Deadline: 29-Jul-2026
The Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use Tobacco Cessation Grants Program supports projects designed to help people quit tobacco through proven, evidence-based interventions.
The program is managed by Vital Strategies and supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies as part of broader global efforts to reduce tobacco-related harm.
The grant program focuses on improving tobacco cessation systems by supporting:
- Accessible quit services
- Evidence-based counselling programs
- Tobacco quitlines
- Mobile-based cessation services
- Sustainable national cessation strategies
- Comprehensive tobacco control initiatives
Purpose of the Tobacco Cessation Grants Program
The main goal of the program is to strengthen tobacco cessation services that create population-level health benefits.
The initiative aims to:
- Increase access to effective tobacco quitting support
- Improve national cessation infrastructure
- Expand evidence-based interventions
- Strengthen healthcare and public health systems
- Address gaps in existing cessation programs
- Support long-term sustainability of tobacco control efforts
The program prioritizes practical implementation over standalone research activities.
Why Tobacco Cessation Support Matters
Tobacco use remains a major global public health challenge, contributing to preventable diseases and deaths.
Effective cessation programs help individuals:
- Quit smoking and other forms of tobacco use
- Reduce health risks
- Access professional support
- Receive behavioral counselling
- Use proven quitting tools
Strong national cessation systems are an essential part of comprehensive tobacco control strategies.
Priority Countries
The grant opportunity is available only to organizations located in nine countries with some of the world’s highest numbers of tobacco users.
Eligible countries include:
Applicants must operate within one of these priority countries.
Supported Project Areas
The program supports projects that strengthen evidence-based tobacco cessation services.
Priority activities include:
Tobacco Cessation Counselling Services
Projects may support:
- Brief tobacco cessation advice
- Healthcare provider counselling systems
- Training programs for cessation counsellors
- Integration of cessation support into health services
National Quitline Services
Projects may focus on:
- Expanding tobacco quitline access
- Improving quitline quality
- Strengthening referral systems
- Increasing public use of quitline services
mCessation and Digital Quit Services
Projects may support mobile-based tobacco cessation solutions, including:
- Text message quitting programs
- Mobile health interventions
- Digital support platforms
- Technology-based cessation tools
Strengthening National Cessation Systems
Projects may address:
- Policy implementation gaps
- Service delivery challenges
- Coordination between health systems and cessation providers
- Sustainability planning
Supporting MPOWER Tobacco Control Strategies
Projects may contribute to comprehensive tobacco control approaches aligned with the World Health Organization’s MPOWER framework.
Activities should strengthen tobacco control implementation rather than operate separately from national strategies.
Who Is Eligible?
The program accepts applications from qualified governmental and non-governmental organizations in eligible countries.
Eligible applicants include:
Government Organizations
Government applicants may include:
- National ministries
- State or provincial government authorities
- City or municipal authorities
- Government-affiliated offices
Non-Governmental Organizations
Eligible NGO applicants may include:
- Civil society organizations
- Universities with relevant cessation experience
- Policy institutions
- Organizations advocating for tobacco cessation policies
Applicants must have the operational capacity to manage international grant funding.
Applicant Requirements
Organizations applying must:
- Be legally registered entities
- Be able to receive foreign funds
- Meet contractual requirements
- Maintain financial management systems
- Fulfill legal reporting obligations
NGO applicants must also meet tobacco industry independence requirements.
Tobacco Industry Funding Restrictions
NGO applicants cannot receive financial support from tobacco manufacturers or their affiliated organizations.
Organizations receiving funding from entities such as:
- PMI IMPACT
- Global Action to End Smoking
are not eligible.
This restriction ensures that funded projects remain independent from tobacco industry influence.
Grant Amount and Project Duration
The program provides substantial funding for large-scale tobacco cessation initiatives.
Key grant details include:
- Maximum funding amount: USD 400,000
- Expected implementation period: Approximately 24 months
Funding requests should match:
- Project scope
- Organizational capacity
- Implementation requirements
- Expected population impact
How the Grant Program Works
The application and funding process generally involves several stages.
Step 1: Identify a Tobacco Cessation Challenge
Applicants should identify gaps within their country’s cessation system, such as:
- Limited access to quit services
- Weak counselling systems
- Lack of digital cessation tools
- Low quitline availability
Step 2: Design an Evidence-Based Project
Proposals should explain:
- The problem being addressed
- The evidence-based intervention selected
- Target populations
- Implementation strategy
- Expected outcomes
Step 3: Submit a Grant Application
Applicants must provide:
- Organizational information
- Project description
- Implementation plan
- Budget details
- Sustainability strategy
Step 4: Application Review
Applications are assessed based on:
- Alignment with program goals
- Evidence-based approach
- Potential population impact
- Sustainability
- Organizational capacity
Step 5: Implement and Monitor the Project
Selected organizations implement activities over approximately 24 months and report progress according to grant requirements.
How to Prepare a Strong Proposal
Applicants can strengthen their applications by:
- Clearly identifying gaps in current cessation services
- Using proven tobacco quitting approaches
- Demonstrating national or regional impact
- Aligning activities with WHO tobacco control recommendations
- Building partnerships with health systems
- Including sustainability plans
- Explaining measurable outcomes
Common Application Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid:
- Proposing projects unrelated to tobacco cessation
- Submitting academic research-only proposals
- Creating programs without evidence-based methods
- Duplicating existing cessation initiatives
- Ignoring national tobacco control priorities
- Requesting budgets beyond organizational capacity
- Accepting tobacco industry-related funding
Projects Not Supported
The program does not fund certain types of activities.
Ineligible projects include:
- Academic research projects without implementation goals
- General education programs
- Agricultural initiatives
- Crop substitution projects
- Tobacco prevalence surveys
- Projects outside WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control recommendations
- Activities duplicating existing cessation programs
Research funding may only be considered when it directly supports policy implementation.
Benefits of the Tobacco Cessation Grants Program
Supported organizations can use funding to:
- Expand tobacco quitting services
- Improve public health outcomes
- Strengthen national cessation systems
- Develop innovative digital solutions
- Train healthcare providers
- Support evidence-based tobacco control policies
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the Bloomberg Initiative Tobacco Cessation Grants Program?
The program provides funding for projects that strengthen evidence-based tobacco cessation services in priority countries with high tobacco use rates.
Who manages the program?
The program is managed by Vital Strategies and funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Which countries are eligible?
Organizations from India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Brazil, Ukraine, and Mexico are eligible to apply.
How much funding can organizations request?
Eligible applicants can request up to USD 400,000 for projects lasting approximately 24 months.
What types of tobacco cessation projects are supported?
The program supports counselling services, quitlines, mobile cessation programs, service improvements, and initiatives that strengthen national tobacco control systems.
Can universities apply?
Yes. Universities with relevant experience in cessation services or tobacco control advocacy may apply if they meet eligibility requirements.
Are tobacco-related research projects eligible?
Research projects are generally not supported unless the research directly contributes to implementing tobacco cessation policies.
Conclusion
The Bloomberg Initiative Tobacco Cessation Grants Program provides critical funding for organizations working to improve tobacco quitting services and reduce tobacco-related harm. By supporting evidence-based interventions, digital cessation tools, quitlines, and sustainable health system improvements, the program strengthens tobacco control efforts in countries with high tobacco use rates.
Eligible organizations can use this opportunity to develop impactful cessation initiatives that expand access to quitting support and contribute to long-term public health improvements.
For more information, visit Vital Strategies.