Needs assessments

The Conference of the Parties (COP) called upon developing Parties and Parties with economies in transition to conduct needs assessments in the light of their obligations under the Convention. The Convention Secretariat was requested to assist Parties in doing so upon request, to advise them on existing mechanisms of funding and technical assistance, and to provide information to development partners on the needs identified.

In line with the decision of the COP, needs assessments are carried out jointly with the national government concerned. Each exercise has three phases: the pre-needs assessment phase, in which the Secretariat studies relevant documents and Party reports, and prepares a detailed programme; the needs assessment mission, during which an international team interacts with the health ministry and various national stakeholders, the WHO country office and the United Nations resident coordinator; and the post-mission and follow-up phase, in which the Secretariat finalizes the needs assessment report in cooperation with national focal points and works with the government and international partners to promote the jointly agreed action plan.

Parties wishing to request the Convention Secretariat’s assistance in conducting a joint needs assessment can send an official request from a competent authority to the Head of the Convention Secretariat (e-mail: fctcsecretariat@who.int; fax: +41 22 791 5830).

• An introduction to and the methodology of the needs assessment is available here
  pdf, 140kb
• Frequently asked questions

Needs assessments 2009–2012

Joint needs assessments have so far been conducted in: Bangladesh, Jordan, Lesotho and Papua New Guinea (2009); Ghana, Guatemala and Republic of Moldova (2010); Bhutan, Palau and Fiji (2011); Samoa, Cook Islands, Solomon Islands, Kyrgyzstan, Gambia, Colombia and the Federated States of Micronesia (2012). Partial exercises to assist with the review of national tobacco control legislation and development of a national action plan were conducted for Afghanistan and Senegal in 2012, to be followed by full exercise at a mutually convenient time. A preparatory mission prior to a subsequent full needs assessment was also undertaken for Botswana in 2012.

Needs assessments 2013–2014

• Islamic Republic of Iran (3 to 7 February 2013)
• Nepal (14 to 19 April 2013)
• Sierra Leone (6-10 May 2013)
• Burundi (13-17 May 2013)

Post-needs assessment assistance

Parties that have conducted joint needs assessments have been provided with post-needs assessment assistance. With the grant provided to the Secretariat for such assistance, Bhutan, Ghana and Guatemala have implemented projects in promoting education, communication, training and increasing public awareness, and the project in Jordan is ongoing. With the European Commission grant, technical support in areas such as tobacco taxation, surveillance, facilitating licences for use of pictorial health warnings, developing national tobacco control action plans, etc., is being provided to Kyrgyzstan and the Islamic Republic of Iran and will gradually involve all other Parties undertaking joint needs assessments.