On 10 November 2026, World Science Day for Peace and Development, the World Health Organization launched Together for Science and Health, a global movement intended to strengthen trust in science and use science to improve health and development. WHO’s news release is datelined Geneva, Paris, Brazzaville and New Delhi.
What WHO says was launched
- Scale: WHO says more than 240 organizations are part of the movement, including scientists, leaders, policy-makers and institutions across sectors.
- Launch events: the launch was marked by 12 events across countries and regions, and is closely associated with the Paris Peace Forum. WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and French President Emmanuel Macron are named as leading the launch.
- Three focus areas: bringing science and society closer together; strengthening the use of evidence in health policy-making; and improving how science is communicated and discussed.
- Working method: participants are to share effective approaches, resources and lessons, and build practical collaborations.
In the release, Dr Tedros is quoted as saying that “science is one of humanity’s most powerful tools, and has always been the engine of better health.” WHO Chief Scientist Sylvie Briand is quoted as saying: “No institution, country or community can build and sustain trust alone.”
How organizations can take part
WHO invites organizations and institutions worldwide to join, contribute their expertise and networks, and help build trusted science that supports better health. The release links to a Declaration of Commitment (a PDF hosted by WHO) and to an initiative page. It does not describe a formal application process, membership fees or specific steps for individual researchers, and the text of the declaration was not part of the release itself, so institutions should read the declaration directly before treating anything as a commitment. WHO had earlier invited organizations to join in a 13 October 2026 announcement.
What this means for researchers and research offices
This section is editorial interpretation, not WHO’s statement.
- Research communication is framed as shared work. WHO’s third focus area, how science is communicated and discussed, places public-facing communication alongside evidence-informed policy as a joint responsibility of institutions, not only of individual scientists. Communications, engagement and research-impact teams may find it a reference point when planning outreach.
- Evidence use in policy is an explicit goal. Offices that support policy engagement, knowledge exchange or impact case development may want to track which shared approaches and resources the movement publishes.
- Joining is an institutional decision. Because the invitation is addressed to organizations, any sign-on to the declaration is likely to involve leadership, legal and communications review. Whether a particular university has joined is not something the WHO release states.
- Outcomes are not yet known. The release announces intent and a network; it does not set measurable targets, funding or reporting requirements that would affect grants or compliance.
Related CASRAI pages: engagement, impact and SDG terms.
Sources
- WHO, WHO launches “Together for Science and Health” movement to strengthen trust worldwide, 10 November 2026.
- WHO, WHO invites organizations worldwide to join the Together for Science and Health movement, 13 October 2026.
