GRACE – Gender‑Responsive Action for Cancer Equity

Transforming Cancer Care Through Gender Equity
GRACE is a gender-responsive cancer systems initiative developed under the Gender Strategy of City Cancer Challenge (C/Can).

The initiative integrates structured gender analysis, meaningful engagement of people with lived experience, and civil society capacity strengthening into city-level cancer system reform processes.

Global Focus on Cancer (GFC) partners with C/Can to support the design and implementation of the GRACE framework — contributing expertise in gender-responsive research methodology, meaningful engagement, and people-centered systems strengthening.

GRACE is currently being implemented in León (Mexico), Nairobi (Kenya), and Tbilisi (Georgia), where gender-related barriers continue to shape cancer access, treatment continuity, and supportive care outcomes.

Key Focus Areas

A Systems-Level Approach to Gender Equity
GRACE strengthens C/Can’s city engagement model by:
• Embedding gender analysis into cancer system assessments
• Integrating lived experience as structured expertise in research and reform processes
• Supporting civil society organizations to contribute to policy and system design
• Generating evidence to inform local and national cancer planning

Rather than operating as a standalone project, GRACE functions within C/Can’s broader cancer system reform architecture — ensuring that gender equity and meaningful engagement are embedded within ongoing city transformation efforts.

Implement Gender-Responsive Strategies
Address gender disparities by prioritizing policies and interventions that remove barriers to early detection, treatment, and supportive care. Embed equity, inclusivity, and accessibility in healthcare systems, ensuring that cancer care meets the needs of diverse populations.

Core Components
Use research-driven insights to guide national-level adoption and integration into broader health equity efforts. Expand beyond cancer care—leveraging lessons learned to influence gender equity in healthcare more broadly.

Meaningful Engagement
Embedding people with lived experience across research and implementation phases — from tool development and data interpretation to solution co-design and policy translation — with documentation mechanisms to ensure accountability and avoid symbolic participation.

Civil Society Capacity Strengthening
Equipping local organizations with practical tools to integrate gender-responsive, people-centered approaches into advocacy and service delivery.

Why GRACE Matters
Gender inequities in cancer care are systemic — and addressing them requires structural integration within health system reform processes.

Through C/Can’s leadership and GFC’s partnership support, GRACE advances:
• Evidence-informed policy reform
• Strengthened local accountability
• Sustainable gender-responsive cancer systems

By embedding equity and lived experience into city-level reform, GRACE contributes to long-term improvements in cancer access and outcomes.

Through GRACE, research becomes action, and advocacy becomes policy.