Abstract:
This paper reports on the design of a study to examine the policy landscape relevant to
sugar-sweetened beverage taxation in seven sub-Saharan African countries. The study
responds to the need for strong policy to address the rising burden of non-communicable
diseases in the region. Sugar-sweetened beverage taxation has been widely recommended as
a key component of a comprehensive policy approach to NCD prevention. However, it has
proved a contentious policy intervention, with industry strongly opposing the introduction of
such taxes.
The aim was to identify opportunities to strengthen sugar-sweetened beverage taxationrelated
policy for the prevention of nutrition-related NCDs in a subset of Eastern and
Southern African countries: Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Rwanda, Namibia, Zambia, Uganda.
The study was conducted as a collaboration by researchers from nine institutions; including
the seven study countries, South Africa, and Australia. The research protocol was collaboratively
developed, drawing on theories of the policy process to examine the existing availability
of evidence, policy context, and stakeholder interests and influence.
This paper describes the development of a method for a policy landscape analysis to
strengthen policies relevant to NCD prevention, and specifically sugar-sweetened beverage
taxation. This takes the form of a prospective policy analysis, based on systematic documentary
analysis supplemented by consultations with policy actors, that is feasible in lowresource
settings. Data were collected from policy documents, government and industry
reports, survey documentation, webpages, and academic literature. Consultations were
conducted to verify the completeness of the policy-relevant data collection. We analysed
the frames and beliefs regarding the policy ‘problems’, the existing policy context and
understandings of sugar-sweetened beverage taxation as a potential policy intervention,
and the political context across relevant sectors, including industry interests and influence in
the policy process.
This study design will provide insights to inform public health action to support sugarsweetened
beverage taxation in the region.
