The Fifth Triad meeting of the International Council of Nurses, the World Health Organization and the International Confederation of Midwives was held on 16–17 May 2014 in Geneva, Switzerland. Participants included government chief nursing and midwifery officers, and representatives of national nursing and midwifery associations and regulatory bodies. The focus of the fifth Triad meeting was on strengthening the nursing and midwifery workforce to support universal health coverage as a means to achieve health goals.