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Skill-Up Programme

UCS Skill-Up Initiative: Strengthening Capacity, Collaboration, and Collective Impact

In January 2024, UCS launched the Skill-Up (Sharing Knowledge, Information, and Lessons Learned for United Performance) Programme in response to direct feedback from its members. Members expressed a strong need for structured capacity building, more frequent engagement opportunities, and a platform where newer organizations could learn from the experience and best practices of long-standing members. Over the past two years, Skill-Up has evolved into a flagship engagement and learning initiative within the UCS umbrella.

The Skill-Up programme was designed with an objective to foster regular interaction and networking among members, encourage peer-to-peer learning, promote organic collaboration, and ultimately strengthen members’ ability to deliver effectively on their cancer control missions.

Held every last Thursday of the month via Zoom, each Skill-Up session runs for 90 minutes and consistently attracts an average of 26–30 participants, demonstrating strong and sustained engagement across the membership. The sessions deliberately leverage the internal expertise of UCS member organizations, with members taking the lead in facilitating sessions based on their areas of strength and practical experience. This approach not only reduces costs but also reinforces the value of collective knowledge within the network.

Each session is highly practical, featuring focused presentations, interactive discussions, and real-life case studies drawn directly from member organizations. Topics covered over the two-year period have included, but are not limited to, fundraising and resource mobilization, monitoring and evaluation, organizational performance improvement, governance, partnerships, and program management. Members are encouraged to share both successes and challenges, creating an open learning environment grounded in real-world application rather than theory alone.

Participant feedback has consistently highlighted the relevance and usefulness of the Skill-Up sessions. One member shared, “The fundraising Skill-Up session taught us a lot. We also benefited from the Monitoring and Evaluation session, it helped us focus on what is important and what we needed to improve to best track our program’s progress.” Another participant noted, “We were given opportunities to showcase our projects as case studies during the Skill-Up sessions,” emphasizing the platform’s role in increasing visibility and peer recognition.

Beyond skills development, the Skill-Up initiative has strengthened relationships, trust, and collaboration among UCS members. By meeting regularly, learning together, and sharing experiences, members have become more engaged in UCS activities and more connected to one another. This has laid the groundwork for joint initiatives, referrals, shared advocacy efforts, and a stronger sense of belonging within the UCS network.