Tuesday
18th Aug 2026
Dhivehi Edition
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has introduced a dedicated funding mechanism to support civil society organisations and community groups involved in raising awareness about tobacco use and advancing tobacco-control efforts across the Maldives.
Under the new scheme, HPA has allocated an annual budget of MVR 3 million from the Public Health Fund to support programmes aimed at reducing tobacco use and helping people quit.
According to the announcement, eligible organisations must have been registered under the Associations Act or Sports Act for at least 12 months prior to applying for the funding.
HPA has established administrative and operational guidelines for the programme to ensure transparency and measurable outcomes. Administrative and operational expenses under each proposal will be limited to approximately 20 percent of the total proposed budget.
The funding has been divided into three categories to provide opportunities for projects ranging from community-level initiatives to nationwide campaigns:
- Category 1: Projects targeting a specific island or community, with funding of MVR 75,000 to MVR 100,000 per proposal and an annual allocation of up to MVR 400,000.
- Category 2: Nationwide activities, with MVR 100,000 to MVR 300,000 available per proposal and an annual allocation of up to MVR 600,000.
- Category 3: Large-scale operational programmes covering multiple islands and atolls, with MVR 300,000 to MVR 500,000 available per proposal and an annual allocation of up to MVR 2 million.
Proposals submitted under the scheme must align with national public health strategies and the principles of the World Health Organization (WHO).
HPA said priority would be given to initiatives that raise public awareness about the health harms associated with tobacco and nicotine, prevent children and young people from beginning tobacco use, provide counselling for people seeking to quit, and advocate for tobacco-free environments.
All projects approved under the funding scheme must be completed within a maximum of 10 months.
Funding will be released in three instalments: 30 percent upon signing the agreement, another 35 percent after 50 percent of the project has been completed and the progress report approved, and the remaining 35 percent after the project is fully completed and the final report approved.
The HPA is the Maldives' national public health authority and is responsible for tobacco-control activities, including tobacco cessation and prevention programmes.