Reframing Tobacco Control in Africa: Inequality, Industry Power, and Policy Innovation
1
Africa Centre for Tobacco Industry Monitoring and Policy Research, School of Health Systems & Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
2
Research on Economics of Excisable Products (REEP), University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
3
AMREF Health Africa, Nairobi, Kenya
4
Africa Capacity Building Foundation, Harare, Zimbabwe
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A1401
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
More than two decades after the adoption of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, Sub-Saharan Africa faces a complex tobacco control landscape shaped by persistent socioeconomic inequalities, aggressive tobacco industry interference, and emerging challenges related to youth and gender. At the same time, governments are under pressure to mobilise domestic resources for health and advance sustainable development. This panel reframes tobacco control in Africa as a core equity, governance, and sustainability issue rather than a narrow regulatory concern.
METHODS:
This organised panel symposium brings together complementary empirical, policy, and political-economy perspectives. The session is chaired by Betina Edziwa (Africa Capacity Building Foundation, Zimbabwe), who frames tobacco control as an equity and sustainability challenge in Africa. Panellist presentations include: (1) Anesu Marume (University of Pretoria, South Africa) on socioeconomic inequalities in smoking following FCTC implementation in Sub-Saharan Africa; (2) Lekan Ayo-Yusuf (University of Pretoria, South Africa) on lessons from five years of monitoring tobacco industry interference across African countries; (3) Zunda Chisha (University of Cape Town, South Africa) on the political economy of tobacco taxation and opportunities for domestic health financing; and (4) Winnie Olwal (AMREF, Kenya) on why youth and gender must shape Africa’s tobacco control agenda. The session concludes with an interactive, moderated discussion to draw cross-country lessons and identify policy priorities.
RESULTS:
Despite policy progress, across settings, evidence shows widening socioeconomic gradients in smoking, sustained industry interference undermining policy implementation, under-utilisation of tobacco taxation for health financing constrained by political and institutional barriers rather than technical feasibility, and growing vulnerabilities among youth and women driven by targeted marketing and novel products.
CONCLUSIONS:
Equitable and sustainable tobacco control in Africa requires confronting commercial power, strengthening governance, and centering youth and gender in policy design. Cross-sectoral, politically informed strategies are essential to accelerate progress and protect future generations.
More than two decades after the adoption of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, Sub-Saharan Africa faces a complex tobacco control landscape shaped by persistent socioeconomic inequalities, aggressive tobacco industry interference, and emerging challenges related to youth and gender. At the same time, governments are under pressure to mobilise domestic resources for health and advance sustainable development. This panel reframes tobacco control in Africa as a core equity, governance, and sustainability issue rather than a narrow regulatory concern.
METHODS:
This organised panel symposium brings together complementary empirical, policy, and political-economy perspectives. The session is chaired by Betina Edziwa (Africa Capacity Building Foundation, Zimbabwe), who frames tobacco control as an equity and sustainability challenge in Africa. Panellist presentations include: (1) Anesu Marume (University of Pretoria, South Africa) on socioeconomic inequalities in smoking following FCTC implementation in Sub-Saharan Africa; (2) Lekan Ayo-Yusuf (University of Pretoria, South Africa) on lessons from five years of monitoring tobacco industry interference across African countries; (3) Zunda Chisha (University of Cape Town, South Africa) on the political economy of tobacco taxation and opportunities for domestic health financing; and (4) Winnie Olwal (AMREF, Kenya) on why youth and gender must shape Africa’s tobacco control agenda. The session concludes with an interactive, moderated discussion to draw cross-country lessons and identify policy priorities.
RESULTS:
Despite policy progress, across settings, evidence shows widening socioeconomic gradients in smoking, sustained industry interference undermining policy implementation, under-utilisation of tobacco taxation for health financing constrained by political and institutional barriers rather than technical feasibility, and growing vulnerabilities among youth and women driven by targeted marketing and novel products.
CONCLUSIONS:
Equitable and sustainable tobacco control in Africa requires confronting commercial power, strengthening governance, and centering youth and gender in policy design. Cross-sectoral, politically informed strategies are essential to accelerate progress and protect future generations.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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