Africa Centre for Tobacco Industry Monitoring and Policy Research (ATIM)

Building Capacity in Industry Monitoring for Effective Tobacco Control Advocacy in Africa (BETA 3.0)’ course

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

The Africa Centre for Tobacco Industry Monitoring and Policy Research (ATIM) at University of Pretoria in collaboration with the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) is proud to announce a capacity-building training course on tobacco industry monitoring and response as part of the project on ‘Building Capacity in Industry Monitoring for Effective Tobacco Control Advocacy in Africa (BETA 3.0)’ This program 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 by ATIM, from 14 -18 October 2024.

This call is open to tobacco control stakeholders from the following ACBF target countries including Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia.

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 one week training course in Ethiopia
  • Participate in a mentorship programme by ATCA for the duration of the project, including participating in at least one online mentoring session in a month 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 monthly report on TI monitoring activities using ATIM monitoring mobile or web App

Training outcomes 

To capacitate tobacco control and public health advocates and other tobacco control stakeholders to strengthen tobacco control advocacy in their respective countries, participants will take part in a one-week training course by ATIM. After completing the training course, all participants would be grouped into in-country teams/networks, and may be paired with a pre-assigned local and regional mentor in collaboration with Africa Tobacco Control Alliance (ATCA). The mentors and/or 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.

Course Pre-requirements

EducationMinimum: Relevant Diploma and/or Bachelor’s Degree
ATIM BETA online courseMust have  completed the BETA online course
Work ExperienceMinimum 3 years with advocacy experience preferred
Designation and role within the organisationAbility to implement TII knowledge and skills within the organisation
Strategic importance of TC work within the organisationNot required, but beneficial
Key partnerships of the organisationOther 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
  2. Brief Bio- not more than 200 words
  3. Concept Note/ ideas on TIM and a draft plan of action for TIM and accountability in your country
  4. Copy of highest qualification
  5. Copy of BETA certificate of completion
  6. Passport bio page.

To access the application form, click on the link below.

https://forms.gle/KxUWPhdXQk32Zi4C7

Applications should be submitted to Kgomotso Kali via email at Kgomotso.kali@up.ac.za  on or before 13 September 2024 at 16:00 CAT, If you do not get a response to your application by the 20th September 2024, you can take it that your application was unsuccessful.

Enquires can be sent to Kgomotso Kali at Kgomotso.kali@up.ac.za or 079 341 0450