International Drug Policy Consortium

What International Drug Policy Consortium does

International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) is a London-headquartered non-profit civil society network founded in 2006 that advocates for drug policy reform grounded in human rights, public health, and social justice. It operates as a coalition hub connecting 210 member organizations (NGOs, academic institutions, think tanks, and professional networks) across 75 countries, with a secretariat of 1-10 employees that facilitates civil society engagement in international drug policy debates, particularly at the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs and other UN bodies.

IDPC's core products are policy publications, advocacy campaigns, and capacity-building resources rather than technology products. These include 498 publications (notably the IDPC Drug Policy Guide and post-CND session reports), a tri-lingual Monthly Alert newsletter (English, French, Spanish), an Asia-Pacific Weekly Digest co-produced with Harm Reduction Australia and SSDP Australia, the global Support Don't Punish grassroots campaign, and a Learning Centre providing workshops, webinars, and direct granting. The organization has no proprietary technology stack, API, or software product; its underlying infrastructure is content production, coalition coordination, and advocacy at UN, regional (EU, AU, OAS, ASEAN), and national levels.

IDPC's business model is grant-funded non-profit operations. It does not sell products or services and charges no fees to members or the public. Revenue is sourced from institutional donors and foundations (notably the Robert Carr Fund and Open Society Foundations), and the Strategic Plan 2024-2027 requires USD 11.8 million over four years to deliver its decriminalization, legal regulation, treaty reform, and capacity-building objectives. Customer-facing segments include NGOs and civil society organizations, academic and policy institutions, government policymakers, development-sector organizations, and key affected populations and community networks such as INPUD and AfricaNPUD.

Name

International Drug Policy Consortium

Legal name

International Drug Policy Consortium

Website

https://idpc.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

IDPC is a London-based non-profit global network of 210 member organizations across 75 countries that advocates for drug policy reform grounded in human rights and public health, producing policy publications and coordinating civil society engagement at the UN and regional levels, funded by institutional grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grants and donor funding: IDPC operates as a non-profit civil society network funded primarily through grants and donations from institutional donors and foundations. The Strategic Plan 2024-2027 notes the organization needs USD 11.8 million over four years to deliver its objectives, indicating reliance on external funding.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

IDPC is a global civil society network that convenes 210 member organizations across 75 countries to advocate for drug policy reform grounded in human rights, public health, and social inclusion. It produces policy analysis, briefings, and reports (498 publications), facilitates civil society participation in UN drug policy processes, runs the Support Don't Punish global campaign, and delivers capacity-strengthening workshops and resources through its Learning Centre. Its offerings are provided free of charge and funded through grants and donor contributions.

Product overview

The International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) is a global civil society network focused on policy advocacy, not a technology product company. IDPC's offerings consist of advocacy publications and resources including the IDPC Drug Policy Guide, IDPC Monthly Alert newsletter (available in English, French, and Spanish), the Asia-Pacific Weekly Digest newsletter, the Support Don't Punish global campaign, and Learning Centre resources for capacity strengthening. The organization does not operate a software product platform or SaaS offering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Support. Don't Punish: A de-centralised and grassroots-centred campaign promoting sustainable alternatives to punitive drug policies, coordinated globally by IDPC.

Products and services

• IDPC Monthly Alert Monthly newsletter providing a brief global overview of the latest developments in drug policy and related fields, available in English, French, and Spanish; targeted at civil society members, policy makers, and advocates.
• Asia-Pacific Weekly Digest Weekly digest produced in collaboration with Harm Reduction Australia and SSDP Australia covering regional drug policy news and developments in the Asia-Pacific region.
• IDPC Drug Policy Guide Comprehensive guide bringing together global evidence, best practice, and expert analysis across the spectrum of drug policy, covering public health, criminal justice, development, and human rights; serves as a core reference for member organizations and policy advocates.
• Support Don't Punish Campaign De-centralised and grassroots-centred global campaign promoting sustainable alternatives to punitive drug policies; IDPC leads global fundraising, capacity development, and communication efforts and provides material support to thousands of local campaigners worldwide.
• Learning Centre Resource hub providing workshops, webinars, tools, and direct granting to strengthen civil society's capacity to engage in drug policy-making processes across the IDPC network.
• IDPC Publications Collection of 498 publications including reports, briefings, shadow reports, and analysis on drug policy issues including human rights, decriminalization, health, development, and UN engagement.

Quantifiable outcome

• First CND resolution acknowledging 'harm reduction' achieved in 2024 through years of advocacy
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Health Poverty ActioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on 'Drug policy and the Sustainable Development Goals' briefing published November 2015, analyzing how global drug control policies impact development objectives and SDGs.
• Global Partnership on Drug Policies and DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIDPC participates in the Brandenburg Forum on Drugs and Development Policies, marking ten years of collaboration in 2026. Joint efforts promote development-oriented, evidence-based and rights-affirming drug policies.
• Support Don't Punish campaigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIDPC acts as the central hub for this global decentralized campaign promoting sustainable alternatives to punitive drug policies. IDPC leads global fundraising, capacity development, communication efforts, and provides material support to thousands of local campaigners worldwide.
• Harm Reduction AustraliaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in producing the Asia-Pacific Weekly Digest covering regional drug policy news and developments.
• SSDP AustraliaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in producing the Asia-Pacific Weekly Digest covering regional drug policy news and developments.
• West Africa Drug Policy Network (WADPN)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWADPN was born following the West Africa Commission on Drugs report and advocates for evidence-based drug policy reform in West Africa. IDPC and WACSI organized the second civil society workshop on drug policies in West Africa in 2015.
• West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organized second civil society workshop on drug policies in West Africa in October 2015 in Dakar, Senegal, focusing on advocacy for UNGASS and security/law enforcement.
• West Africa Commission on Drugs (WACD)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublished groundbreaking report 'Not Just a Transit Zone: Drugs, State and Society in West Africa' in June 2014. IDPC collaborates on regional awareness and advocacy activities based on WACD recommendations.
• Organization of American States (OAS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIDPC engages with OAS drug policy processes and provided analysis of the 2013 OAS report that envisioned alternatives to the war on drugs.
• Human Rights WatchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIDPC member and key partner on human rights and drug policy issues. HRW has experts on war on drugs impacts on security and human rights in Colombia and Mexico, access to controlled medicines, and harm reduction and HIV.
• Eurasian Harm Reduction Network (EHRN)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublished report on opioid substitution therapy in Central Asia highlighting how drug control constrains access to care. Partnership on harm reduction advocacy in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
• Harm Reduction International (HRI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint publication on tackling systemic racism in drug law enforcement submitted to UN Expert Mechanism. Co-authors on civil society contributions to UN human rights processes.
• Elementa, Consultoría en DerechosmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint civil society submission on 'narcoterrorism' narrative to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Partnership on human rights and drug policy in Latin America.
• Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales (CELS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint publication with IDPC and Elementa DDHH on challenging 'narcoterrorism' narratives and defending human rights in drug control.
• Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-signatory on civil society declaration regarding 'narcoterrorism' narrative to UN Human Rights Council. Partnership on Latin America drug policy and human rights advocacy.
• International Network of People Who Use Drugs (INPUD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey affected population network partnering on advocacy for decriminalization, harm reduction, and human rights-based drug policies.
• AfricaNPUDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfrican network of people who use drugs, co-designing genuine alternatives to incarceration with affected communities.
• ReleasemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK-based organization and IDPC member specializing in drug policy and human rights. Co-authored publication on systemic racism in drug law enforcement.
• Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) InternationalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational student-led organization. Co-author on civil society contribution to UN Expert Mechanism on systemic racism in drug law enforcement.
• Finnish Association for Humane Drug Policy (HPP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-signatory on civil society declaration regarding 'narcoterrorism' narrative to UN Human Rights Council.
• Associazione Luca CoscioniminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian association. Co-signatory on civil society declaration regarding 'narcoterrorism' narrative to UN Human Rights Council.
• Forum DrogheminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian drug policy organization. Co-signatory on civil society declaration regarding 'narcoterrorism' narrative to UN Human Rights Council.
• Justice Project Pakistan (JPP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-signatory on civil society declaration regarding 'narcoterrorism' narrative to UN Human Rights Council.
• Stichting LegalizeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch drug policy organization. Co-signatory on civil society declaration regarding 'narcoterrorism' narrative to UN Human Rights Council.
• StoptheDrugWar.orgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-signatory on civil society declaration regarding 'narcoterrorism' narrative to UN Human Rights Council.
• Skoun Lebanese Addiction CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLebanese harm reduction organization. Co-signatory on civil society declaration regarding 'narcoterrorism' narrative to UN Human Rights Council.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Drug Policy Alliance: Leading US-based drug policy reform organization promoting decriminalization and harm reduction. Direct peer: comparable mission on drug policy reform grounded in public health and human rights, with overlapping funder base (Open Society Foundations).
• Release: UK-based center of expertise on drugs and drug law, focused on human rights and drug policy. Direct peer to IDPC: co-authors publications with IDPC (e.g., on systemic racism in drug law enforcement) and serves as an IDPC member organization.
• Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA): US-based research and advocacy organization working on drug policy and human rights in Latin America. Direct peer: co-signatory with IDPC on civil society declarations to the UN Human Rights Council on 'narcoterrorism' narratives.
• Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP): International student-led organization advocating for evidence-based drug policy. Direct peer: co-author with IDPC on civil society contributions to the UN Expert Mechanism on systemic racism in drug law enforcement, and partner on the Asia-Pacific Weekly Digest.
• West Africa Drug Policy Network (WADPN): Regional drug policy reform network in West Africa. Direct peer: born from the West Africa Commission on Drugs report, partners with IDPC on regional advocacy, capacity building, and UNGASS-related civil society engagement.
• Harm Reduction International: London-based NGO focused on promoting harm reduction approaches to drug use globally. Direct peer to IDPC: both advocate for health- and rights-based drug policy at the UN level and jointly author submissions to UN human rights mechanisms.
• Eurasian Harm Reduction Network (EHRN): Regional harm reduction network covering Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Direct peer: published joint reports with IDPC on opioid substitution therapy access and coordinates harm reduction advocacy in IDPC's member geography.
• International Network of People Who Use Drugs (INPUD): Global peer-led network of people who use drugs, advocating for decriminalization, harm reduction, and human rights. Direct peer to IDPC: both coordinate civil society voices at the UN CND and co-publish advocacy materials on drug policy reform.

Others

• Open Society Foundations (International Harm Reduction Development program): Major philanthropic funder of global drug policy reform and harm reduction. Adjacent peer: serves as both a major IDPC funder and an independent advocate in the same policy space, with overlapping grantees across the harm reduction ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Human Rights Watch (Drug Policy program): Large global human rights organization with a substantial drug policy portfolio covering Colombia, Mexico, HIV/harm reduction, and access to controlled medicines. Broad incumbent peer: IDPC member and key partner on UN human rights submissions, but operates a wider portfolio beyond drug policy.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IDPCnet
• Facebookfacebook.com/InternationalDrugPolicyConsortium
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/idpc-network

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Drug Policy Consortium