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Coordination and Planning

Coordination and Planning

GOAL: Coordination mechanism for enforcing the law is in place with strategic plans for all aspects of implementation and appropriate resources allocated to activities.

Tobacco control laws frequently require multiple government agencies to implement and enforce them. Effective coordination and communication between the agencies is key.

A strong strategic approach with thorough planning is needed, involving all relevant stakeholders.

Recommendations

Key elements to successful coordination and planning for implementation:

Use the navigation below to explore the page and find recommendations and top tips on coordination and planning.

  1. Strong coordination mechanism 
  2. Conduct a situational analysis 
  3. Strategy and Planning 
  4. Sustainability 

 

Establish or strengthen the coordination mechanism

Tobacco control laws frequently require multiple government agencies to implement and enforce them. Therefore, coordination and communication between the agencies is key.

It is very important to set up a coordination mechanism at a high administrative level with strong coordination authority. Tobacco control work is typically the responsibility of the health department, but because it is at the same level as other administrative departments it can be challenging for it to instruct and coordinate. Under a multi-sectoral law enforcement mechanism, it is preferable to set it up at a higher level than the involved administrative departments. Oversight by a senior political figure can also strengthen the coordination mechanism.

Civil society can play a critical role in establishing coordination, particularly in smokefree and TAPS implementation. If direct participation by civil society is not possible on an interagency coordination group, a separate civil society advisory group can be created to provide appropriate input.

Case Study

Coordination in Bangladesh

The role of civil society

Bangladesh’s Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage Act, enacted in 2005, banned smoking in public places and public transportation. Tobacco control advocates and government stakeholders worked together to create an enforcement mechanism based on the following: 1) identification of violations; 2) submission of violations to enforcement officers and sensitisation of violator; 3) issuance of warning to violator; 4) enforcement of law by authorised officers; and 5) final reporting of violation and outcome.

Civil society organisations are essential to this process, especially when it comes to building awareness of business owners and community members. They also play a role in reporting violations to proper enforcement officials and sharing final outcomes with the media.

Situational analysis

It is important to have a broad picture of the situation and to analyse the status of the local implementation and enforcement in the jurisdiction.

1. Review the provisions of the law and associated regulations, preferably with a legal expert

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Review of the authorities and responsibilities outlined in the law: which stakeholders have been assigned responsibilities and what authority do they have? It is important to review all related laws and regulations which impact the one being enforced. Identify potential challenges or gaps in the legal framework.

2. Identify any supporting data, ideally for the specific jurisdiction.

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Examples of data include compliance levels, prevalence, usage, public attitudes to the law and to tobacco control. It is also helpful to establish the numbers of venues or businesses in operation. If none is available, consider conducting an assessment or mapping survey.

3. Map out all stakeholders in implementation and enforcement of the law.

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Conduct a desk review and map out all key stakeholders. Identify other national or sub-national strategies that could be aligned with.

4. Consult with stakeholders

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Conduct interviews with relevant stakeholders to assess: their support for implementation or potential to disrupt it; their level of influence; their motivations; challenges or gaps they identify in implementing and enforcing the law.

5. Explore other well-enforced laws

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Learning from other sectors with successful and effective law enforcement can help inform planning and resourcing required for implementing the tobacco control law.

6. Analyse all available data to inform strategic plan

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Conduct a gap analysis and identify priorities. Mobilise key stakeholders as part of the strategic planning and ensure buy-in. Make recommendations for amendments to law/regulations where appropriate.

Strategy and Planning

A strong strategic approach with thorough planning is needed, involving all relevant stakeholders. Some key elements to consider include:

Coordination: Ensuring a clear enforcement mechanism is established with all key stakeholders represented and inter-agency arrangements or agreements in place.

Priorities: Careful planning on which inspections take priority, based on available evidence and aligning with existing government health priorities.

Budget and resources: Establishing what budget and resources are available for conducting all necessary implementation and enforcement actions.

Tools: Establishing protocols, procedures and tools for all enforcement activities.

Timing: Planning for when the law will come into effect – or be reactivated – and ensuring there is enough time that stakeholders are sensitised and informed of their rights and responsibilities.

Sustainability

It is important for tobacco control enforcement activities to be sustainable over the long term.

Whilst some laws in some settings may become self-enforcing, this is not always the case. Financing for these activities can be funded through health levies, tobacco taxes, licensing fees, tobacco-related fines and health-related budget lines from Ministries.

Efficiency and sustainability are a key aspect to any tobacco control enforcement activities, especially in low-resource settings. Where possible, building inspections into the existing regular work of inspectors can be an efficient approach. For example, food safety officers are well placed to inspect restaurants under smokefree laws.

Implementation Areas

Regulations

Category: GIH Basic page

Issued by an executive authority or government regulatory agency, a regulation (or rule, order, ordinance or guideline) explains how to implement a specific law and its related penalties and sanctions. 

Compliance

Category: GIH Basic page

Tobacco control law compliance increases the percentage of the population that is protected from tobacco harms.