The World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS), founded in 1955, in Switzerland, as a professional, scientific, non governmental organization, is composed of 130 member societies: consisting of 5 Continental Associations (AANS, AASNS, CAANS, EANS and FLANC), 6 Affiliate Societies, and 119 National Neurosurgical Societies, representing some 50,000 neurosurgeons worldwide. It has a consultative status in the United Nations. The official Journal of the Organization is World Neurosurgery.

The World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies aspires to promote global improvement in neurosurgical care. The mission of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) is to work together with their member learned societies to improve worldwide neurosurgical care, training and research to benefit their patients.

The headquarter of the WFNS is located in Praha.

The World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies Foundation promotes the worldwide development of Neurosurgery, mainly concerning basic neurosurgical issues and focusing on developing countries.

Millions of people suffer brain and spine related injuries, tumors, and infections worldwide. In developing countries people frequently die or are left with permanent disabilities due to the lack of neurosurgical access. To help meet the world’s neurosurgical needs, the WFNS Foundation was created in 2000 in Geneva, inspired by Professor Madjid Samii and Professor Gerardo Martín Rodríguez, both current WFNS Honorary Presidents, as a branch of the Federation, with its own authorities and Executive & Advisory Board. The WFNS Foundation does not participate in WFNS or Regional Federations political activities. However, it has active participation in all projects or programs meant to reduce inequality in worldwide neurosurgical management, with equity as the essence of our mission.

The WFNS Foundation is dedicated to:
    Training and supporting the post-graduate education of young neurosurgeons in developing countries – we offer an international network of Training Centers.
    Providing travel scholarships to young neurosurgeons to attend educational courses and fellowships.
    Providing high-quality, low-cost instrument sets and equipment to neurosurgeons in developing countries. Companies in the industry such as Aesculap, Carl Zeiss, Storz have contributed to our purpose.

The address of the WFNS Foudation is located in Nyon.