Driving Change for a Tobacco-Free Africa
Our Journey and Vision
CTCA was established in July 2011 by WHO, with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF). The Centre is mandated to provide technical and institutional support to governments in Africa in the areas of policy formulation, legislation and enforcement of tobacco control, as well as building and sustaining the institutional capacity for tobacco control. This mandate is exercised through offering technical, institutional and cross sector support for tobacco control at national and regional levels. The establishment of CTCA followed the endorsement of the WHO FCTC in 2003 and subsequent ratification of the same by the member countries. The WHO first called for the establishment of a regional centre of excellence to spearhead tobacco control in Africa that would focus on capacity support to countries; which was supported in a stakeholders’ Consultative Meeting on Regional Capacity Building for Tobacco Control in Africa, Accra Ghana, in June 2008.
CTCA was established under the WHO/Tobacco Free Initiative (TFI) Service Agreement and entrusted with the responsibility of supporting governments in African countries to meet their obligations under the WHO-FCTC. Initially, , the Centre collaborated with WHO in the capacity assessments of the first target countries (Uganda, Mauritania and Angola) to identify needs and opportunities for capacity building in tobacco control. In the early stages of the Centre, the stakeholders articulated the vision of a Centre for tobacco control in Africa as a new, innovative and systematic approach to support Governments in Technical, Institutional and cross-sector areas of TC. In line with the Geneva consensus, Technical aspects include good practices, lessons learned; advocacy and technical toolkits, norms and guidelines. Institutional aspects concerning national and sub-regional resources, including human resource capacity and a pool of experts, and management capacity, infrastructure, internal and external funding and finally cross-sector and cross-country implying networking and partnership building for collaboration that is multi-sectoral and multidisciplinary, at both the national and subnational levels
Objective 1
To strengthen the capacity of countries in Africa to formulate and implement FCTC compliant programs
Objective 2
To promote evidence-based tobacco control policy formulation and program implementation
Objective 3
To mobilize human, material and financial resources for sustainable tobacco control in Africa
Objective 4
To promote partnerships for tobacco control at national, regional and international levels
Collaborating for Impact
CTCA is proud to collaborate with global leaders such as the World Health Organization and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. These partnerships enable us to leverage resources and expertise, enhancing our ability to implement comprehensive tobacco control measures. Together, we work towards a shared goal of reducing tobacco-related harm and promoting public health across Africa. Our joint efforts focus on advocacy, research, and policy development, ensuring sustainable progress in tobacco control initiatives.
Our Journey Through the Years
Since its inception, the Centre for Tobacco Control in Africa has been at the forefront of tobacco control efforts, making significant strides in policy development, research, and capacity building. Here’s a look at some of the key milestones in our journey.
2010
CTCA Established
The Centre for Tobacco Control in Africa was established to support African governments in implementing effective tobacco control policies.
2012
Partnership with WHO
CTCA partnered with the World Health Organization to enhance tobacco control strategies across the continent.
2015
Launch of Research Initiatives
We launched comprehensive research initiatives to study tobacco use patterns and inform policy decisions.
2018
Capacity Building Programs Expanded
Our capacity building programs were expanded to include more countries, empowering local governments and communities.
2020
Collaboration with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
CTCA collaborated with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to further strengthen tobacco control efforts in Africa.
2023
Recognition for Excellence
CTCA received international recognition for its outstanding contributions to tobacco control and public health.
Meet Our Dedicated Team
Our team at the Centre for Tobacco Control in Africa (CTCA) is composed of passionate professionals committed to advancing tobacco control initiatives across the continent. Each member brings unique expertise and dedication to our mission of achieving a tobacco-free Africa.
Prof William Bazeyo
Executive Director
Dr Jim Arinaitwe
Manager
Dr. Candice Bailey
Communications Specialist
Allan Mark Muzungyo
Capacity Building Officer