The Union

What The Union does

The Union (International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease) is a Paris-headquartered international non-governmental organization and scientific society founded in 1920, registered as a French Association Loi 1901 charity. It works to advance the science and treatment of tuberculosis (TB), tobacco control, lung health, and HIV/AIDS through a combination of technical assistance to national TB and AIDS programmes, peer-reviewed publishing, training, and policy advocacy. The organization operates from offices in Paris, New Delhi, Mandalay, Geneva, and Edinburgh, with members in 147 countries and active program delivery in over 50 countries.

Its core product set includes three peer-reviewed journals (IJTLD, IJTLD OPEN launched 2024, and Public Health Action), a portfolio of training courses (4,500+ people trained in 2023), two flagship annual conferences (World Conference on Lung Health with 3,300+ delegates in 2025, and World Conference on Tobacco Control), technical publications and guidelines, and digital health tools such as a Mobile DOT application for tuberculosis treatment monitoring, a TB-themed virtual escape room ('Escaping the TB Trap'), and e-learning platforms. The Union also runs direct service delivery programs in high-burden countries such as Myanmar, where its Integrated HIV Care Programme supports nearly 34,000 people living with HIV across 52 sites, and its Community-Based DR-TB Care Programme serves 3,708 drug-resistant TB patients.

The Union's revenue is generated through institutional grants (Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS/TB/Malaria, USAID, Unitaid), membership dues from 147 countries, conference registration fees, paid training course fees, and donations channeled through American Friends of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease. Its go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: it convenes the global lung health community through scientific sections, working groups, and large-scale conferences; drives policy change through its formal non-State actor relationship with the World Health Organization (renewed 2024-2026); and delivers field programs in partnership with national health ministries and NGOs, with particular depth in low- and middle-income countries where 80% of tobacco deaths occur.

Name

The Union

Legal name

The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease

Website

https://theunion.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1920

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

The Union is a Paris-based international non-profit scientific organization founded in 1920 that advances the science and treatment of tuberculosis, tobacco control, and lung disease. It serves governments, researchers, and healthcare professionals in 147 countries through grants-funded programs, peer-reviewed journals, conferences, and training.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Global Public Health Non-Profit Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Professional Organizations (813920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Health Systems Strengthening & Universal Health Coverage (UHC) (BPADAIAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disease-Specific Global Initiatives (HIV/TB/Malaria/NTDs) (HLAJAOAE), Health Systems Strengthening & Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Partnerships (HLAJAOAL)

Keywords

• Tuberculosis control services
• Tobacco control programs
• Lung health research
• Global health technical assistance
• Public health training

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Global Fund Grants: The Integrated HIV Care Programme in Myanmar is funded through a grant from the Global Fund to Fight against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The Community-Based DR-TB Care Programme is also funded through Global Fund grants.
2. Bloomberg Philanthropies Grants: Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use Grants Program awarded funds to projects delivering high-impact tobacco control interventions. The Global Implementation Programme and STOP are also funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies.
3. USAID Grants: The Community-Based Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis programme receives funding support from USAID HIV/TB AIS activity.
4. Membership Dues: The Union has members in 147 countries who pay membership dues. Members include clinical researchers, university faculty, students, health ministry officials, activists, advocates, nurses and allied health professionals.
5. Conference Registration Fees: The Union organizes the World Conference on Tobacco Control and Union World Conference on Lung Health, generating revenue through registration fees. Over 3,000 lung health experts participated in the 2025 conference from 120 countries.
6. Training Course Fees: The Union's Training and Education Department organizes online and face-to-face courses. In 2023, over 4,500 people were trained globally through Union Courses.
7. Donations: The Union accepts donations through American Friends of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, a US-based charitable organization.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

The Union is an international non-governmental scientific organization that works to end suffering from tuberculosis and lung diseases. It delivers technical assistance to national TB and HIV/AIDS programs, designs and runs tobacco control policy implementation, organizes global conferences, publishes peer-reviewed journals, and offers training courses for healthcare professionals across more than 50 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Integrated HIV Care Programme A program established in Myanmar in 2005 that provides comprehensive HIV treatment and care services including antiretroviral therapy, delivered in collaboration with the National AIDS Programme across 34 townships and 52 sites.
• Community-Based DR-TB Care Programme A program established in Myanmar in 2015 that partners with healthcare workers and community volunteers to provide drug-resistant tuberculosis care, social protection support packages, active case-finding, and treatment adherence support for DR-TB patients and their contacts.
• Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use Grants Program A grant program funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies since 2006 that awards funds to projects delivering high-impact tobacco control interventions in low- and middle-income countries, supported by the Global Implementation Programme.
• Union Courses (Training and Education) An online and in-person training program offering courses on TB prevention, management of TB infection, and other public health topics. In 2023, over 4,500 people were trained globally through Union Courses.
• Union World Conference on Lung Health An annual global conference organized by The Union, with 3,300+ delegates from 120 countries attending the 2025 edition in Copenhagen, bringing together lung health experts, researchers, policymakers, and community leaders.
• World Conference on Tobacco Control (WCTC) A major global conference on tobacco control organized by The Union bringing together tobacco control experts, advocates, and policymakers from over 120 countries annually.
• International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IJTLD) A subscription-based peer-reviewed scientific journal disseminating research on tuberculosis and lung disease, published by The Union.
• IJTLD OPEN A Plan S compliant open access journal launched in 2024 as a companion to IJTLD, focusing on lung health topics with emphasis on TB in low- and middle-income countries.
• Public Health Action Journal A peer-reviewed journal published by The Union focused on public health action and research dissemination.
• Technical Publications and Factsheets Technical guides, factsheets, and resources on TB, tobacco control, lung health, and COVID-19 available for free download from The Union.
• Union Membership Program A membership organization with members in 147 countries, including clinical researchers, university faculty, students, health ministry officials, activists, advocates, nurses, and allied health professionals, organized into scientific sections and working groups.
• TB Care Centre Integrated Services Integrated care centres providing blood tests, sputum transport, chest X-rays, ECGs, and medication supply in one location, streamlining the TB treatment process for patients.
• Technical Assistance to National Health Programmes Practical and technical support provided to National TB Programmes and National AIDS Programmes in countries such as Myanmar, supporting active case-finding, drug-resistant TB care, monitoring and evaluation, and ART administration.
• Global Oxygen Alliance (GO2AL) Membership Programme The Union's official membership in GO2AL, a collaborative effort to ensure safe, affordable, and equitable access to medical oxygen for those in need, joined in May 2025.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4.13 billion people reached through advertising bans in 28 countries
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Global Oxygen Alliance (GO2AL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025The Union became an official member of GO2AL in 2025, a collaborative effort to ensure safe, affordable and equitable access to medical oxygen. GO2AL comprises leading health agencies, multilateral development banks, and civil society organisations including WHO and Gates Foundation.
• World Health Organization (WHO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024The Union was the first NGO officially recognised by WHO and holds a special three-year collaborative arrangement (2024-2026) as a non-State actor. Collaboration focuses on implementing the End TB Strategy, supporting MPOWER tobacco control measures, reducing deaths from non-communicable chronic respiratory diseases, and addressing air pollution health impacts. The Union coordinates UN mission briefings on TB and organizes side events during the World Health Assembly.
• STOP (Global Tobacco Industry Watchdog)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTOP is a global tobacco industry watchdog that The Union is a key partner in, funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies. The partnership monitors and exposes tobacco industry tactics.
• Ministry of Health MalaysiaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosted an official side event at the 79th World Health Assembly titled 'From Global Commitments to Integrated Lung Health Action' alongside Forum of International Respiratory Societies and Union for International Cancer Control.
• Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFIRS co-hosted the World Health Assembly side event on lung health with The Union and Ministry of Health Malaysia. The Union delivers interventions on behalf of both The Union and FIRS.
• Union for International Cancer ControlflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosted the World Health Assembly side event on lung health with The Union, Ministry of Health Malaysia, and Forum of International Respiratory Societies.
• National AIDS Programme (Myanmar)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Union's Integrated HIV Care Programme works in close collaboration with the National AIDS Programme, providing ART and comprehensive HIV treatment and care services covering 34 townships in Myanmar. The Union is the biggest cooperative partner to the National AIDS Programme.
• National TB Programme (Myanmar)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Union Office in Myanmar provides practical and technical support to the National TB Programme, supporting active case-finding and case-holding activities, drug-resistant TB care, and monitoring and evaluation.
• World Organisation for Animal HealthflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with WHO and FAO to develop the first-ever Roadmap for Zoonotic TB in 2017, addressing the major health and economic impact of zoonotic TB.
• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with WHO and World Organisation for Animal Health to develop the first-ever Roadmap for Zoonotic TB in 2017.

Scale indicators25 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS): Alliance of leading international respiratory societies that The Union is a core member of. Direct peer in lung health advocacy and co-host of WHA side events; comparable in mission and ability to convene respiratory health professionals globally.
• Stop TB Partnership: A Geneva-based partnership hosted by UNOPS that coordinates global TB elimination efforts. Directly comparable to The Union as a TB-focused global health organization operating in LMICs, with overlapping membership, donor base, and country-level technical assistance programmes.
• Vital Strategies: Global non-profit working on tobacco control, cardiovascular health, and public health data systems. Direct peer in Bloomberg-funded tobacco control work (STOP), with similar grant-funded operating model, LMIC focus, and policy implementation approach.
• American Thoracic Society: US-based professional medical society for respiratory medicine with similar mission in lung health research, journals, conferences, and professional education. Comparable membership-driven model and scientific publication platform, though more US-centric.
• American Lung Association: US-based non-profit focused on lung health, tobacco control, and respiratory disease with similar mission, advocacy, research dissemination, and member-driven model. Comparable as a peer in lung health advocacy and education, though more US-domestic in geographic focus.
• Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids: US-based advocacy organization focused on reducing tobacco use, particularly among children. Comparable as a Bloomberg-funded tobacco control advocacy peer operating in similar policy and regulatory arenas, though more advocacy-focused than The Union's clinical TB work.
• Framework Convention Alliance: International alliance of nearly 500 organizations supporting WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control implementation. Direct peer in tobacco control advocacy and policy implementation, with overlapping funder base and member network in LMICs.

Others

• Unitaid: Global health financing mechanism funding innovative TB, HIV, and malaria interventions in LMICs. A peer in the broader global health ecosystem that funds similar TB-related innovations and overlaps with The Union's programmatic priorities, though operating as a financing/facilitation entity rather than direct implementer.

Broad incumbents

• Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria: The Union's largest institutional funder and the dominant financing mechanism for TB/HIV programmes in LMICs. While a financing institution rather than implementer, Global Fund sets programmatic priorities and benchmarks that closely mirror The Union's work in Myanmar and elsewhere.
• World Health Organization (WHO): The Union's primary institutional partner and a direct counterpart in setting global TB, tobacco, and lung health standards. WHO provides the policy framework The Union implements, making it the most relevant peer in mission alignment, though WHO is a UN intergovernmental body rather than an NGO.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TheUnion_TBLH
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/theunionNGO/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheUnionLungHealth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-union-against-tuberculosis-and-lung-disease-the-union-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Union