Grant Proposal on Evaluating the Burden of Tobacco in Costa Rica
Introduction
Cigarette smoking and other tobacco use impose a growing public health and economic burden globally (Chaloupka et al, 2001) The authors remark that approximately 4 million persons will be killed annually by tobacco use, and by 20030, the estimates, based on current trends, that this number will increase to 10 million.
Tobacco use is the number one preventable cause of death in the world, and it is projected to kill one billion people in the 21st century. To help combat this increasing global epidemic Michael R. Bloomberg launched a global initiative to reduce tobacco use in low- and middle-income countries in January 2007 The Initiative was extended with a new 250 million commitment in 2008 ( Bllomberg Foundation, 2 010). Grants are available for NGOs that ill take the inittiative to advocate for the reduction of tobacco consupmtion globally.The Bllomberg grant money will be for reearch and advocacy for tobacco control.
Tobacco Economics A Costa Ricas Burden
Article 20 of the draft of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control calls fro nations to establish progressively a national system for the epidemiological surveillance of tobacco consumption and related social, economic, and health indicators. (WHO,2003) It recognize that there I an economic burden of tobacco use for societies.
Tobacco economics is an important aspect of tobacco control not only because of the economic burden the consequences of tobacco use place on society, but also because of the role tobacco plays in markets around the world as a commodity that is produced, distributed and consumed. The goals of the economics component are to Provide valid, rigorous information for advocacy. Provide clarity on specific scientific points. To work to actively influence policies affecting the tobacco cultivation, the fabrication of cigarettes and other tobacco products, advertising of tobacco products, sales of tobacco products, and taxation. To collaborate actively with institutions and individuals and create a network of individuals dedicated to research and advocacy for national tobacco control in Costa Rica using economic tools and rationales. Grossman et al (1999) remark that . . the situation in Latin American countries, such as Costa Rica, where smoking-related morbidity is only now becoming apparent because of high prevalence of tobacco use, smoking prevalence is increasing (p315).The author further point out that Costa Rica is in a very good position to adopt public health measures to control the smoking epidemic. (Grossman, et al, 1999). In 2001, the smoking prevalence in Costa Rica for male adults, 20-49 year old was 29, and female adult was at 9.7, and increasing at alarming rate.
Hence, the need to engage in an research and advocacy initiative on tobacco economic and the burden being borne by Costa Rica for it people.
II Description of the Organization
The organization seeking funding for this project is newly established in Costa Rica and is a non-governmental organization (NGO) which has taken as its mission to improve public health in Costa Rica by partnering with larger institution around the world .It also will advocate for changes in laws and policies regarding tobacco control. It is a small and lean organization composed of the Director, one medical practitioner, and one economist , and a clerical assistant. The other staffing requirements for the project will be hired only for the project, i.e. research assistants, and transcribers. The NGO began operation this January, 2010, and this Costa Rica project will be its first, should this proposal be approved. Since the NGO is still new, it does not have yet any organizational history to speak of
III. Problem Statement
The proposed project will attempt to evaluate the economic burden of tobacco in Costa Rica owing to poor tobacco control being experienced in the country. There are economic costs arising from this lack of tobacco control. There is an need to engage in advocacy purposes in order to have a basis for advocating for changes in laws and policies regarding tobacco control
Objectives
Specifically, the project aims toEstablish a global network of scholars, academic departments, the public sector, non-governmental organizations, governmental organizations and individuals concerned on tobacco smoking to do research and advocacy
Support public sector effort to pass and enforce key laws and implement effective policies on tobacco control, in Costa Rica
Engage in advocacy for tobacco control and come up with promotional and information campaigns highlighting on the burden of tobacco use
V Proposed Activities
These are the proposed activities to fulfill the objectives of the project
1. To review pertinent printed literature and legislations passed at the national level.
To interview key informants.
An exhaustive review of literature is needed to be able to determine how different sectors in Costa Rica view tobacco smoking. Moreover, this specify activity is aimed at clearly identifying how such views affect their attitude toward smoking or toward other people who smoke and, at a more larger scale, how they view legislations of the national government on tobacco smoking. This is to gauge the peoples pulse and then to come up with preliminary hypotheses on how to approach the objectives of this proposed project. Academic libraries, government files and documents, non-governmental offices documents, as well as internet sources will be looked into.
Key informants will also be identified, this early, to help us form better hypotheses at this stage. Key informants would include government officials, health workers, local people, and lead people of organizations working towards the improvement of legislation on tobacco smoking.
To conduct focus-group discussions.
After a summative report is written of all the information and data gathered from the review of literature and key-informant interviews, a staff meeting will be conducted on how to go about the focus group discussion. The kind and nature of these discussions, actually, depend on the kind and nature of data and information gathered in the initial activity. Nevertheless, specific sectors would be identified to participate in these focus group discussions. An outline of what specific questions to be asked during these discussions also will be decided upon during the staff meeting.
The conduct of these discussions would be started by asking permission from concerned governmental officials who, by the way, are expected to be of tremendous assistance to the project. Because of their power to make ordinances and push for legislation up to the national level, their help and support are very critical. Working to get their support should be laid this early.
To network with health organizations in other parts of the globe.
At this time, hypotheses and working framework of the project would have surfaced. It is necessary, therefore, to actively initiate networking with scholars, academic and research institutions, non-governmental organizations and individuals. The kind of communication to be had with these individuals and organizations is guided by the hypotheses and working framework, so that the information to be taken out of networking is one that is supportive of these projects objectives. An initial insight on how to expand and develop the project further could be taken out, also, from this activity.
To identify an expert who could be a partner to the project.
With project developments in the previous activity it is high-time for the project now to identify a foreign expert from a US institution who is very much into public health, communication and public campaign. This expert is expected to work in Costa Rica for some months to assess the outputs of the project, so far, and then to suggest ways on how to continue.
To conduct concept-focus and issue-specific discussion groups with the assistance of a foreign expert.
Another set of focus group discussions is needed at this time in order to put into operation the suggestions and proposed working activities of the invited expert. Focus group discussions could only be one but the invited foreign expert could suggest more creative and innovative ways on how to pursue the projects objectives, that it is necessary to be quite open about it at the moment.
To present findings to communities to be identified for validation.
The previous activity would bear out the answers to the objectives. The project now possesses clear ways on how to go about the projects objectives, specifically campaign activities that is sensitive to the peoples culture and tailored-fit in the local context of Costa Rica. However, the projects assessment and evaluation of the information and data that it has gathered so far is not enough. A validation from the community is needed to confirm the project staffs hypotheses and working frameworksmodels. The community validation is critical in bringing the project to another level of development. The community validation could be attended by various sectors representing Costa Ricas population.
The writing of final report.
The writing of the final report is achieved only after the community has validated the data and findings of the project. While writing requires only the project staff to work into it, frequent communication with the invited foreign expert and with the individuals and organizations that it has created a network with is needed. At this stage of the project, possible ways on how to campaign for the projects outputs can be taken from these networks. More importantly, there is a possibility for these networks to come up with simultaneous campaign in their own respective countries, thereby, adding impact to the projects goal.
Submission of final report to funding agency.
The report to be submitted to the funding agency is now a synthesis of all the efforts of the project staff and its network around the globe.
VI Expected results and evaluation
Based on the objectives of the proposed project, the following results are expected
A global network of scholars, academic departments, the public sector, non-governmental organizations, governmental organizations and individuals concerned on tobacco smoking will be established. The creation of this global network is significant in coming up with campaigns using several media, that are creative and innovative, to get the public to listen to the widespread negative effects of tobacco smoking and the risk shared by everyone out of health, environmental, social, cultural and political issues arising from it.
A compilation of data and information on the negative impacts of tobacco smoking, local and national that is, is generated. This document would be very essential in coming up with activities, later on, how to actively inform the public on the impact of tobacco smoking.
The staff of the project, physicians by profession, established competency in communication development and community development. They could be very good resource speakers later on following the work and experience they had on the project. Their role is critical in making public aware on the negative effects of tobacco smoking.
Basically, the final report to be submitted by the project could evaluate the success of the project. However, another dimension could be added to evaluation and, that is, if the project has written a clear communication campaign plan on how to realize the essential aims of the proposed project.
4. The output of this project ill be compiled and publish either as a monograph or a full-blown book to enable a wider readership and to help in the intensification of informational campaign to make the public aware of the economic and health burden of tobacco use in their personal life and the country in general.
VII Budget
Item
Unit CostTotal CostFare
Foreign Airfare
Local Fare45,000
30,000
15,000Per diemAllowance
Local staff
Invited expert
30day x 10 mos. X 5 pax
200day x 3 mos. X 1 pax63,000
45,000
18,000Staff Honorarium
Invited expert
Local physicians
Assistants
Transcribers
3000 x 4 mos. X 1 pax
2000 x 12 mos. X 3 pax
800 x 12 mos. X 2 pax
500 x 3 mos. 104,200
12,000
72,000
19,200
1,000Supplies Materials
papers
batteries
printing of photos 5,500Rental
Office space
Computer printer8,000
6,000
2,000Meetings
Focus group discussions
Regular staff meeting6,000Printing
Regular monthly reports
Data production
Brochures and flyers3,000Communication
Telephone
Fax
Internet access 2,500
Total237,200
5 Administrative Cost
11,860
Grand Total
249,060