associations in 125 countries and territories.

FIGO envisions a world where all women achieve the highest possible standards of physical, mental, reproductive, and sexual health and wellbeing. Its mission is to improve women’s health and rights, reduce disparities in care for women and newborns, and advance the science and practice of obstetrics and gynecology.

FIGO pursues this mission through advocacy, programming, capacity-building among its member associations, education, and training.

The International Neonatology Association (INA) brings together neonatologists and healthcare professionals from around the world to advance the care of newborns. Through research, education, and global collaboration, INA promotes best practices in neonatal care and supports innovation to improve outcomes for preterm and sick infants.

IPOKRaTES, short for International Postgraduate Organisation for Knowledge Transfer, Research, and Teaching Excellent Students, is a non-governmental, non-profit, and charitable academic society that offers postgraduate seminars primarily in pediatrics and neonatology around the world.

IPOKRaTES seminars provide high-quality education through small group sessions, enabling professionals to stay updated on the latest developments and offering opportunities for direct discussion of practical and scientific issues with international experts.

The NIDCAP Federation International (NFI) promotes the Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP) in hospitals and advocates for its national and international implementation. The program supports the growth and development of preterm infants and aims to improve the quality of care and family support.

Formed in 2001, NFI is a private, non-profit, charitable organization committed to delivering the highest quality education and training for professionals who care for infants in neonatal intensive care units and support their families.

The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH) unites the reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health (RMNCH) communities into a coalition of more than 550 members across seven constituencies: academic and research institutions, donors and foundations, healthcare professionals, multilateral agencies, non-governmental organizations, partner countries, and the private sector. Together, they work toward a world in which all women, newborns, children, and adolescents are not only healthy – but thrive.

PMNCH enables members to align goals, share strategies and resources, and collaborate on interventions to achieve greater impact collectively. It plays a central role in facilitating joint actions – especially in advancing the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 4 and 5 (reducing child mortality and improving maternal health), as tracked by the Countdown to 2015 initiative, and in supporting the Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health and Every Woman Every Child.

The Preterm Birth International Collaborative (PREBIC) Inc. is a non-profit organization supported by March of Dimes and the World Health Organization (WHO).

PREBIC is a global network of clinicians and research scientists working to improve pregnancy and birth outcomes to optimize infant health and long-term development. PREBIC’s preterm birth prevention programs include scientific workshops for healthcare professionals, coordination of research expertise networks, and annual scientific meetings held at the World Health Organization headquarters in Geneva.

The World Association of Perinatal Medicine (WAPM) is a non-profit organization established and registered in Barcelona, Spain, as a continuation of the former World Federation of Perinatal Medicine. WAPM aims to unite individuals and groups globally to promote perinatal medicine for the benefit of both the public and professionals. Its objectives include:

• Disseminating knowledge, research, and studies in all areas of perinatal medicine to improve the physical, mental, and social health of women, fetuses, mothers, and children through equitable perinatal care worldwide
• Teaching, supporting, and enhancing professional standards
• Developing guidelines for auditing, evaluation, and clinical care in perinatal medicine
• Fostering interdisciplinary approaches and promoting collaboration and friendship among individuals, institutions, and professional societies globally

The Alliance for Childhood is a European network organization that aims to:

• Increase respect for childhood as the foundation of human development and raise awareness of the needs of all children
• Develop and inspire ideas for solutions to challenges that may endanger the quality of childhood
• Provide a platform for connection, inspiration, exchange, peer learning, encouragement, and dialogue among policymakers, decision-makers, researchers, practitioners, parents, and all individuals who influence children’s lives

The Confederation of Family Organisations in the European Union (COFACE) is a pluralistic organization that promotes family policy, intergenerational solidarity, and the interests of children within the European Union.

COFACE advocates for non-discrimination and equal opportunities for all individuals and family types, and strongly supports gender equality policies. Established in 1958, COFACE has brought together family organizations across Europe to work on issues such as work-life balance, children’s wellbeing, intergenerational solidarity, migrant families, people with disabilities, gender equality, parenting, health, education, and consumer affairs. With over 50 member organizations across EU member states, COFACE gives voice to millions of families at the EU level.

The Early Nutrition eAcademy (ENeA) is an e-learning initiative created through a collaboration between the Early Nutrition Academy (ENA) and the Dr. von Hauner Children’s Hospital at LMU Medical Center Munich. ENeA’s aim is to provide e-learning modules on topics in the area of early nutrition by incorporating the latest scientific findings from international research projects and other co-operating projects and initiatives which are funded by the European Commission.

EURAIBI aims to prevent, treat, and study brain injury in fetuses and newborns by sharing the expertise of European centers of excellence in areas such as: fetal central nervous system pathophysiology, the maternal-fetal relationship, the intrauterine environment, diagnostic imaging, delivery room challenges, developmental care, and fetal and neonatal pain.

EURAIBI is particularly focused on maternal diseases during pregnancy, intrauterine infections, asphyxia, and the prenatal and postnatal treatment of infants at high risk for brain injury.

The European Association of Perinatal Medicine (EAPM) aims to unite individuals and groups in a European organization that promotes the science of perinatal and maternal medicine for the benefit of mothers and their children.

EAPM hosts a major European congress every two years and, through its working groups, organizes national and international educational courses and meetings. It promotes international research projects, develops guidelines, and conducts site visits to perinatal units to accredit teaching and training in perinatology.

The European Board of Neonatology (EBN) serves as the educational branch of the European Society for Paediatric Research (ESPR).

Through the EBN, the society offers hands-on pre-congress courses, workshops, and both summer and winter schools. These programs support essential areas of practice outlined in the European Curriculum and Syllabus for Training in Neonatology.

EBN also works in close collaboration with NOTE, an international Master’s-level (M) educational program in neonatal medicine designed for doctors and advanced neonatal nurse practitioners. NOTE is delivered online via a unique global Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

All EBN courses are organized and taught by respected senior experts in their respective fields.

EBCOG is the European Board and College of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Section of the Union Européenne des Médecins Spécialistes (UEMS). EBCOG was formed in 1996 through the merger of the European Board of Gynecology and Obstetrics (EBGO) and the European College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ECOG).

EBCOG is based in Brussels and comprises 36 member countries. Its goal is to improve the health of women and their babies by promoting the highest standards of care across Europe. It brings together top-level professionals in obstetrics and gynecology from all member states.

The European Midwives Association (EMA) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization representing midwifery organizations and associations from the member states of the European Union, the European Economic Area (EEA), and EU applicant countries.

The European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Rights (EPF) is a network of members of parliament from across Europe who are dedicated to protecting the sexual and reproductive health of the world’s most vulnerable people, both within Europe and globally.

NEOBRAIN unites small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), industry, and academic groups focused on the diagnosis, management, and neuroprotection of newborns with perinatal brain injury. The initiative centers on the prevention of brain damage, particularly in preterm infants.

The European School of Neonatology (ESN) represents the educational arm of the European Society for Paediatric Research (ESPR) in neonatology. With the mission to improve professional neonatal care in Europe and beyond, its course offerings include:  

• A clinically-integrated Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in Neonatology;
• An academic Master of Science (MSc) in Neonatology (NOTE) in collaboration with the University of Southampton;
• The Neonatologist Performed Echocardiography (NPE) Training Academy;
• Dedicated hands-on trainings during the ESPR’s international congresses; and
• An online lecture series and various webinars.  

The ESN bases its educational programming on the European Training Requirements (ETR) in Neonatology, an ESPR-developed curriculum establishing requirements for specialist training in Neonatology in Europe that received official ratification by the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS). Taking into account principles of evidence-based medicine and family-centred care, the ESN’s portfolio integrates theoretical learning with practical application, enabling clinicians to provide effective neonatal care across all levels tailored to their local clinical settings.

Through initiatives such as the ‘Neonatology Now’ podcast, the ESN extends its reach to a global audience, making high-quality neonatal education accessible to healthcare professionals worldwide.

The European Society for Paediatric Research (ESPR) has been at the forefront of Paediatric medical care and innovation since 1958. As one of the oldest and most prolific Paediatric societies in Europe all activities follow its mission: Developing and applying research to improve newborn and child health. The ESPR activities are organised according to three pillars:

1. The ten sections representing different Paediatric sub-specialties fostering development of research and education, publication of research and guidelines;
2. The European School of Neonatology (ESN) acting as the society’s educational arm in neonatology and implementing a wide range of educational activities. This includes a clinically-integrated Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in Neonatology, an academic Master of Science (MSc) in Neonatology (NOTE) in collaboration with the University of Southampton, the Neonatologist Performed Echocardiography (NPE) Training Academy, and dedicated ESN hands-on courses during our international congresses and meetings. With its podcast “Neonatology Now”, the ESN reaches a global audience.

3. The European Board of Neonatal Child Health Research (EBNCHR) that periodically reviews the European Training Requirements (ETR) in Neonatology and provides leadership in the context of child health research policy and funding.

    

The ESPR co-organises large-scale annual conferences, supports investigators with research grants, runs a mentoring programme and disseminates cutting-edge findings through its Springer-Nature journal Pediatric Research, amongst others.

Based on its heritage and proudly looking back at a long list of achievements, the ESPR continues to promote scientific excellence and collaboration between different Paediatric specialties. This the ESPR does ‘from bench to bedside’ – meaning it fosters research to improve patient treatment and advance clinical practice.

The European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) is a multi-professional organization whose mission is to promote the health of children, with special focus on the gastrointestinal tract, liver, and nutritional status. This is achieved through the creation of knowledge, dissemination of science-based information, promotion of best practices in care delivery, and the provision of high-quality education for pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition professionals in Europe and beyond.

The European Society of Paediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care (ESPNIC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the care of critically ill children and newborns. Our society consists of both nurses and doctors who are committed to sharing knowledge and improving the quality of pediatric and neonatal intensive care at both European and international levels. We are also deeply dedicated to promoting multidisciplinary collaboration among pediatric, neonatal, and adult intensivists, as well as nurses, while ensuring that our members have a strong voice in European and international healthcare.

In this endeavor, ESPNIC is committed to promoting and advancing the art and science of pediatric and neonatal intensive care. We raise awareness among professionals, and within European and international organizations, through a wide range of activities including annual congresses, training programs, educational courses, and networking opportunities with leading experts in pediatric and neonatal intensive care (PICU & NICU).

The Society offers doctors, nurses, and allied healthcare professionals the opportunity to shape their specialty at both national and international levels by fostering a strong networking platform within a multidisciplinary environment.

The EURO-PERISTAT project aims to develop valid and reliable indicators for monitoring and evaluating perinatal health in the European Union. The project began in 1999 as part of the EU’s Health Monitoring Programme and now has official representation from 31 countries across Europe and a large network of contributing experts. EURO-PERISTAT has published European Perinatal Health Reports in 2008, 2013, 2018, and 2022.

Pain in Early Life (PEARL) is a group of researchers – mainly from the Nordic countries – dedicated to helping children live without pain. PEARL specializes in non-pharmacological pain management, pain assessment, and the role of parents in managing pain.

PEARL targets three main groups: parents, healthcare professionals, and researchers, and collaborates with pain experts from around the world.

The mission of UENPS (Union of European Neonatal and Perinatal Societies) is to improve healthcare in neonatal and perinatal medicine across European countries. The main goals of UENPS are to enhance the quality of perinatal and neonatal care by integrating, coordinating, and strengthening the efforts of national and scientific societies; to promote awareness of perinatal indicators; and to develop recommendations, guidelines, and training programs for healthcare providers. UENPS also aims to implement tools and strategies that ensure the best possible healthcare for every newborn and the protection of neonatal rights, regardless of where they are born.

In line with its mission, UENPS established the “UENPS Hall of Knowledge” in 2019. Its purpose is to consolidate the society’s experience and cultural activities over the years and offer a broader educational approach to key topics in neonatology.