Non-State actors information and engagement session
7 October 2026
Amid growing mistrust in science and widespread health misinformation, the WHO Civil Society Commission and the WHO Chief Scientist’s Office held an information session for non-State actors on 7 October 2026. Around 100 participants explored how civil society can strengthen trust, support the use of evidence and bring science closer to communities ahead of the official launch of Together for Science and Health on 10 November. The movement builds on the 2026 World Health Day theme, “Together for health. Stand with science.”
A movement built with communities
Dr Sylvie Briand, WHO Chief Scientist, introduced Together for Science and Health, a WHO-initiated global movement that aims to shape the science that society needs and strengthen the use of evidence in policy and decision-making. Guided by five core values: respect, integrity, scientific rigour, ethical responsibility and social participation, the movement focuses on three areas:
- science and society: building trustworthy science with communities;
- science and policy: informing evidence-based decisions; and
- science and communication: strengthening public dialogue and countering misinformation.
WHO serves as a catalyst and contributor, while participating organizations help to shape and sustain the movement.
Building trust through community engagement
Dr Viviana Martínez-Bianchi, President of the World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA), described how family physicians connect evidence with everyday decisions. She said trust grows through sustained relationships, listening and communication grounded in people’s circumstances, and that community experience should inform research and guidance.
“Our communities cannot be just audiences for science – they need to be partners,” she said.
Amal Ireifij, Director of the Royal Health Awareness Society in Jordan and a member of the WHO Civil Society Commission, shared lessons from community engagement on childhood immunization. She emphasized clear information, practical answers, strong partnerships and investment in trusted messengers. “When these different forms of knowledge come together, evidence becomes more than information, it becomes action,” she said.
Nihal Said, Senior Technical Advisor at the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and a member of the WHO Civil Society Commission Steering Committee, emphasized that civil society generates as well as communicates evidence. She called for research to include underserved communities, Indigenous knowledge and gender perspectives, alongside stronger action on pseudoscience and biased evidence. “We are not only sites for data collection – we are partners in scientific discovery,” she said.
Barriers and opportunities for action
Community organizations, professional associations, academic institutions, product development partnerships and advocacy networks shared how they use WHO guidance and identified barriers to local action.
Barriers included limited access to data, unclear evidence requirements, fragmented support for community programmes and weak links across disciplines. Participants also asked how the movement would connect with existing civil society and youth initiatives, regional and national efforts, and the wider evidence ecosystem.
The discussion highlighted opportunities to:
- strengthen two-way dialogue so community experience informs research, guidance and communication;
- create accessible, culturally relevant materials with practical explanations and answers;
- support trusted messengers such as civil society organizations, health workers, youth volunteers and local leaders;
- expand access to evidence and scientific advances and include underserved communities, women and frontline health workers in research;
- explain scientific change clearly so people can understand uncertainty and assess claims; and
- connect initiatives and sustain local participation through partnerships, shared resources and support for community work.
Next Steps
Gerardo Zamora, from the Office of the WHO Chief Scientist, outlined plans for in-person launch events in Paris and Geneva, alongside online activities. He stressed that the launch was only the beginning and that the movement should build on existing initiatives and sustain action. “Every action counts,” he said. “This movement will not end on 10 November. We hope that it will outlive our work and become yours in the future.”
Organizations can join by endorsing the Declaration of Commitment and completing the affiliation form. Read the affiliation announcement. The movement will launch globally on 10 November 2026 through in-person and online activities. View the launch information.
For more information, visit the Together for Science and Health webpage or contact together@who.int