THE BUILDING EFFECTIVE TOBACCO CONTROL ADVOCATES IN AFRICA (BETA) PROJECT CALL FOR APPLICATIONS-CAPACITY BUILDING TRAINING

Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) in collaboration with the Africa Centre for Tobacco Industry Monitoring and Policy Research (ATIM) and the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) is proud to announce a capacity-building training course on tobacco industry interference as part of the project ‘Building Effective Tobacco Control Advocates in Africa (BETA).’ The project aims to provide capacity-building support to African tobacco control stakeholders in target countries, specifically through offering a training course on tobacco industry monitoring and strategies for countering tobacco industry interference (TII). The course is targeted at tobacco control advocates, including journalists and in some instances; we consider applications from interested government officials. We would like to invite members of your organisation to apply for participation in the upcoming courses to be hosted at SMU, from 04 November to 14 November 2019 

Expectations of participants:

When applying for this course, prospective participants need to be aware of the following expectations. Participation in these activities is compulsory for all participants and forms part of a comprehensive capacity building process: 

  • Participate in a two week training course in South Africa
  • Participate in a mentorship programme for the duration of the project, including participating in at least one online mentoring session in a month and an annual meeting with mentors hosted in their respective country
  • Participate in in-country teams activities, including collaboration with  ATCA and other national and regional organisations 
  • Develop cohesive work-plans in the month following the training which would incorporate learnings of TII with their current tobacco control initiatives
  • Implement work-plans by respective teams, which will be monitored/tracked over the duration of the project
  • Submit biannual progress reports as part of an in-country team
  • Write at least one publication documenting relevant TII tactics and countering response as part of an in-country team within the 12 months following training 
  • Log or compile a monthly report on TI monitoring activities using a monitoring tool on the mobile app provided by SMU

Background

The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) has made significant progress in addressing the tobacco epidemic. The convention has been ratified by 181 of the United Nations 193 member states. However, policy implementation has been slow. Countries have identified tobacco industry interference as the greatest impediment to their progress in developing tobacco control policies. Growing evidence indicates that tobacco industry research underpins effective tobacco control. Countries with the most successful tobacco control policies have notable programmes of tobacco industry monitoring (TIM) and research.  

Understanding the tobacco industry and holding it to account is therefore crucial to enabling further progress in tobacco control. In addition, enhancing the skills and human capacity of civil society organisations and non-governmental agencies is essential to develop effective means of combatting tobacco industry interference. It is also important to further develop tobacco control in Africa. It is within this context that the BETA project has come about.

Training outcomes   

To capacitate tobacco control and public health advocates to strengthen tobacco control advocacy in their respective countries, participants will take part in a two-week training course by SMU in South Africa. After completing the training course, all participants would be grouped into in-country teams/networks and, paired with a pre-assigned mentor in collaboration with Africa Tobacco Control Alliance (ATCA). The mentors and ATCA will over time, help trainees further develop their ideas, build and ultimately implement cohesive strategies to counter tobacco industry interferences initiatives in each country.

The training course is structured to be interactive and to provide participants with knowledge and skills in relation to the following:

  • Understanding the developments with regards the WHO FCTC and implementation guidelines and the evidence-base, specifically highlighting regional and in-country developments in implementation in Africa.
  • Mechanisms to monitor tobacco industry interference activities, including methods such as documents research and identifying new tactics and modes of tobacco industry interference.
  • Using various techniques to develop and implement an effective advocacy strategy, including sharing of best practices to counter industry interference.

Preferred Requirements 

Education Minimum: Relevant Diploma and/or
Bachelor’s Degree
Work Experience Minimum 3 years with advocacy
experience preferred
Designation and role within the organisation Ability to implement TII knowledge and
skills within the organisation
Strategic importance of TC
work within the
organisation
Not required, but beneficial
Key partnerships of the
organisation
Other TC organisations as well as the
Health and social development or trade ministry would be beneficial

Application process 

1. Please submit the application form and enclose the following documents

  • Brief Bio- not more than 200 words
  • Concept Note/ ideas on TIM and a draft plan of action for TIM and accountability in your country
  • Copy of highest qualification
  • Passport bio page.

For the application form, please click here

Applications should be submitted to Eudie Hlabioa via email at Eudie.Hlabioa@smu.ac.za on or before 30 August 2019 at 16:00 CAT

Enquiries can be sent to Ms Joyce Jakavula and Eudie Hlabioa at joyce.jakavula@smu.ac.za and eudie.hlabioa@smu.ac.za or +2712 521 3379