Breast Cancer programme

Objectives of the programme

Leveraging UICC’s global network, learning and development portfolio, convening platforms and advocacy channels, the Breast Cancer programme strengthens the skills, knowledge, networks and resources of the breast cancer community to improve quality breast cancer care at the national level. The programme is aligned with the WHO Global Breast Cancer Initiative (GBCI) and supports the translation of its global framework into action across countries and regions.

The programme brings together cancer organisations, patient groups, healthcare professionals, the private sector, governments and multilateral agencies to strengthen collaboration and support progress towards the GBCI targets, with a particular focus on low- and middle-income countries. 

Through a series of activities and opportunities, the programme aims to deliver the following key outcomes:

• Equip breast cancer professionals with the knowledge and skills to strengthen the health workforce
• Strengthen the organisational capacities of breast cancer organisations, including patient groups
• Support national action to advance breast cancer early detection
• Strengthen networks and collaborations at national, regional and global levels
• Strengthen the voice and influence of the breast cancer community, including people with lived experience, to advocate for more effective breast cancer control  

Driving national action to advance early detection  

Since 2020, UICC has supported 19 projects in 18 countries to implement evidence-based approaches to improve the availability of and access to breast cancer early detection. Led by civil society organisations, hospitals and universities, these projects have strengthened breast health awareness, healthcare worker capacity, referral pathways and access to early detection services, particularly for underserved populations. Together, they have enabled 117,864 women to be examined for breast cancer, trained 3,118 healthcare professionals in early detection and reached 632,029 people through awareness campaigns, events and breast cancer information. The 19 case studies of the early detection projects are available here. 

Advancing national breast cancer control through advocacy

UICC supports breast cancer organisations to strengthen their advocacy capacity and engage decision-makers in advancing stronger national breast cancer responses. Through advocacy training, mentoring, resources and opportunities for collective action, 34 breast cancer organisations have received individual mentoring in advocacy, while UICC-supported projects have engaged 1,735 policymakers.

UICC has developed a Breast Cancer Advocacy Handbook, aligned with the WHO GBCI, to guide and inspire cancer organisations and advocates in mobilising governments and institutions to prioritise breast cancer in national funding and policy agendas. The handbook is available in English, Arabic, Spanish, French and Brazilian Portuguese. Complementing this, UICC’s breast cancer policy brief highlights key recommendations for governments to strengthen equitable access to breast cancer care.  

Supporting knowledge exchange and professional development  

UICC provides learning and professional development opportunities to strengthen the knowledge, skills and competencies of professionals and organisations working across breast cancer prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and patient support. Between 2020 and 2025, 254 breast cancer organisations accessed learning opportunities, while 3,616 cancer professionals were trained through UICC learning and fellowship opportunities and UICC-supported national projects.  

These opportunities include the Global Breast Cancer Initiative foundational online course, developed by UICC in collaboration with WHO and launched in October 2024, as well as peer-to-peer and cohort-based learning opportunities. The course builds on earlier initiatives including a dedicated Project ECHO® focused on the Knowledge Summaries for Breast Cancer, which engaged 25 breast cancer organisations over six months.

Convening the breast cancer community regionally and globally 

UICC creates opportunities for the breast cancer community to connect, collaborate and exchange knowledge across regions and stakeholders. Between 2020 and 2025, the programme convened 17 virtual and in-person events and engaged 306 organisations in peer-to-peer learning. These included Virtual Dialogues, regional meetings and dedicated global workshops delivered in collaboration with the WHO Global Breast Cancer Initiative at the World Cancer Congress.  

Regional convenings in Francophone Africa, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific have also brought together breast cancer groups with wider women’s cancer communities to exchange experiences, identify shared priorities and strengthen regional collaboration.

Throughout the year, UICC members can also exchange knowledge and experiences through UICC Connect, UICC’s online community platform. 

Support the development of the health workforce in breast cancer

UICC strengthens the skills and competencies of healthcare professionals working across breast cancer prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and patient support through Technical Fellowships, online learning, workshops and project-based training. Between 2020 and 2025, 3,616 cancer professionals were trained, including 498 directly through UICC learning and fellowship opportunities and a further 3,118 healthcare professionals through UICC-supported national projects.  

During this period, 50 Technical Fellowships in breast cancer were awarded, enabling professionals to acquire practical expertise, exchange knowledge with peers and adapt approaches to their own settings. 

A multi-partnership initiative

In line with its ambition to engage actors across the breast cancer community, UICC’s Breast Cancer programme is a multi-partnership initiative bringing together organisations from the private sector, development agencies and NGOs. Over its first five years, the programme has been supported by Pfizer as Founding Partner, Daiichi Sankyo, the US National Cancer Institute Center for Global Health, Breast Health Global Initiative, Revolution Watches, MD Anderson, Novartis, AstraZeneca, Roche and Susan G. Komen, and implemented in collaboration with the WHO's Global Breast Cancer Initiative.

In collaboration with: