Collaboration

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The Global Self-Care Federation (GSCF) believes that meaningful collaboration is essential to advancing self-care worldwide. We work with a wide range of partners — from international organisations and governments to civil society and academia — to drive policy change, share knowledge, and amplify the impact of self-care.

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Through strategic alliances, we advocate for the integration of self-care into health systems, support research and innovation, and promote awareness of the benefits of responsible self-care among consumers and healthcare professionals.

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GSCF holds official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO), a status that reflects our shared commitment to improving global health outcomes. Through this partnership, we:

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• Contribute to WHO policy discussions on self-care, universal health coverage, and non-communicable disease prevention
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• Participate in WHO governing body meetings and technical consultations
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• Support the implementation of WHO's self-care interventions guidelines
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• Collaborate on public health campaigns that promote responsible self-care practices
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• Provide industry expertise on the development and appropriate use of self-care products
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Our engagement with WHO is guided by the WHO Framework of Engagement with Non-State Actors (FENSA), ensuring transparency and alignment with public health priorities.

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GSCF collaborates with United Nations agencies and programmes to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to health and well-being (SDG 3), gender equality (SDG 5), and partnerships for the goals (SDG 17).

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Key areas of collaboration include:

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• UN Interagency Task Force on NCDs — Contributing to the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases through self-care interventions
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• UN Environment Programme (UNEP) — Advancing environmental sustainability in the self-care products value chain
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• UN Development Programme (UNDP) — Supporting health system strengthening in low- and middle-income countries through self-care
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GSCF works with national governments and regulatory authorities around the world to create policy environments that support self-care. Our engagements with member states focus on:

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• Advocating for the inclusion of self-care in national health policies and strategies
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• Providing technical input on regulatory frameworks for self-care products
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• Sharing evidence on the socio-economic impact of self-care
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• Supporting public health education initiatives that promote health literacy
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• Facilitating dialogue between policymakers, healthcare professionals, and industry
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Beyond intergovernmental organisations and governments, GSCF partners with a diverse range of stakeholders who share our vision for a world where self-care contributes to better health and more sustainable healthcare systems.

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Academic & Research Institutions

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We collaborate with universities and research centres to build the evidence base for self-care, including studies on health outcomes, consumer behaviour, and health system economics.

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Healthcare Professional Organisations

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Engaging with doctors, pharmacists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals is essential to integrating self-care into broader healthcare delivery. We work with professional associations to develop guidance and training on self-care support.

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Patient & Consumer Groups

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We partner with patient advocacy organisations and consumer groups to ensure that the voice of individuals is central to self-care policy and practice.

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Civil Society & NGOs

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Collaboration with non-governmental organisations helps us reach communities worldwide, particularly in underserved areas where self-care can have the greatest impact on health equity.

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Industry Partners

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Through our member companies and associations, GSCF brings together the expertise of the self-care industry to drive innovation, quality, and responsible practices across the sector.

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GSCF's approach to collaboration is built on the principles of transparency, mutual respect, and shared value. We believe that the most effective solutions emerge when diverse perspectives come together around a common goal.

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Our partnerships are guided by:

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• Evidence-based advocacy — Ensuring our policy recommendations are grounded in robust scientific and economic evidence
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• Multi-stakeholder dialogue — Creating platforms for open exchange between all actors in the self-care ecosystem
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• Capacity building — Supporting partners with knowledge, tools, and resources to advance self-care in their contexts
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• Accountability — Maintaining clear governance frameworks and reporting on partnership outcomes
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