WHO Civil Society Commission: participants

Participants are invited to actively participate in the WHO Civil Society Commission, attend and participate at regular General and ad hoc meetings; and to take responsibility according to the division of labor, and make meaningful contributions, in connection with the work and activities of the Civil Society Commission and its working groups.

Participating civil society organizations
PDF | List of accepted participants to the WHO Civil Society Commission

How to participate

The Civil Society Commission’s participants consist of non-governmental organizations, including: grassroots community organizations, civil society groups and networks, faith-based organizations, professional groups and patient groups. It is expected to have representation from a cross section of civil society organizations, from different income settings and geographical areas, as well as global, regional, national, and local levels.

The WHO Civil Society Commission participants must meet the following criteria:

  • the aims and purposes should be consistent with the WHO Constitution and conform with WHO’s policies;
  • the participants should respect the intergovernmental nature of WHO and the decision-making authority of Member States as set out in the WHO Constitution;
  • the participant should be considered a non-governmental organization in line with the definition set in the WHO’s Framework of Engagement with non-State actors; and
  • the participant should contribute to the advancement of public health at international, regional, and national and local levels and to the objectives, vision and goal of the WHO Civil Society Commission.

Each WHO Civil Society Commission participant is expected to:

  • adhere to the Terms of Reference of the WHO Civil Society Commission;
  • actively participate in and support the WHO Civil Society Commission, its purpose, goals, objectives, guiding principles, work and activities;
  • attend and participate actively and constructively at the WHO Civil Society Commission’s regular General and ad hoc meetings;
  • take responsibility according to the division of labor, and make meaningful contributions, in connection with the work and activities of the Civil Society Commission and its working groups;
  • act in the best interest of public health in alignment with WHO policies; and
  • ensure effective communication with the Secretariat and the Steering Committee related to activities relevant to its mission and vision.

 

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.