What is the Framework Convention Alliance?

The Framework Convention Alliance (FCA) was founded in 1999 and is made up of over 350 organizations from more than 100 countries working on the development, ratification and implementation of the international treaty, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The WHO FCTC is the world’s first global public health treaty, and requires parties to adopt a comprehensive range of measures designed to reduce the devastating health and economic impacts of tobacco.

Vision

The FCA’s vision is a world free from the devastating health, social, economic and environmental consequences of tobacco and tobacco use.

Mission

The FCA is a civil society alliance whose mission is to help develop and implement the FCTC as the basis for effective global tobacco control.

Values

• Societal change: FCA is dedicated to serving the interest of the public, campaigning to change society.
• Action oriented, valuing effectiveness: FCA believes in being results oriented, responsive, innovative and creative in achieving its mission. FCA strives to constantly learn and to seek ways to improve its work and impact.
• Diversity:  FCA strives to be inclusive, diverse, representative and gender sensitive.
• Collective approach: FCA values unity, cooperation and collaboration based on collective trust; where everyone is respected and has something to contribute, and every member organization has equal rights.
• Consensus building and democratic: FCA strives for consensus in decision making, valuing a participatory and inclusive approach.
• Accountability: FCA believes in transparency and accountability.

Strategic priorities

FCA’s strategic priorities are to:

• Promote and support tobacco control through the development and implementation of the FCTC, its protocols and guidelines as a global health priority.
• Strengthen and influence the FCTC process.
• Mobilize and strengthen the regional and local civil society capacity in support of FCTC.
• Monitor the implementation of the FCTC, its guidelines and protocols.
• Strengthen FCA institutional capacity to enable it to meet the strategic priorities.

Summary of Achievement 

The FCA has:

• Helped convince 167 countries (plus the European Union) to become Parties to the Convention.
• Assisted in the development and adoption of effective evidence-based guidelines on implementation of the FCTC, in particular on Article 8 (protection from second-hand smoke), Article 11 (packaging and labeling) and Article 13 (advertising and promotion).
• Positively influenced the Second Session of the Conference of the Parties to the WHO FCTC deliberations, resulting in the commencement of negotiations on a protocol to curb the illicit trade of tobacco products.
• Enhanced the ability of FCA members to actively influence FCTC protocols and implementation guidelines.
• Ensured the presence of NGOs from across the world at all FCTC-related meetings.
• Provided grants to enable participants from low income countries to be actively involved in all FCTC activities.
• Created an organization that is founded on the principles of diversity, gender balance and equality, and has worked successfully within this ethos.
• Developed an organization that has been (and continues to be) largely run by volunteers, who display enormous commitment to tobacco control and the FCA, sometimes at great personal/financial sacrifice.
• Delivered highly respected position papers, news bulletins and other advocacy material.
• Created a monitoring and reporting tool to hold governments accountable for their commitments under the FCTC.
• Successfully kept civil society, government officials and the media fully informed about the FCTC process.
• Created and funded a process that enabled the FCA to move from being a loose coalition of existing NGOs into a legally structured entity that comprises organizations from over 100 countries.
• Developed strong working relationships with governments and established an official relationship with WHO, as well as achieved high levels of credibility with funders.
• Created a successful international organization that is establishing staff posts around the world and recruiting based on ability, rather than location.
• Received awards recognising its accomplishments.