The Research for International Tobacco Control (RITC) program of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), with the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has launched an initiative to understand the critical determinants of success for tobacco control in sub-Saharan Africa.  The findings of this initiative will inform the development and implementation of tobacco control strategies in Africa.

 

Existing limited evidence indicates that the majority of countries in sub-Saharan Africa are in the early stages of the tobacco epidemic. In recent years, however, tobacco consumption in Africa has increased faster than in the developing world as a whole.  The majority of governments in sub-Saharan Africa are aware of the looming tobacco epidemic and its potential for thwarting the development process.   Many have already shown their commitment to change by ratifying the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) protocol. As parties to the WHO FCTC, these countries are obliged to develop and execute a national tobacco control action plan and report on their progress to the Conference of the Parties (COP).  However, little or no information exists to track progress on tobacco control activities in many sub-Saharan countries. Sound evidence is lacking to assist policymakers in their efforts to effectively address country-level needs and implement a targeted tobacco control program.

 

A situational analysis will assess current tobacco use, the dynamics and economics of tobacco production and consumption, and existing relevant tobacco control policies (including their level of implementation) in 10 to 14 sub-Saharan African countries.  It will identify key players (including government, non-governmental organizations, advocates, practitioners, media, and researchers) and evaluate their involvement in local and regional tobacco control.  The project will support African researchers to gather, synthesize, and analyze data at the country and regional level.  The information gathered will weigh opportunities for and obstacles to tobacco control, gauge country readiness and capacity for action, inform broader development strategies, and guide immediate and long-term action for tobacco control in Africa. A key element will be ensuring the buy-in, support, and leadership by African stakeholders and colleagues. The project will also engage global partners in responding to the tobacco epidemic in Africa in a coordinated and collaborative manner.