Countries in Eastern and Southern Africa are facing increasingly complex challenges relating to drug consumption and trafficking. These challenges have not been met with effective responses, with governments instead often replication and repeating the demonstrably failed policies of the past. In a bid to address this serious and multifaceted problem, the Eastern and Southern Africa Commission on Drugs (ESACD) was formally launched in February 2023, chaired by former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe and modelled on the experiences of the West Africa Commission on Drugs (WACD). The ESACD is a high-level regional advocacy body that aims to promote informed discussion about humane and effective drug policies, as well as to develop local and regional awareness, engender public discussions and engage with policymakers to discuss new approaches to drug-related issues. Its creation was informed by the Global Commission on Drug Policy (GCDP), for which former President Motlanthe is a commissioner.