UN foundation project
Building alliances and taking action to create a generation of tobacco-free children and youth-- a WHO/UNICEF project supported by the United Nations Foundation
The aim of the project is to pull together the evidence, technical support and strategic alliances necessary to positively address the negative impact of tobacco and to encourage and support children and adolescents in leading healthy and active lives free from tobacco. This two and a half year project (October 1998 - March 2001) is focused in a small group of developing countries and draws upon the combined technical expertise and operational resources of a number of UN agencies - in particular WHO, UNICEF and the World Bank. The agencies work together with the global scientific community, government and non-government agencies, institutions and systems within countries, the media, and with young people to show that together they can make a difference in this important public health issue.
The target groups for the project are children and adolescents (under 10 years, and 10 - 19 years); older young people who have a strong influence on this group; and individuals, policy makers, government and non-government organizations, and systems (academic, media, etc.) who can influence and improve the growing-up environment of these children and adolescents.
Objectives:
- To demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of early country-specific interventions against tobacco-related harm and show how they will lead to comprehensive tobacco control programmes.
- To provide evidence for action by countries and development agencies to address tobacco-related health problems affecting children and adolescents in developing countries.
- To build the institutional and human capacity within selected countries to help children and adolescents lead tobacco-free lives.
- To build strong strategic alliances between UN partners, NGOs, academics and the media through this project for future joint action.
Project implementation:
The project consists of three distinct, but overlapping phases. The first phase focuses on harnessing the evidence for action: synthesizing the existing evidence from countries, some of which may participate in subsequent phases; undertaking new areas of research to support actions; and establishing the research-based evidence for developing future actions. This phase will run from approximately October 1998 to June 1999.
The second phase is the activating phase. Country Activating Groups (CAGs), with broad membership, will be formed in each of the participating countries as the coordinating and implementing mechanism at the country level to select and develop the components of a comprehensive country-based approach to addressing tobacco use among children and young people. Opportunities to promote exchange of experiences and issues between countries and global activities will be developed and strengthened. This phase will run from approximately March 1999 to December 2000.
The third phase will involve taking the project to scale: producing and disseminating resources; strengthening regional capacity to sustain activities; integrating the products and results of the project into ongoing tobacco control work at the national, regional and global levels; transferring technology and experience between countries and regions; and strengthening cooperation and collaboration at all levels. This phase will run from October 2000 to March 2001 and ongoing after project concludes.
WHO and UNICEF technical staff from country offices, headquarters and regional offices, along with other key strategic partners play a key role in supporting the country-level work. An International Activating Committee oversees the project and ensures that its objectives are met.