Applications open for Tobacco Control Grants Program

Deadline: 29-Jul-2026

The Tobacco Control Grants Program provides funding to organizations working to strengthen national tobacco control policies in low- and middle-income countries. The program supports evidence-based interventions under the WHO MPOWER framework and helps countries implement effective tobacco prevention, protection, cessation, awareness, advertising control, taxation, and tobacco industry interference policies.

The grants support projects that close national tobacco control policy gaps and advance implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), especially Article 5.3 policies that protect tobacco control measures from tobacco industry influence.

Overview of the Tobacco Control Grants Program

The Tobacco Control Grants Program is designed to help governments and civil society organizations improve tobacco control systems through targeted policy-focused projects.

The program supports activities that strengthen the following tobacco control measures:

• Monitoring tobacco use and tobacco prevention policies.
• Protecting people from exposure to tobacco smoke.
• Providing support and services to help people quit tobacco use.
• Increasing public awareness about the dangers of tobacco products.
• Enforcing bans on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship.
• Increasing tobacco product taxes to reduce tobacco consumption.
• Implementing WHO FCTC Article 5.3 policies to prevent tobacco industry interference.

The program focuses on policy development, implementation, enforcement, and strengthening national tobacco control strategies.

What Is the WHO MPOWER Framework?

The WHO MPOWER framework is a set of evidence-based tobacco control measures developed by the World Health Organization to help countries reduce tobacco use.

MPOWER represents six key tobacco control strategies:

• Monitor tobacco use and prevention policies.
• Protect people from tobacco smoke.
• Offer help to quit tobacco use.
• Warn about the dangers of tobacco.
• Enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship.
• Raise taxes on tobacco products.

Projects funded through the Tobacco Control Grants Program should support one or more MPOWER measures, particularly areas where national policy improvements are needed.

Purpose and Importance of the Grants Program

The Tobacco Control Grants Program helps countries develop stronger tobacco control policies and create healthier communities.

The program matters because tobacco use remains a major global health challenge linked to diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory illness, and premature death.

Grant-supported projects help countries:

• Improve tobacco control laws and regulations.
• Strengthen enforcement of existing policies.
• Reduce tobacco industry influence on public health decisions.
• Expand tobacco prevention and cessation programs.
• Protect populations from tobacco-related harm.
• Support long-term public health improvements.

Grant Funding Rounds

The Tobacco Control Grants Program provides funding through two major grant rounds each year:

• Open Grant Round (OGR)
• Strategic Grant Round (SGR)

Each funding round has different eligibility requirements and project priorities.

Open Grant Round (OGR)

The Open Grant Round is an international competitive funding opportunity available to eligible applicants from any low- and middle-income country.

Projects submitted under the Open Grant Round must:

• Address a national tobacco control policy gap.
• Focus on MPOWER policy areas related to PWER components.
• Support implementation of WHO FCTC Article 5.3 policies when connected to stronger MPOWER implementation.
• Demonstrate clear policy impact and measurable outcomes.

The Open Grant Round allows organizations from eligible countries to propose projects based on their national tobacco control priorities.

Strategic Grant Round (SGR)

The Strategic Grant Round supports tobacco control projects in selected priority countries.

Key features include:

• Available only to applicants from nine designated priority countries.
• Focuses on country-specific tobacco control challenges.
• Supports strategic interventions identified under the grant initiative.
• Targets priority policy gaps where funding can create significant impact.

Organizations applying through the Strategic Grant Round should ensure their proposals directly match the identified priorities of their country.

Tobacco Industry Interference Grant Program

Organizations planning short-term projects focused mainly on identifying, exposing, and responding to tobacco industry interference should consider the separate Tobacco Industry Interference Grant Program.

These projects generally:

• Last up to six months.
• Focus specifically on tobacco industry tactics.
• Aim to protect tobacco control policies from industry influence.

However, projects that include tobacco industry interference activities as part of a larger tobacco control policy initiative may apply through:

• Open Grant Round (OGR)
• Strategic Grant Round (SGR)

Cessation Grant Program

Organizations developing longer-term tobacco cessation projects may be eligible for the separate Cessation Grant Program.

The Cessation Grant Program supports:

• Projects lasting up to 24 months.
• Funding requests of up to USD 400,000.
• National quitline development.
• Brief tobacco cessation advice services.
• Mobile-based cessation services (mCessation).

Projects where tobacco cessation is only one component of a broader tobacco control policy initiative may be submitted under the Open Grant Round or Strategic Grant Round.

Who Is Eligible?

Eligible applicants generally include organizations working in low- and middle-income countries that are involved in tobacco control, public health, policy development, research, or advocacy.

Potential applicants may include:

• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
• Public health organizations.
• Research institutions.
• Policy advocacy organizations.
• Organizations working on tobacco prevention and control.

Applicants should demonstrate:

• Experience in tobacco control or public health initiatives.
• Ability to implement policy-focused projects.
• Understanding of national tobacco control priorities.
• Capacity to measure project outcomes.

Eligibility requirements may vary depending on the specific grant round.

Types of Projects Supported

The Tobacco Control Grants Program supports projects that strengthen national tobacco control policies.

Examples of eligible project areas include:

• Developing or improving tobacco control legislation.
• Supporting implementation of smoke-free policies.
• Strengthening tobacco warning label requirements.
• Improving tobacco taxation policies.
• Supporting tobacco advertising restrictions.
• Monitoring tobacco industry interference.
• Improving national tobacco control surveillance systems.
• Strengthening tobacco cessation policies and services.

Projects should focus on sustainable policy change rather than short-term awareness activities alone.

How the Tobacco Control Grants Program Works

The grant process follows several key stages:

1. Identify a tobacco control policy gap

Organizations should identify a specific national challenge, such as weak enforcement, missing legislation, or limited implementation of tobacco control measures.

2. Select the appropriate funding round

Applicants should choose the grant opportunity that matches their project:

• Open Grant Round for eligible organizations worldwide from low- and middle-income countries.
• Strategic Grant Round for organizations in selected priority countries.
• Tobacco Industry Interference Grant Program for short-term industry monitoring projects.
• Cessation Grant Program for larger tobacco cessation initiatives.

3. Develop a project proposal

A strong proposal should include:

• Clear objectives.
• Defined policy problem.
• Planned activities.
• Expected outcomes.
• Implementation timeline.
• Monitoring and evaluation approach.
• Budget details.

4. Submit the application

Applicants must complete the required application process and provide all requested documentation before the deadline.

5. Grant review and selection

Applications are evaluated based on:

• Relevance to tobacco control priorities.
• Potential policy impact.
• Feasibility.
• Organizational capacity.
• Sustainability of outcomes.

6. Implement and report project activities

Selected organizations must implement approved activities and provide progress reports according to grant requirements.

Key Factors for a Strong Application

Successful applications usually demonstrate:

• A clear connection to national tobacco control priorities.
• Alignment with WHO MPOWER measures.
• Evidence-based strategies.
• Strong implementation planning.
• Measurable policy outcomes.
• Collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
• Long-term sustainability.

Common Mistakes Applicants Should Avoid

Applicants should avoid the following issues:

• Submitting projects that do not address a clear tobacco control policy gap.
• Proposing activities unrelated to MPOWER measures or FCTC implementation.
• Focusing only on general awareness campaigns without policy objectives.
• Selecting the wrong grant category.
• Providing unclear timelines or budgets.
• Failing to explain expected outcomes and impact.
• Ignoring tobacco industry interference risks.

Tips for Preparing a Strong Proposal

Organizations can improve their applications by:

• Reviewing national tobacco control priorities before applying.
• Clearly linking activities to MPOWER measures.
• Using evidence and research to justify the project.
• Defining measurable indicators.
• Explaining how results will continue after funding ends.
• Demonstrating knowledge of WHO FCTC requirements.
• Building partnerships with relevant public health stakeholders.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the Tobacco Control Grants Program?

The Tobacco Control Grants Program provides funding to organizations in low- and middle-income countries to strengthen tobacco control policies through evidence-based interventions aligned with the WHO MPOWER framework and WHO FCTC implementation.

Who can apply for Tobacco Control Grants?

Organizations working in eligible low- and middle-income countries can apply. Eligible applicants may include NGOs, research institutions, public health organizations, and policy advocacy groups involved in tobacco control activities.

What types of tobacco control projects receive funding?

The program supports projects related to tobacco monitoring, smoke-free policies, cessation support, tobacco warning systems, advertising restrictions, tobacco taxation, and protection from tobacco industry interference.

What is the difference between OGR and SGR grants?

The Open Grant Round is open to eligible applicants from any low- and middle-income country, while the Strategic Grant Round is limited to applicants from nine priority countries and focuses on country-specific tobacco control priorities.

Can tobacco cessation projects apply through this program?

Yes, but larger tobacco cessation projects lasting up to 24 months with funding requests up to USD 400,000 should generally apply through the separate Cessation Grant Program. Smaller cessation activities may be included within broader tobacco control policy projects.

What projects should apply for the Tobacco Industry Interference Grant Program?

Short-term projects of up to six months that primarily focus on identifying, exposing, and countering tobacco industry interference should apply through the Tobacco Industry Interference Grant Program.

Why is WHO FCTC Article 5.3 important for tobacco control?

WHO FCTC Article 5.3 helps protect public health policies from tobacco industry influence and supports transparent decision-making in tobacco control.

Conclusion

The Tobacco Control Grants Program provides essential funding support for organizations working to strengthen tobacco control policies in low- and middle-income countries. By supporting WHO MPOWER measures, WHO FCTC implementation, tobacco cessation initiatives, and protection from tobacco industry interference, the program helps countries create stronger policies and reduce tobacco-related health impacts.

Organizations seeking funding should carefully select the appropriate grant category, develop evidence-based proposals, and focus on measurable policy outcomes that support long-term tobacco control progress.

For more information, visit Vital Strategies.