Alliance for the Control of Tobacco Use (ACT)
Year(s) : 2009, 2008, 2007
Grant Recipient Type : NGO / Nonprofit
Grantor : International Union Against Tobacco and Lung Disease (The Union)/WLF
Project goal : To provide infrastructure to allow ACT to be an effective advocacy organization.
Direct Grant : No
The Union
Key achievement to date:
Three cities in the northeast have gone
smoke-free, and the governor of São Paulo
announced smoke-free bills that affect 40
million people.
Objective: This grant supports
MPOWER letter goals especially, P and R, to
protect people from tobacco smoke and to raise
taxes on tobacco.
Major accomplishments to date:
- New partners supporting ACT's smoke-free campaign in two major capitals. ACT's membership increased from 343 to 384 members; Board of Director meetings held; strategic planning undertaken.
- Continuous support provided to partners in other states, more specifically in Recife.
- Fact sheets developed and disseminated—"Tobacco Industry Denormalization;" "Tobacco Industry and PR;" "CSR and the Tobacco Industry;" "SHS and Occupational Health."
- Smoke-free campaign material distributed throughout Brazil.
- Brazilian price and tax situation analysis uploaded on ACT's website.
- Meetings held with key organizations to leverage collaboration in TC issues (Brasilcon, IDEC, ABCancer, SBC).
- National networking meeting held; attended by 75 participants.
- Proposal to address point-of-sale advertising ban approved and negotiated.
- New office established in Rio de Janeiro.
- Global Smoke-free Partnership guide for becoming a 100% smoke-free company translated and adapted.
- Capacity-building seminar held for network members on smoke-free areas, taxation policy, tobacco industry strategies, growers' issues, and new forms of tobacco product promotion.
- Co-founded Commission for the Implementation of Smoke-free Areas in São Paulo (CEPHALT).
- Hosted seminar at the Catholic University; attended by 104 students.
- Agreement made with friendly congressmen to carry out public hearing to discuss smoke-free areas legislation; ongoing meetings held with legislators and other political figures.
- Relationship built with National Commission for Implementation of the FCTC (CONICQ).
- Public opinion polls carried out—one in São Paulo covering issue of smoke-free areas and one at national level covering issue of smoke-free areas and public support for higher taxes and prices. Poll results widely disseminated through media.
- São Paulo smoke-free campaign launched.
- Campaign ongoing to collect signatures for amendment of federal TC law.
- ACT invited to participate in public hearings, to make presentation about FCTC article 5.3 to National Commission for FCTC implementation, and to comment on bills proposed to the Senate.
- Network members increased participation in public debate about TC policies.
- Research proposal approved by RITC; ACT commissioned a study on economic impact of smoke-free policies.
- National Health Council (CNS) approved support to 100% smoke-free areas.
- Earned media increased and ACT has become a visible reference on tobacco control issues.
- Funding to be allocated by Minister of
Health for tobacco control.