As misleading health information spreads and public confidence in scientific evidence faces growing challenges, WHO is calling for stronger community partnerships to protect evidence-based healthcare decisions.
A parent deciding whether to vaccinate a child, a patient weighing medical advice against information circulating on social media, or a community questioning the safety of a public-health intervention may all face the same challenge: knowing which information to trust.
In an environment where health information travels rapidly across digital platforms, distinguishing scientific evidence from misleading claims is becoming increasingly important.
For the World Health Organization (WHO), rebuilding public confidence in science requires more than publishing research findings or issuing health guidelines. It requires engaging the communities expected to use that information.
This is the thinking behind Together for Science and Health, a global movement initiated by WHO to strengthen the relationship between science and society, improve the use of evidence in policymaking and counter health misinformation.
Ahead of its global launch on 10 November 2026, WHO’s Civil Society Commission and the Office of the WHO Chief Scientist brought together approximately 100 representatives of non-State actors on 7 October to discuss how civil society organisations can help restore confidence in scientific evidence.
The discussions focused on a growing recognition that communities should not simply receive scientific information but should also participate in shaping the research, policies and communication that affect their health.
Trust begins with communities
Introducing the initiative, Dr Sylvie Briand, WHO Chief Scientist, outlined a movement built around five values: respect, integrity, scientific rigour, ethical responsibility and social participation.
Its work is organised around three interconnected priorities: strengthening relationships between science and society, ensuring scientific evidence informs policy decisions, and improving communication to counter misinformation.
The approach recognises that scientific knowledge alone does not guarantee public acceptance.
People’s experiences, cultural backgrounds, access to healthcare and previous interactions with health institutions can influence whether they trust medical recommendations.
Dr Viviana MartÃnez-Bianchi, President of the World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA), highlighted the role of family physicians in connecting scientific evidence with everyday healthcare decisions.
She argued that trust develops through sustained relationships, listening and communication that reflects people’s circumstances.
Her contribution reinforced the importance of involving communities in the scientific process rather than treating them as passive recipients of information.
“Our communities cannot be just audiences for science they need to be partners,” she said.
 The role of trusted messengers
The challenge of communicating health evidence becomes particularly important during vaccination campaigns, disease outbreaks and other public-health emergencies.
When communities encounter conflicting information, the credibility of the person delivering the message can influence whether they accept or question health guidance.
Amal Ireifij, Director of the Royal Health Awareness Society in Jordan and a member of the WHO Civil Society Commission, shared experiences from community engagement on childhood immunisation.
She highlighted the importance of clear information, practical answers, strong partnerships and investing in trusted community messengers.
Her contribution pointed to the need for health communication that addresses people’s actual concerns rather than dismissing questions or relying exclusively on technical explanations.
For civil society organisations, this creates an opportunity to connect scientific institutions with communities through familiar communication channels and relationships.
However, their role extends beyond passing information from researchers to the public.
Nihal Said, Senior Technical Advisor at the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and a member of the WHO Civil Society Commission Steering Committee, emphasised that civil society organisations also contribute to generating scientific evidence.
She called for research that includes underserved communities, Indigenous knowledge and gender perspectives, while warning against pseudoscience and biased evidence.
“We are not only sites for data collection we are partners in scientific discovery,” she said.
This perspective raises an important issue for public health: research is more likely to address real community needs when the people affected by health challenges are involved in identifying research priorities and shaping solutions.
Beyond misinformation: addressing the trust deficit
Despite growing recognition of civil society’s role, participants identified several obstacles preventing community organisations from translating scientific evidence into local action.
These included limited access to data, unclear evidence requirements, fragmented support for community programmes and weak collaboration across disciplines.
Such challenges can leave community organisations without the resources or information needed to respond effectively to misleading health claims.
Participants therefore called for stronger two-way communication, accessible and culturally relevant health materials, improved access to scientific advances and greater involvement of women, young people, underserved communities and frontline health workers in research.
They also emphasised the importance of explaining scientific uncertainty and changes in medical guidance.
For the public, understanding why recommendations evolve can be just as important as knowing what the recommendations are. Scientific knowledge develops as new evidence emerges, and communicating those changes transparently can help prevent uncertainty from being mistaken for scientific failure.
The proposed approach places civil society organisations, healthcare workers, youth volunteers and local leaders at the centre of efforts to strengthen public understanding of health evidence.
 A movement beyond its launch
Gerardo Zamora from the Office of the WHO Chief Scientist said the initiative would begin with in-person launch events in Paris and Geneva, alongside online activities.
He emphasised that the 10 November launch should mark the beginning of sustained collaboration rather than a one-day campaign.
Organisations interested in participating can join by endorsing the Declaration of Commitment and completing the affiliation form.
Ultimately, the success of Together for Science and Health will depend on whether its commitments translate into stronger relationships between scientific institutions and the communities they serve.
For health systems, rebuilding trust is not simply a communication exercise. It is essential to ensuring that people can access reliable information, make informed decisions and participate meaningfully in matters affecting their wellbeing.
As misinformation continues to complicate public-health communication, WHO’s message is that defending science requires more than correcting false claims.
It requires making communities equal partners in producing, understanding and applying scientific knowledge.
