DRC Workshop on Taxes and Tariffs on Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs)
Organized by AED/NetMark Africa Regional Malaria Program and East, Central and Southern Africa-Health Community (ECSA), in collaboration with Ministry of Health, DRC
January 30 - February 2, 2006
Kinshasa, DRC

SUMMARY REPORT

Introduction:

The DRC Workshop on taxes and tariffs on ITNs was organised by AED/NetMark Africa Malaria Programme and East, Central and Southern Africa (ECSA) Health Community in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, DRC with financial support from USAID-REDSO. The workshop was in two parts: the first three days were for Workshop Training in advocacy skills to selected officials including use of the MoreNets spreadsheet model that was developed with SARA/AED. The last day of the workshops was an Advocacy Workshop for selected stakeholders involved in ITN activities.

The Workshop was officially opened by the Minister of Health, Hon Prof. Emile BONGELI and attended by over 45 participants including Members of Senate and Parliament (MP) of DRC; Representatives from the Ministry of Health; National Malaria Control Programme (PLPM); WHO; UNICEF; NGOs; private sector, Kinshasa University and the media.

In the opening remarks, the Minister of Health, indicated that DRC was committed to the removal of taxes and tariffs on ITNs and other malaria prevention commodities. He promised to work closely with other ministries and stakeholders in the process of tax removal in DRC.

This workshop was a follow-up to the Johannesburg Regional Workshop on Taxes and Tariffs on ITNs, which was organized by ECSA-HC/NetMark in November 2004. The regional workshop was attended by representatives from various countries including DRC. At the end of the workshop, participants prepared draft advocacy implementation plans, which were to be discussed with their respective countries for implementation.

After the Regional Workshop, follow-up visits and discussions were undertaken by ECSA-HC/NetMark in a number of countries including DRC. During the follow-up visits and discussions in DRC, it was agreed that a workshop be arranged for stakeholders in DRC to discuss the issues of taxes and tariffs on ITNs. It was also agreed that a selected group of officials be trained in advocacy during the workshop in order to give them skills, which would be used in advocacy activities after the workshop.

Objectives of the DRC Workshop

1. Discuss the status of taxes and tariffs on ITNs in DRC and analyse opportunities and constraints in relation to the removal of taxes and tariffs on ITNs.
2. Create a strong core working group of qualified and interested local officials to lead the advocacy process in the country.
3. Develop/strengthen the capacity of selected officials to enable them demonstrate the health and economic impacts of malaria using the MoreNets model.
4. Develop a broad tax and tariff advocacy strategy for DRC including all stakeholders.
5. Put in place a plan for follow-up activities to be undertaken after the workshop.

Presentations during the Workshop

During the workshop, a number of presentations were made by various stakeholders focusing on the burden of malaria and the need to remove taxes and tariffs on ITNs in DRC. The main presentations included:

• Background information and rationale for the removal of taxes and tariffs on ITNs in Africa;
• Malaria situation in Africa;
• Malaria and ITN situation in DRC;
• Status of taxes and tariffs on ITNs in DRC;
• Overview of the advocacy activity for the removal of taxes and tariffs on ITNs: Country experiences;
• Use of MoreNets Spreadsheet Model as a tool in advocating for the removal of taxes and tariffs on ITNs in DRC;
• A review of ITNs taxes and tariffs advocacy implementation plan for DRC
• Introduction to the concepts of advocacy;
• Use of information generated with MoreNets model in taxes and tariffs removal advocacy.

Workshop Outputs

By the end of the workshop, the following had been achieved:

• Presentations and discussions on the status of taxes and tariffs on ITNs in DRC including opportunities and challenges of removing taxes and tariffs.
• Presentations and discussions on the experiences, lessons and process of reducing or removing taxes and taxes on ITNs.
• Participants were introduced to the use of MoreNets Advocacy Spreadsheet model, to be used in advocating for the removal and reduction of taxes and tariffs.
• Skills and knowledge were acquired on how to formulate an advocacy strategy/presentation for the reduction or removal of taxes and tariffs on ITNs using information generated from the MoreNets Model.
• A presentation on the removal of taxes ad tariffs on ITNs was prepared and presented to the Minister of Health at the closure of the workshop.
• Ideas on the preparation of the draft bill for the removal of taxes and tariffs were put forward by participants.
• The DRC ITNs advocacy implementation work plan was reviewed and revised.
• All participants committed themselves to working together to remove taxes on ITNs and other malaria prevention commodities in DRC.


Appendices

A.1 Advocacy presentation prepared by workshop participants: Removal of taxes and tariffs on ITNs and other Malaria control commodities

A.2 Ideas on changing the law to remove taxes and tariffs on ITNs

A.3 Revised advocacy implementation plan for the removal of taxes and tariffs on ITNs

A.4 List of Workshop Participants

Download complete summary report

RDC - Rapport de l'Atelier de l'Elaboration des Strategies sur la Suppression des Droits de Douane et Taxes sur la Moustiquaire Impregnee d'Insecticide, les Medicaments et autres Produits Antipaludiques

Additional activities:

Advocacy on the Removal of Taxes & Tariffs on Insecticide Treated Nets and Insecticide Treatments in Burundi: September, 2005, Bujumbura

Regional Workshop on Taxes and Tariffs on Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs): August 29 - September 6, 2005, Accra