WHO Civil Society Commission: members

The Commission brings together more than 540 civil society organizations from across WHO's six regions. Members include grassroots and community-based organizations, civil society networks, faith-based organizations, professional associations, patient organizations and youth-led organizations. 

The Commission seeks to reflect a diversity of perspectives, experiences and contexts, including organizations working at global, regional, national and local levels.


List of members
PDF | List of accepted members to the WHO Civil Society Commission

Eligibility 

The WHO Civil Society Commission is intended for non-governmental organizations interested in strengthening engagement between WHO and civil society and contributing to public health. 

Organizations may be eligible if they: 

  • align with the WHO Constitution and WHO policies; 
  • meet WHO's definition of a non-State actor; 
  • respect the intergovernmental nature of WHO and the decision-making role of Member States; 
  • contribute to public health; and 
  • support the mission of the Commission.  

Important: The Commission is not focused on a specific disease, technical area or health programme. It focuses on strengthening engagement between WHO and civil society across the Organization. Organizations seeking engagement on a specific technical topic may find WHO's technical advisory groups, expert networks and programme-specific mechanisms more relevant. 

How to apply 

Applications for membership normally open once a year following the Annual General Meeting. 

When applications are open, organizations will be asked to provide information on: 

  • mission and objectives; 
  • governance and leadership; 
  • areas of work and expertise; 
  • membership or constituency; 
  • funding sources and financial information; 
  • partnerships and affiliations; and 
  • interest in contributing to the Commission. 

Supporting documents, including a signed Tobacco and Arms Disclosure Statement, are also required. All applications undergo due diligence and risk assessment in accordance with WHO policies and procedures. 

Membership applications are currently closed. The next application round will be announced on this page. 

Applications to participate in the WHO Civil Society Commission

We invite your organization to apply for participation in the WHO Civil Society Commission by completing the application form and submitting the required documentation via the CSO Commission Application Platform. Please note that the application process is open on a rolling basis, with no fixed deadline for submissions.

As part of the application, you will be asked to provide relevant information about your organization, including (where applicable):

  • official name and legal status
  • membership structure
  • mission and objectives
  • governance structure and composition of main decision-making bodies
  • assets, annual income, and sources of funding
  • key affiliations relevant to WHO’s work
  • website or other online presence
  • a signed Tobacco and Arms Disclosure Statement (mandatory).

All applications will undergo a due diligence and risk assessment process to ensure alignment with the eligibility criteria, and in accordance with WHO’s rules and policies. We encourage you to submit accurate and complete information to facilitate a smooth review process. Approved organizations will be listed on the WHO website as participants in the WHO Civil Society Commission.