Overview
In 2023, Vital Strategies launched the Cessation Grants Program to support countries to strengthen tobacco cessation services and support comprehensive MPOWER programs. The Cessation Program is a sub-set of the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use Grants.
How We Work
The Cessation grants aim to achieve population level impact through supporting sustainable development of cessation services, and are intended to be longer in duration, up to 24 months. The grants aim to address one or more evidence-based cessation services with a specific focus on brief cessation counseling, national toll-free quit lines, and mCessation services. The program works closely with national government partners to sustainably develop these services and integrate them into each country’s existing healthcare structure and programs.
Global Context
According to the WHO, only 23 countries provide comprehensive cessation services to support tobacco users in quitting, covering almost a third of the global population. This represents a significant need for cessation services, including counseling and national toll-free quit lines, that raise awareness about the harms of tobacco use and support users to quit. Studies show that of smokers who understand the harms of tobacco use, the majority want to quit. Yet, few smokers understand the potential health risks. Brief cessation counseling, among other support services, can significantly address this gap by addressing access to services and provide smokers with concrete pathways to quitting.
If you want to learn more about how health care providers may implement cessation services, please visit the WHO clinical treatment guidelines for tobacco cessation in adults.
Evidence-based interventions in tobacco cessation in low- and middle-income countries have substantial health and economic benefits. To learn more, read the WHO report on The Global Investment Case for Tobacco Cessation.
Applying For a Cessation Grant
For applicants interested in proposing a longer-term project, up to 24 months and $400,000 USD, that focuses on tobacco cessation, with a specific focus on brief cessation advice, national quitlines, and/or mCessation, please consider applying for a Cessation Grant. These grants are supported by the Bloomberg Initiative under a separate grants program. For applicants that wish to include smaller scale tobacco cessation work with other tobacco control initiatives, please consider applying to the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use Strategic and Open Rounds.
To learn more about the grants application process and upcoming grant rounds, please visit Tobacco Control Grants Program. If you have any questions, feel free to contact tobaccocontrol@vitalstrategies.org.