Civil society organizations around the world play a critical role in addressing cancer. They educate people on cancer risk factors, provide screening, refer patients for treatment, provide support services to patients and families, and advocate for more resources and better access to care so that cancer can be prevented or treated effectively. Despite their important role in fighting cancer, strong, effective and connected organizations are in short supply in many LMIC where cancer is a relatively new yet rapidly growing health threat. This panel will discuss the ways in which the cancer civil society community has grown in Kenya and Uganda over the last five years, due to investments made to systematically develop organizational capacity, and improve coordination, including the development of national umbrella body organizations.