Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ

• What is Vital Strategies?

  Vital Strategies is a global public health organization that partners with governments and civil society to design and implement evidence-based strategies addressing the leading causes of death, disease and injury.
  We operate in 80+ countries, ith global offices and affiliates in Addis Ababa, Jinan, New Delhi, New York City, São Paulo and Singapore. Our goal is to help governments adopt proven public health interventions at scale as rapidly as possible.

• What is Vital Strategies’ mission?

  Vital Strategies’ mission is to work in partnership with governments to reimagine evidence-based, locally driven policies and practices to advance public health. We envision a world where everyone is protected by equitable and effective public health systems.

• What does Vital Strategies do?

  We strengthen public health systems by tackling the largest preventable drivers of death and disease, including tobacco use, road crashes, air pollution, harmful alcohol use, unhealthy diets and drug overdose, among others.

   

  Our approach combines data systems strengthening, strategic communication campaigns and direct technical assistance to governments. We aim to move evidence-based policies into national law and support implementation at scale.

• What is the difference between public health and healthcare?

  Healthcare focuses on treating individuals who are already sick. Public health focuses on preventing disease and promoting health at the population level through policies, health data systems, environmental improvements and more.

   

  Investments in public health often reduce burdens on healthcare systems by improving health outcomes at the population level. These improvements can build economic strength and enable governments to reinvest money from healthcare into other critical infrastructure.

• What are Vital Strategies’ core capabilities?

  Our solutions provide partners with a unique, data-driven approach to population health.

   

  Data systems and intelligence: We design surveillance systems, modernize civil registration and build digital tools so governments can make real-time, evidence-based decisions.

   

  Policy solutions: We provide legal analysis, conduct political mapping and calculate policies’ economic and health impacts to help governments adopt policies that last.

   

  Strategic communication: We blend interactive media, creator-led campaigns and trusted tools like radio and TV to build trust, counter misinformation and drive momentum for solutions that save lives.

• What are noncommunicable diseases and why are they Vital Strategies’ priority?

  Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes are responsible for over 70% of all deaths globally.

   

  Unlike infectious diseases, NCDs are largely driven by preventable risk factors including tobacco use, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity and air pollution. Vital Strategies addresses these risk factors through evidence-based policies to prevent millions of premature deaths.

• What are the WHO ‘best buys’ for NCD prevention?

  The WHO ‘best buys’ are a set of highly cost-effective NCD prevention interventions that all countries can implement. They include tobacco taxes and advertising bans, alcohol taxes and availability restrictions, salt reduction initiatives and physical activity promotion. Vital Strategies supports governments in implementing these proven interventions so people everywhere can live longer, healthier lives.

• How is Vital Strategies funded?

  We are funded through philanthropic foundations, government grants and partnerships with global health organizations.

   

  This funding supports our evidence-based public health programs and technical assistance, including large multi-country initiatives such as the Bloomberg Philanthropies Data for Health Initiative. Learn how you can partner with Vital Strategies.

• How is Vital Strategies different from other global health organizations?

  Vital Strategies combines deep technical expertise in evidence-based public health interventions with strong policy advocacy and communications capabilities.

   

  We prioritize speed, evidence and scale, and work directly with governments rather than parallel to them. This government partnership model is central to how we pursue large-scale, sustained impact.

• How does Vital Strategies measure impact?

  We track concrete, measurable outcomes such as policy, regulatory and legislative changes; lives protected or saved; and population-level risk factor and health outcome data. Through our work, more than 3.3 billion people worldwide are covered by public health policies that Vital Strategies helped achieve.

• How can I work for or partner with Vital Strategies?

  Open positions are listed on the Careers or Business and Consulting Opportunities pages. Governments, researchers, funders, NGOs and civil society organizations interested in collaborating can reach us through our Partners page or by contacting info@vitalstrategies.org.