Tobacco Control Advocacy
The Tobacco Control Initiative of Y-ACT is driving youth-led strategies to prevent tobacco use before it takes hold in adolescence—the stage when most lifelong habits begin. First launched in Zambia, South Africa, and Sierra Leone, our initiative puts young people at the center of tobacco control by providing them with evidence, tools, and platforms to lead prevention efforts and influence policy change. We are not only addressing immediate risks but also building a sustainable movement to curb the rise of a tobacco epidemic across Africa.
To accomplish this, we have partnered with three national youth-led organizations and two regional youth networks to advance policy priorities in tobacco control across the African continent. Through an advocacy training curriculum, meaningful youth engagement, and outcome harvesting practices, the initiative is also increasing capacity in advocacy and monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL). These efforts enable youth-led organizations to coordinate impactful advocacy campaigns, ensuring that young people’s voices help shape national legislation and regional commitments aligned with the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).