The Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) and FORUT Norway have signed an agreement to cooperate on alcohol and drug prevention in their development programs. The organizations believe that they will enhance the quality of their by work by combining their networks and expertise.

Malawi and Botswana became the two first countries to test a new training package on evidence-based alcohol policies. Namibia will be the next country early in 2010.

The multinational drinks industry has made attempts to take control over alcohol policy formulation in a number of African countries.

This paper by Professor Diyanath Samarasinghe at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, gives an introduction to how the problem of unrecorded alcohol consumption can be understood and how it can be addressed; by communities, governments and NGOs.

Representatives from non-governmental organizations from five countries, together with alcohol experts and resources persons, have now formed a network for alcohol policy advocacy work in Eastern Africa.

Arusha, Tanzania: East African conference with a strong appeal for evidence-based alcohol policies in the region.

The Government of Malawi and the Norwegian development NGO FORUT recently signed an agreement to cooperate on alcohol and drug prevention.

“The continued abuse of alcohol is one of the greatest obstacles to Botswana’s Vision 2016 ideal of an HIV free nation by 2016”. This was said by President Ian Khama speaking at a World Aids Day commemoration in of Botswana.

“As a developing country Malawi cannot afford to divert our scarce resources from basic needs such as education and food to alcohol consumption”.