12 Using evidence for tobacco control in West Africa
The marketing of tobacco products in poor countries is intensifying. Despite their commitment, in 2010, the 15 countries that make up the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) were still far from a legislative environment conducive to tobacco control.This case study focuses on the appli- cation of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in West Africa, and how the use of action research to gener- ate evidence and the creation of consensus between the different stakehold- ers involved in tobacco control can change policy.The process was supported through an action-research process led by the Consortium for Economic and Social Research, based in Senegal, working closely with ECOWAS.