The Caribbean Tobacco Control Project Deborah Chen MPH Executive Director The Heart Foundation of Jamaica Project Director The Caribbean Tobacco Control Project Healthy Caribbean Conference - Oct 27 – 28, 2010 Barbados

The Caribbean Tobacco Control Project  The Heart Foundation of Jamaica (for The Jamaica Coalition for Tobacco Control) was successful in receiving a grant from The Bloomberg Global Initiative (April 2008)  This is a Regional project in association with the IAHF/FCTC Caribbean Tobacco Network

The Bloomberg Global Initiative The Bloomberg Grant  The grant is to ensure the implementation of rotating picture-based package warnings on tobacco products sold in four Caribbean countries.  This grant is administered through The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids

The Caribbean Tobacco Control Project PROJECT DETAILS Project title"Introducing a Picture-Based Health Warning System on Cigarette Packages in the Caribbean " Duration of project24 months Start date of projectAPRIL 1, 2008 – EXTENDED UNTIL JUNE 2011 Project scopeRegional – The Caribbean – including Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago Project outreach:The population of the 4 countries involved in the project

The Caribbean Tobacco Control Project Our Regional Partners Our Regional Project Partners GUYANA

The Caribbean Tobacco Control Project

The Heart Foundation of Jamaica (HFJ) was established in The Heart Foundation of Jamaica (HFJ) was established in Member of The InterAmerican Heart Foundation. Member of The InterAmerican Heart Foundation. Member The World Heart Federation. Member The World Heart Federation. HFJ is involved in prevention programmes for cardiovascular disease. HFJ is involved in prevention programmes for cardiovascular disease. The Jamaica Coalition for Tobacco Control (JCTC) was launched on May 31, World No Tobacco Day, The Jamaica Coalition for Tobacco Control (JCTC) was launched on May 31, World No Tobacco Day, 2002.

The Caribbean Tobacco Control Project Our Project Partners The InterAmerican Heart Foundation based in Dallas USA, was established in Its mission is to reduce disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke in the Americas.

The Caribbean Tobacco Control Project Our Project Partners The Heart & Stroke Foundation of Barbados Inc. (HSFB) is a non profit organisation and was founded in The HSFB is a member of the Framework Convention Alliance (FCA) for tobacco control.

The Caribbean Tobacco Control Project Our Project Partners The Guyana Chest Society was established in 1921 for the prevention and treatment of tuberculosis. It is a non-profit non-governmental organization. It is affiliated with The International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases.

The Caribbean Tobacco Control Project Our Project Partners The Trinidad and Tobago Cancer Society is a non- governmental, non-profit, voluntary service organization whose main purpose is to promote the early detection of cancer through screening, education and advocacy. It was established in 1971.

PACKAGING & LABELING Rationale   Prominent health warnings and messages on tobacco product packages have been found to lead to an increased awareness of risks and an increased desire to quit

Examples of graphic health warnings on cigarette packs

The Bloomberg Global Initiative Project Objective  The Bloomberg Project’s primary objective is to achieve a strong CARICOM cigarette labelling standard  To ensure implementation of the standard or equally strong requirements in the four target countries.

The Bloomberg Global Initiative This project aims to ensure the implementation of rotating picture-based package warnings on tobacco products sold in Caribbean countries, of a minimum size of 50% of the top of each main face of the packaging.

A coalition - where to start???  What are objectives of the organisation – and proposed coalition What do you want to achieve What do you want to achieve  Is your objective in keeping with what obtains locally, regionally, internationally  Will you be able to convince others that funding is necessary?

 Identification of sources of funding Local/regional/international Local/regional/international  Write proposal based on guidelines given – review what exists in the particular area  Collaboration with others in the same field

 Choice of partners/members Categories Categories Stakeholders Stakeholders Consultants Consultants Organisations Organisations Associated organisations Associated organisations International/regional alliances International/regional alliances

The Caribbean Tobacco Control Project Key Organisations  Caribbean Cardiac Society  Caribbean College of Family Physicians,  Roswell Park Cancer Institute  Regional and country offices of the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization  Non-Smokers' Rights Association (Canada).

 Criteria for choice of coalition partners Involvement in the area of interest Involvement in the area of interest Respected persons affiliated with the particular organisation (staff and board of directors) Respected persons affiliated with the particular organisation (staff and board of directors) Accountability - AGM/financial reports Accountability - AGM/financial reports Active board members Active board members No conflict of interest No conflict of interest Due diligence on choice of partner

 Structure and systems Contracts/sub contracts (legal considerations – countries have different laws) Contracts/sub contracts (legal considerations – countries have different laws) Job descriptions Job descriptions  Regular staff evaluations Clearly define roles, responsibilities and reporting lines Clearly define roles, responsibilities and reporting lines Ensure that partners stay focused on the objectives Ensure that partners stay focused on the objectives

 Internal mid term review  Audit by funding agency Proper record keeping and filing essential Proper record keeping and filing essential Evaluated on objectives/outputs Evaluated on objectives/outputs Adjust/amend objectives as appropriate Adjust/amend objectives as appropriate

The Caribbean Tobacco Control Project Project Staffing  The project office is situated at the HFJ with responsibility for implementation in four Caribbean countries.  The office is staffed by a Project Manager and a Communications Officer. The Executive Director of HFJ is the Project Director and oversees the entire project.  Each of the other three countries has a Project Officer in the designated NGO.

The Bloomberg Global Initiative Project Staff Project Consultant - Beatriz Champagne Project Director- Deborah Chen Project Manager- Barbara McGaw Communications Officer- Dawn Williams Project Officer Barbados- Nadia Adams Project Officer Guyana- Darshanand Rampersaud Rampersaud Project Officer T & T- Rosemarie Gajar

The Caribbean Tobacco Control Project This project has the commitment of the Ministries of Health of:  Guyana  Barbados  Jamaica  Trinidad and Tobago. The four target countries together represent more than 78.3% (4,986,000) of the population of the English speaking Caribbean The four target countries together represent more than 78.3% (4,986,000) of the population of the English speaking Caribbean

 Communication - ESSENTIAL for success Central role of regional communications officer Central role of regional communications officer Skype Skype Conference calls if available Conference calls if available Face to face meetings periodically Face to face meetings periodically Update the CEO/Board of partners on regular basis Update the CEO/Board of partners on regular basis  Training

 Advocacy role Develop key relationships Develop key relationships Liaise with other civil society organisations Liaise with other civil society organisations  Financial issues Sub contract Sub contract Accountability essential – protect reputation Accountability essential – protect reputation

Financial contd. Operational/financial maturity of organisation (or potential) Operational/financial maturity of organisation (or potential) Monthly/quarterly reporting schedule Monthly/quarterly reporting schedule Money transfers to NGO Money transfers to NGO Admin fee to cover basic operating expenses – details internal to NGO Admin fee to cover basic operating expenses – details internal to NGO

 Salaries sent quarterly  Specific project activities can be reimbursed Budget needed Budget needed Invoices Invoices Best/helpful if NGO has a cash flow of it’s own Best/helpful if NGO has a cash flow of it’s own

Potential Challenges  Lack of support from respective governments and their agencies  Lack of support from other civil society organisations  Cultural differences  Careful to respect each organisations “autonomy” while keeping project focused on objectives  Mutual respect essential

Caribbean Tobacco Control Project – Committed to a Smoke Free Caribbean