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 applications

How can your city lead the charge 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
City cancer care profile
Political commitment and collaboration
Create city cancer care profile

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

Map city-wide cancer care stakeholders
Establish City Executive Committee
Establish City Technical Committee

Case studies

Impact by city

Abuja, Nigeria

More than 60 stakeholders, from healthcare professionals to government representatives, came together for the Stakeholder Mapping Workshop, marking a pivotal step in mobilising local leadership and expertise. The workshop catalysed the formation of Abuja’s City Executive Committee and Technical Committees.

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

Comprehensive cancer care landscape analysis
Shape data-informed diagnosis through stakeholder input
Create Situation Analysis Report

Case studies

Impact by city

Rosario, Argentina

Over 200 university students from Universidad Nacional de Rosario participated in a large-scale data collection effort, gathering crucial insights from more than 700 cancer patients. Their work generated a robust evidence base that informed strategic planning and shaped cancer care solutions designed for patients.

Power the System

City Programme

Phase 4

Strategic plan & programme definition

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

Goal

Support your city in developing projects 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

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Stakeholders came together to identify 12 project concepts that will steer evidence-based, sustainable improvements in cancer care across Phnom Penh. Each of them reflected the power of collaboration in delivering equitable and sustainable impact.

Phase 5-6

Project development & execution

How can your city impact cancer care?

Goal

Implement, monitor, and sustain C/Can city solutions

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

Outcomes

Project Planning:
Establish city-led project teams
Create scalable, actionable project plans
Establish impact and progress indicators
Project Execution:
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

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
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.