Project „FCTC 2030 Georgia“, conducted by Georgia and convention secretariat, is financially supported by governments of Great Britain and Australia and accomplished in collaboration with UNDP and WHO. Project aims to support low and middle income member countries to achieve sustainable development goals by strengthening implementation of the FCTC (Framework Convention of Tobacco Control). Project duration is years 2017 – 2021.

Within the frames of the project, selected country governments will receive assistance to: implement 5th article of the FCTC; improve tobacco control governance and protect tobacco control policy from tobacco industry commercial and other types of interest; strengthen of tobacco taxation; implement FCTC time-bound articles (ban of all forms of advertisement, sponsorship and promotion of tobacco, effective health warnings on the packages of tobacco products, secondhand tobacco smoke free work and public places); execute FCTC other articles that are determined by national priorities;  support execution of the FCTC as a part of 2030 sustainable development goals agenda; include FCTC in national health and development plans.

Within the frames of the project „FCTC 2030 Georgia“, UNDP, WHO, Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Affairs of Georgia and other governmental entities collaborated to evaluate “Investment Case”. “Investment Case” implies involvement of UNDP, WHO international experts and UN country team to collect data in the country and determine economic burden, identify advantages of priority interventions within the sustainable development goals agenda as well as evaluate costs of inactivity. Investment Case evaluated economic loss associated with tobacco and savings which would be generated if the country fully implements FCTC responsibilities. Above mentioned Investment Case is a first one in tobacco control policy direction.  

In Georgia, tobacco economic loss predictions were made according to local and international research data. Direct and indirect health costs (premature death and costs associated with smoking at the work place) amount 824.9 million GEL that represents 2.43% of the country’s annual GDP.  

Using Investment Case, estimates were made on how these expenses would increase during 15 years in case of inactivity and what would be the economic saving if the country fully enforces 4 priority measures by FCTC: tobacco tax increase, implementation of tobacco secondhand smoke free policy, full ban of tobacco products marketing, application of effective health warnings on tobacco packages.    

Investment Case shows, that strengthening FCTC enforcement would bring the country closer to the implementation of responsibilities taken in accordance with EU association agreement, and also would support achievement of sustainable development goals.