Tobacco kills more than 7 million people per year and is costing the world economy US$1.4 trillion annually in health care costs and productivity losses. Tobacco growing causes up to 5 percent of deforestation in growing countries and results in biodiversity loss and soil degradation, as well as water and soil pollution from pesticide use. Effective tobacco control can yield benefits for health and sustainable development more broadly.

Addressing the sustainable development dimensions of tobacco requires strengthened implementation of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), as specified in target 3.a of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. National planning, coordination, and protection against tobacco industry interference in policymaking are the foundation for effective WHO FCTC implementation.

In line with UNDP’s Strategic Plan 2018-2021, and its HIV, Health and Development Strategy 2016-2021, UNDP and the WHO FCTC Secretariat have jointly developed this toolkit to support WHO FCTC Parties in developing effective national tobacco control strategies. The toolkit is intended primarily for governments, particularly ministries of health, national tobacco control focal points and national coordinating mechanisms for tobacco control.