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Tax Justice Network Africa will participate in a training workshop on the use of the TaxSim Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Tobacco Excise Tax Simulation Model, scheduled for 4-6 December 2024 in Kinshasa, DRC.
Organized by the Consortium for Economic and Social Research (CRES), in collaboration with TJNA, this workshop brings together government officials, policymakers, and civil society organizations to explore various tobacco taxation options within DRC.
Tobacco consumption is a leading preventable cause of death globally, with rising smoking rates, especially among young people in Africa. Tobacco taxation, as outlined in the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), is a proven tool for reducing use, particularly among vulnerable groups.
To support tobacco tax advocacy in Africa, TJNA launched the Tobacco Tax Advocacy in Africa (TTAA) project, focusing on expanding research and technical support for tobacco taxation, especially in the ECOWAS region. Through a partnership with CRES, TJNA is providing technical assistance to partners in DRC, Senegal, and beyond.
In the DRC, CRES developed the TaxSim DRC model, a tool that helps policymakers and civil society assess the health, social, and economic impacts of different tobacco tax policies. By simulating these effects, the model informs evidence-based decisions to reduce tobacco consumption and improve public health.
A central focus of the workshop is to strengthen the capacity of government experts and civil society stakeholders in the DRC to effectively use the TaxSim DRC model. This powerful tool simulates the effects of different tobacco tax policies, helping to assess their impact on public health, socio-economic well-being, and government revenue.
The workshop will combine expert presentations, hands-on simulations, and group exercises. Participants will have the opportunity to interact with the TaxSim DRC model, experimenting with different tobacco tax scenarios and formulating policy recommendations based on the results. These discussions will serve as a collaborative forum for sharing insights, refining the model, and exploring strategies to incorporate evidence into tobacco policymaking.
Through this initiative, TJNA aims to equip local experts and civil society groups with the necessary tools and knowledge to advocate for more effective tobacco tax policies. By fostering greater use of the TaxSim DRC model, TJNA seeks to support the development of evidence-based policies that will drive a reduction in tobacco consumption, improve public health outcomes, and generate greater government revenue in the DRC and the wider African region.
This workshop is part of TJNA's broader efforts to strengthen the capacity of stakeholders across Africa to leverage data and modeling tools in shaping policies that reduce tobacco use and its harmful effects on public health.
Related resources
For more information about the workshop or the Tobacco Tax Advocacy in Africa (TTAA) project, please contact Chileshe Mange at cmange[@]taxjusticeafrica.net.