In an email distributed to tobacco control advocates ATCC refers to a 3 day "steering committee" meeting that took place one month ago in Lomé where the "major change" was decided: “We realized with great regret that with the money available through this grant, we simply can't have a significant impact in all 46 African countries." The email provides no information about the money available, how it is spent and why it took more than one year to figure this problem out. There is reference to a report published after the meeting but this document was not provided. The ATCC steering committee has decided to initially focus its efforts on a limited number of countries: Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Congo Brazzaville, Gabon, the Gambia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Uganda and Zambia.
New direction for strong tobacco control campaigns in sub-Saharan Africa
The African Tobacco Control Consortium (ATCC) announced a major change within the project after an annual steering committee meeting held in Lome, Togo from April 13 - 15, 2011. The three day meeting gave room for extensive discussions and reflections on strategic interventions indispensable to achieving concrete and measurable results within the project.
“We realized with great regret that with the money available through this grant, we simply can't have a significant impact in all 46 African countries. To make the case for sustained tobacco control funding, we need to have a mix of quick and successful policy changes as well as progress on developing tobacco control expertise in the region” said Rachel Kitonyo – Project Coordinator of the ATCC. The ATCC steering committee has decided to initially focus its efforts on a limited number of countries including; Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Congo Brazzaville, Gabon, the Gambia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Uganda and Zambia.
Prior to the meeting, project staff conducted an analysis of the opportunities that currently exist within sub-Saharan Africa for policy change and implementation on tobacco control. “We considered such factors as: current funding in tobacco control, activities in these countries, , the presence or absence of political will, population size and existing civil society capacity to influence policy change,” explained Adeola Akinremi, ATCC Resource Centre Coordinator.
A report issued at the end the steering committee meeting underlined the fact that the list of key countries is subject to revision and possible expansion in the future. It adds that though ATCC will have a limited amount of money available for non-priority countries, additional countries could be selected as opportunities for strong policy campaigns are identified.
In addition, the ATCC will seek to collaborate with grantees in countries within sub-Saharan Africa that receive support from other donors within the project period.
More so, the Consortium will: continue to improve the quality of its Resource Centre; support the monitoring of the implementation of the FCTC through shadow reporting; monitor tobacco industry interference with policy enactment and implementation; facilitate African representation during the FCTC process; and prioritise tobacco control within broader health and development agendas within regional and sub-regional economic and political blocs in sub-Saharan Africa.
“ATCC project staff will soon reach out to tobacco control advocates in the identified countries in order to explore the potential for establishing strong tobacco control campaigns that will result in policy change,” Rachel said.
For further information, contact the ATCC Project Coordinator, Rachel Kitonyo in Lome: mob. +228 7331746 or[email protected] or the ATCC communication unit through Tih Armstrong Ntiabang, mob. +237 70111616 or [email protected]
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Tih Armstrong Ntiabang
Media Advocacy & Communications Coordinator (ATCC* Project)
Africa Tobacco Control Regional Initiative (ATCRI)
Initiative régionale pour la lutte contre le tabac en Afrique (IRCTA)
Iniciativa regional para a luta contra o tabaco em África (IRCTA)
Plot 397B, Goerge Crescent
Agbalajobi Estate, Off Wempco Road
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Nigeria
Phone: +234[816] 076 6603, +237-70 11 16 16
Email: [email protected]
Skype: shadowdancer12
Website: http://www.tobaccoresources.org, http ://www.atcri.org
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