Background
The FCTC 2030 project was developed to provide support to countries that demonstrated commitment to advance tobacco control. Within the Caribbean region, Suriname, with its model comprehensive Tobacco Act of 2013, was among the countries selected through a successful competitive application process. The FCTC 2030 project, is jointly conducted by the World Health Organization, the Secretariat of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Funding is provided by the Governments of United Kingdom, Australia, and Norway. The FCTC 2030 project aims to accelerate achievement of the SDGs through strengthening the tobacco control measures that countries have pledged to adopt by becoming parties to the Convention.
Suriname ratified the WHO FCTC (WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control) in 2008. With its Tobacco Act and mandating implementation of key effective measures as established in the Strategy and Plan of Action to strengthen tobacco control in the Americas 2018-2022, Suriname is committed to further enhance tobacco control.
The Ministry of Health received the approval for the second phase of the FCTC 2030 project. The period of implementation is from May 1, 2021, until March 31, 2022. The second phase of the FCTC 2030 project includes as outcome functional National Coordinating Mechanisms (NCM) (1. enforcement on smoke free policies and 2. discouraging tobacco use).
NCMs support the whole-of-government and societal responses to tobacco control, enhance policy coherence and information sharing, protect against industry interference in policy making, and facilitate analysis, planning, and financing. In Suriname, the Tobacco Law (Staatsblad 2013 no.39) specifies in Article 19 establishing an executive body responsible for promotion of cessation and tobacco use prevention. The Tobacco Control Bureau was tasked with the following: a) to develop, implement and monitor a national strategic plan to discourage the use of tobacco and tobacco products; b) to develop an annual plan to discourage the use of tobacco and tobacco products; c) to develop and set up projects, programs and training in order to discourage smoking, support smokers where necessary and increase the public awareness regarding the health risks of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke; d) to promote national research and introduce and supervise an epidemiological information system for monitoring, inter alia, the use of tobacco in Suriname; e) to promote cooperation between national authorities, non-governmental organizations and other relevant actors with regards to the implementation of the national tobacco policy. However, the Bureau was only active in 2014 and was thereafter discontinued. The Law did not specify the composition of the Bureau nor the resources available to it. Specifications re the composition and additional tasks were included in a proposal to the Ministerial Council (Raad van Ministers). Overall, the establishment of the Bureau did not lead to creation of a sustainable NCM in Suriname.
Without a functioning NCM, Suriname needs a new entity to assume the role of a leading executive body for coordinating and promoting tobacco control. With funding available through PAHO/WHO and the FCTC 2030 project, the Ministry of Health is committed to strengthening the implementation of article 5.2.
Scope of Work
This consultancy is to provide technical and administrative support to the Ministry of Health and PAHO/WHO in the implementation of WHO FCTC article 5.2.
The consultant will assist the Ministry of Health and work in collaboration with the Ministry’s legal department, and other relevant government sectors towards developing, establishing, and ensuring an effective functioning NCM for tobacco control in Suriname. The consultant will be guided by the “WHO FCTC Article 5.2a Implementation Guidance brief in Suriname”.
Timeframe: 10 February 2022 - 30 March 2022
Are you interested?
- To read more about the full Scope of Work and Requirements for Consultants, please click:
- To apply, please submit both a cover letter and your most recent CV SURPWR@paho.org
- Deadline for submissions: January 27th, 2022.