The global nature of the business and the controversial nature of the tobacco sector demand that the governance structure of the Partnership is beyond doubt. The partners agreed that three critical principles have to be in place:

• Integrity: the structure of the partnership must inspire the confidence of the stakeholders and encourage their participation. This demands an open process.
• Accountability: the initiative must be accountable to the Partners, the direct beneficiaries and the wider community. This demands clarity and transparency.
• Effectiveness: the results of the partnership and its activities must be practical, workable, and deonstrable.

It was clear from the outset that if the Partnership is perceived to be under the control of any one party it will fail. The partners therefore put in place key steps for establishing and managing the Partnership and maintaining mutuality.

With the renewal of the Partnership for a further 5 years the governance structures have been reviewed, updated and streamlined.

Two groups ensure appropriate application of the Partnership's principles and objectives. Each group undertakes a distinctive set of tasks:

• A Management Team is responsible for the stewardship and implementation of the partnership's programme of activities.
• An Assurance Group carries out an independent review of the Partnership’s activities.

An independent Programme Manager is responsible for coordinating the activities of the Management Team, liaising with the members of the Assurance group and making sure that the Partnership meets the requirements set out in the MOU.