V.O.I.C.E. : Voices of Impact for Cancer Equity: Advancing Policy in Sub-Saharan Africa

A Platform for Change
Across Sub-Saharan Africa, policy gaps continue to limit access to screening, treatment, and supportive care for women’s cancers. To address these barriers, advocates need more than just passion—they need the tools, networks, and evidence to drive sustainable policy reform at national and regional levels.

V.O.I.C.E. is a platform for building that capacity, equipping advocates with the skills, strategies, and partnerships to influence cancer policy and ensure that lived experience is at the center of decision-making.

Strengthening Advocacy for Greater Impact
Developing skills to engage policymakers and push for policy reform
Using research and lived experience to drive evidence-based advocacy
Building strategic partnerships across sectors and regions
Aligning advocacy with WHO frameworks & National Cancer Control Plans (NCCPs)

Connecting to the AORTIC Conference
V.O.I.C.E. is closely linked to the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), providing a structured pathway for advocates to engage meaningfully at the AORTIC conference. Participants will have the opportunity to:
Strengthen their advocacy strategies before attending AORTIC through pre-conference training and networking sessions.
Engage with policymakers, researchers, and funders at AORTIC, ensuring that lived experience and community perspectives shape discussions on cancer care in Africa.
Translate insights from the conference into action, through a post-conference workshop designed to help advocates implement their learnings into real-world policy change.

Centering Lived Experience in Policy
Those affected by cancer bring critical expertise and insights.
Policy decisions must be shaped by real-world experiences, not just data.
V.O.I.C.E. ensures that advocates are not just included, but positioned as leaders in shaping cancer policy.

Sustaining Long-Term Change
Stronger, more connected advocacy networks
Concrete policy action plans tailored to local needs
Ongoing collaboration with decision-makers and policymakers
Advocacy efforts that align with both international standards and local priorities

A Future Led by Advocates
V.O.I.C.E. supports a growing community of leaders who are driving policy change from the ground up—ensuring that cancer care policies in Sub-Saharan Africa are shaped by those who understand the challenges firsthand and are committed to lasting impact.

Through strategic preparation, engagement at AORTIC, and post-conference action planning, V.O.I.C.E. creates a sustainable model for advocacy that extends beyond a single event, fostering long-term change in cancer policy and care.