Jean explains why and how this project was conceived. It will start in the coming months and is funded jointly by the American Cancer Society and Cancer research UK.
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Here is a copy of the abstract of this presentation:
FC301 PARTNERSHIP FUNDING FOR TOBACCO CONTROL: THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY / CANCER RESEARCH UK AFRICAN TOBACCO CONTROL REGIONAL INITIATIVE (ATCRI)
J. King*11Tobacco Control and International Prevention, Cancer Research UK, London, United Kingdom
2000 Antwerp - Belgium
ABSTRACT: Background: The negative health, economic, social and environmental consequences of tobacco use represent an increasing burden across Africa. According to the World Health Organization, the African region is experiencing the highest increase in the rate of tobacco use amongst developing countries, with consumption increasing by 4.3 percent per year[1], fuelled by aggressive tobacco industry marketing.
Yet there is a perception that tobacco control cannot be a priority of resource-limited governments and civil society groups grappling with other deadly epidemics, such as HIV and malaria.
Therefore the goal of significantly reducing tobacco use is likely to be achieved only if local and regional advocates are supported more extensively.
Objectives: To address a perceived gap in resources for the strengthening and coordination of tobacco control (TC) in sub-Saharan Africa by:
1. Improving access, dissemination and exchange of information to tobacco control advocates, health officials, legislators and other key stakeholders.
2. Building capacity through training and technical assistance for existing and new tobacco control advocates and experts within civil society and government.
3. Working with existing collaborations across Anglophone, Francophone and Lusophone sub-Saharan Africa to devise, deliver and implement regional activities.
4. Seeking additional sources of funding to sustain the ATCRI.
Methods: In December 2006 the CEOs of the American Cancer Society (ACS) and Cancer Research UK (CR-UK) set up a partnership fund. As a first step, a need assessment was conducted among African delegates to the 2nd FCTC Conference of the Parties in July 2007 by means of 21 individual interviews and a workshop
Results: The recommendations of the needs assessment, which informed the programme’s development, included that there should be:
a physical ‘centre’ or hub with regional spokes;
a multilingual African Director;
an initial pilot phase for capacity building;
governance should be controlled by civil society;
and as wide collaboration as possible, especially with local TC networks.
Priorities for activities identified by interviewees included:
collection of local relevant data; d
evelopment and implementation of domestic legislation;
raising public and government awareness of tobacco control issues;
access to cessation assistance;
and sustained resources for TC.
These were incorporated with the call for proposals. A call for Expressions of Interest to run the ATCRI led to five applications from eligible anglophone and francophone African TC advocates, from which three full proposals have been invited.
Conclusion: Key learnings from working in partnership with both funders and grantees in tobacco control include that:
expertise and knowledge-sharing are a 2 way process;
mutual trust and respect are vital ingredients as are flexibility and openness;
and programmes should aim to be as inclusive as possible.
REFERENCES: 1. WHO website at http://www.afro.who.int/tfi/overview.html
Conflict of Interest: None declared
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