UICC members around the world

The beating heart of UICC is its thriving community of member organisations, numbering 1,201 in 173 countries. These members include cancer societies, patient support groups, research and cancer centres, non-government organisations (NGOs), grassroots organisations, professional associations and government agencies shaping cancer control everywhere in the world.

In 2021, UICC members persevered in the face of the pandemic’s many challenges, maintaining and even increasing their level of engagement across UICC programmes and activities. At the same time, UICC worked to strengthen relationships with its members by keeping in constant communication and responding to members’ needs through online engagement and specific learning opportunities to help address new and unique demands arising from the pandemic.

The Membership Support Fund, a mechanism that enables UICC to help members experiencing financial challenges, was one such initiative. It ensured that member organisations – especially those from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) – could maintain their memberships despite COVID-19’s considerable financial impacts. As a result, not only was UICC able to retain a large number of members, but membership even saw slight growth.

These challenging times also provided opportunities to create a deeper sense of community within the UICC membership sphere. Through initiatives like the Virtual Dialogues, and in particular the Regional Series, members from around the world were able to come together in virtual spaces and engage in lively conversations, underscoring the importance of meaningful communication to counteract the isolating effects of the pandemic.