About Us

The Africa Centre For Tobacco Industry Monitoring And Policy Research is an observatory that offers up-to-date information on activities and developments in the tobacco industry that could have an impact on tobacco control policies. It is one of the first three observatories which establishment was assisted by the Secretariat of the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) (Convention Secretariat)  and the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The UNION) to monitor tobacco industry strategies and tactics that undermine efforts to develop and implement tobacco control legislation.

Based in South Africa, the centre provides industry monitoring across the African continent, as recommended by the Guidelines for implementation of Article 5.3 of the Convention, and evaluates the impact of tobacco control policy, which shall be protected from the commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry. It is jointly hosted and managed by the University of Pretoria and the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University under the leadership of internationally renowned tobacco control expert Professor Lekan Ayo-Yusuf in association with a network of policy advocates and researchers.

As an observatory, it informs tobacco control academics, policymakers, and advocates of the ongoing developments in both the tobacco industry and within the tobacco control community. It also helps to inform the broader public of the issues that plague this issue. This increases public knowledge and creates transparency in tobacco control policy processes, in line with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).


Terms and conditions

The Africa Centre for Tobacco Industry Monitoring and Policy Research provides an overview of tobacco control and public health, with a particular focus on the role of the tobacco industry. The making of ATIM was funded by The Union. This funder has had no input into the research or its conclusions. They are not responsible for any content on or the publication of the website, and they do not necessarily endorse any of it.

Although we work to rigorous standards, there is no undertaking by either ATIM, the University of Pretoria, or Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University that any part of this site is accurate, complete, or up to date. You use this site at your own risk, and for guidance only.

None of the authors, contributors, sponsors, administrators, or anyone else connected to ATIM, the University of Pretoria, or Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University will be responsible for the appearance of any material considered defamatory, offensive, inaccurate, unlawful, or misleading, nor will they be responsible for your use of the information contained in these web pages, or the pages ATIM links to.

The centre retains the right to invite and accept contributions at its discretion.


Right of Reply

The centre relies on contributions from third parties to provide information and data in good faith. All content is monitored by the managing editors. There is a Right of Reply procedure to complain about information considered to be misrepresenting any person or organisation at this website. Let us know exactly which information on ATIM you believe is not factually correct, and explain the potential errors it contains.

Please email  info@atim.co.za with as much detail, references and supporting material as possible. We will consider your complaint and – if appropriate – correct the information as soon as possible.  The managing editors of ATIM might ask for additional information and proof. We will also invite the relevant contributing editors to substantiate their original claim(s).