IPMA CoD Communiqué

IPMA Council of Delegates Communiqué

28 March 2026

Leading Projects in a BANI World – Strengthening Competence for a Sustainable and Peaceful Future

The Council of Delegates (CoD) of the International Project Management Association (IPMA) convened online on 28 March 2026, at a time when the world is experiencing unprecedented volatility and transformation.

We are navigating a world that is not only volatile, but increasingly brittle, anxious, nonlinear, and incomprehensible—a BANI world. Disruptions ripple across economies, societies, supply chains, and ways of working. Certainty is replaced by ambiguity; stability by constant transformation.

Yet within this complexity lies a profound truth:

Projects are how humanity responds.

Projects are how we rebuild, transform, innovate, and create sustainable change. Project professionals are the stewards of that transformation.

Since its foundation in 1965 in politically neutral Switzerland, IPMA has stood as a globally trusted, independent, and politically neutral organization, uniting the project profession across borders.

Today, IPMA connects a global community spanning over 70 countries, serving as a platform for collaboration, competence development, and knowledge exchange—true to its legacy as a “United Nations of Project Management.”

Beyond its 70 national Member Associations, IPMA continues to expand its presence and impact, particularly by strengthening engagement in the Middle East and China, where its offices actively support the development of the project profession.

IPMA also continues to collaborate with global organizations and peer professions to advocate for sustainable cooperation and shared progress.

However, the nature of competence is evolving.

Technical excellence alone is no longer sufficient. The future demands leaders who can navigate complexity, embrace uncertainty, act ethically, and deliver sustainable impact.

IPMA is therefore undertaking a comprehensive evolution of its global standards:

• Individual Competence Baseline (ICB)

• Organisational Competence Baseline (OCB)

• Project Excellence Baseline (PEB)

These next-generation standards will redefine what it means to be a project professional in the 21st century—embedding sustainability, adaptability, systems thinking, and human-centered leadership at their core.

The IPMA Council of Delegates reserves formal approval of these updated standards for an Extraordinary CoD in Summer 2026, enabling their official launch and global celebration at a symbolic occasion—the 35th IPMA World Congress in Hiroshima, Japan, in September 2026—under the theme: “Delivering Peace: Project Management for a Sustainable World.”

Inspired by Hiroshima’s enduring message of peace, the Congress will reaffirm the role of the project profession in providing the structure, leadership, and collaboration needed to transform vision into reality.

Together, we gather to imagine—and build—a more sustainable future, one project at a time.

To lead transformation, IPMA must also transform.

The introduction of a new membership model across its global federation marks a decisive step forward—supporting IPMA Member Associations to grow in maturity, strengthen their value, and operate on sustainable foundations.

This is more than structural evolution—it is a commitment to building a stronger, more resilient, and more impactful global community.

The Council reaffirms that project management is a leading discipline for shaping the future—enabling societies and organizations to respond to disruption while delivering sustainable value.

As emphasized by Wangari Maathai – the first African woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for her contributions to sustainable development, democracy, and peace:

“Peace, development and environmental protection are interdependent and indivisible.”

This insight underscores the responsibility of project professionals to act as agents of transformation—driving sustainability, resilience, and peace through their work.

The IPMA Council of Delegates calls upon its Member Associations, partners and institutions, and project professionals worldwide to continue strengthening competence, collaboration, and ethical leadership as the foundation for a sustainable and peaceful world.

In a BANI world, projects are not only tools for delivery—they are instruments of stability, progress, and hope.

By leading projects competently and responsibly, we shape a future that is more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient.

Prof. Dr. Mladen Vukomanović, IPMA President, stated on the occasion:

“In a world defined by uncertainty and disruption, competence becomes our most powerful anchor. By continuously developing the capabilities of project professionals, we enable not only successful project delivery, but the creation of a more sustainable and resilient future. Through projects, we are not simply managing change—we are building back a better world for generations to come.”

Joop Schefferlie, Chairman of the Council of Delegates, stated:

“IPMA’s strength lies in its global community of Member Associations. It is through their commitment, collaboration, and shared values that we continue to grow as a truly international federation. Together, we empower one another to elevate the project profession and to deliver meaningful impact in our societies.”

For any enquiries: info@ipma.world