Our Approach

From the ground up

City engagement process framework

Our unique approach empowers communities to assess, plan, and implement sustainable cancer care solutions—and scale their impact from the local to the national level.

Join us

Uncover the gaps

Foundations & Diagnostics

Phase 1

City application

How can your city lead the change in transforming cancer care?

Goal

Bring your city into the C/Can network

Joining C/Can starts with a rigorous application and due diligence process, ensuring that your city has the leadership, governance structures, and commitment necessary for sustainable engagement.

Outcomes

Memorandum of Understanding created
City Cancer Care Profile created
Political commitment and collaboration established

Case studies

Impact by city

Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

Selected from a competitive pool of 15 applicant cities in 2023, Abidjan stood out for its strong foundations and readiness to model cancer care transformation. Its commitment marks the beginning of a new chapter—unlocking powerful opportunities for collaboration and driving accelerated progress towards equitable cancer care.

Phase 2

Stakeholder engagement

How can your city unite to deliver quality cancer care?

Goal

Understand your city’s cancer care landscape and build a mechanism for local coordination

We work with you to identify all relevant actors in the cancer care ecosystem, such as public and private healthcare providers, policymakers, civil society organisations, patient advocates, etc. Then, a City Executive Committee (CEC) is established to oversee the initiative.

Outcomes

City-wide cancer care stakeholders mapped and engaged
City Executive Committee established
City Technical Committee established

Case studies

Impact by city

Nairobi, Kenya

Nairobi engaged 112 healthcare workers, 20 civil society groups, and 250 cancer patients and survivors. Their insights generated a comprehensive, evidence-based analysis of the current cancer policy landscape that informed strategic planning.

Phase 3

Needs assessment

What critical cancer care gaps exist in your city?

Goal

Gain an in-depth understanding of gaps in cancer care

Local experts connect C/Can with key city stakeholders in order to coordinate a city-wide data-driven assessment. Existing cancer care services, infrastructure, and policies are evaluated to identify gaps and priority areas.

Outcomes

Data-informed diagnosis shaped with stakeholder input
Comprehensive cancer care landscape analysis
City’s Situational Analysis Report

Case studies

Impact by city

Concepción, Chile

Concepción carried out a Needs Assessment that involved more than 80% of the city's oncology care ecosystem (professionals, health institutions, civil society organisations, patients). This effort resulted in a comprehensive, evidence-based analysis of the current state of the health system, the cancer policy landscape, and both qualitative and quantitative insights that informed strategic planning.

Power the System

City Programme

Phase 4

Strategic planning & programme definition

How can we co-create a plan for transformative change?

Goal

Support your city in developing a City Programme that address priority needs in cancer care

Stakeholders co-develop a City Strategic Plan and the programme of projects, which outlines measurable, evidence-based interventions designed to address identified gaps while aligning with national health strategies.

Outcomes

Co-create City Strategic Plan (data-driven design with clear priorities)
Define City Programme (scope, objectives, definition of solutions, and structure of collaboration)
Capacity building workshops

Case studies

Impact by city

Abuja, Nigeria

In response to the needs identified in the previous phase, we co-developed a clear programme to improve gradually the cancer care eco-system in the city. Through a transparent and participatory process, we identified the solutions that will have the biggest impact and are realistic to implement. We then mapped the solutions to develop a five-year roadmap (Strategic Plan) and the first cycle of work for the city (City Programme).

Phase 5

Project planning

How do we turn our plan into actionable projects?

Goal

Design and adapt C/Can city solutions

Local, multisectoral working groups are established to plan the programme of projects.

Outcomes

Establish city-led project teams
Create scalable, actionable project plans
Establish impact and progress indicators

Case studies

Impact by city

Rosario, Argentina

The evidence gathered and programme logic developed in earlier phases provided the basis for co-designing 12 project plans. These projects focus on essential activities to strengthen the cancer care ecosystem in the city, from governance and digital health to diagnosis, treatment, paediatrics, palliative care, and patient-centred services. They aim to tackle the deep fragmentation and inequities that currently affect Argentina’s health system.

Phase 6

Project execution

How can your city impact cancer care?

Goal

Implement, monitor, and sustain solutions

The established working groups implement the programme of projects, with C/Can collaborating to measure each project’s effectiveness.

Outcomes

Establish local ownership and capacity-building through expert training
Successfully implement projects; ready to share locally, nationally, globally

Case studies

Impact by city

Asunción, Paraguay

National guidelines for the management of breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers, as well as pediatric leukaemia, were officially adopted by the Ministry of Health, developed in close collaboration with local stakeholders to strengthen cancer care across the country.

Phase 7

Cycle assessment & transition

How can your city sustain and accelerate its progress?

Goal

Ensure sustainable, evidence-based cancer care improvements

Strategic plans are reviewed and multiple implementation cycles are continued as needed based on guidance from city-level outcomes indicators.

Outcomes

Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) to evaluate project success- Successfully implement projects; ready to share locally, nationally, globally
Stakeholder review to optimise programmes
Publication of impact report
Decision to move into further 2-year project execution cycles

Case studies

Impact by city

Tbilisi, Georgia

In 2025, the Ministry of Health of Georgia renewed its partnership with C/Can for an additional four years, reinforcing the need to advance equitable and accessible cancer care. Building on the remarkable achievements of the first project cycle, the renewed MoU signals a powerful commitment to sustained progress and deeper impact.

Phase 8

New implementation cycle or city handover

If the city continues into a new cycle of implementation, it will follow an iterative step-by-step process (Phases 4–7) to define, plan, and execute a 2-year programme for greater impact. Otherwise, the programme will be handed over to local stakeholders within the city.