Harm Reduction International

What Harm Reduction International does

Harm Reduction International (HRI) is an international non-governmental organization founded in 1990 and registered in England and Wales as a charity (Charity number 1117375) and company (Company number 3223265), headquartered in London with operational presence in Liverpool. The organization uses data collection and advocacy to promote rights-based, evidence-informed drug policy reform and harm reduction globally. It holds Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC), giving it formal standing within international drug policy forums such as the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs.

HRI's core products are three flagship research publications — The Global State of Harm Reduction (biennial, tracking service availability such as needle/syringe programmes in 93 countries and opioid agonist therapy in 94), The Death Penalty for Drug Offences (annual, monitoring capital punishment for drug crimes), and the Funding Landscape for Harm Reduction (analyzing international funding flows) — alongside a searchable UN Human Rights Standards Database. The organization also convenes the biennial Harm Reduction International Conference (HR25 in Bogotá in April 2025 with 1,000+ delegates from 60+ countries; HR27 announced for Belfast in 2027) and the Constellations online festival launched during COVID-19. There is no proprietary technology product; supporting infrastructure is built on standard tools including Google Analytics, Mailchimp, Zoom and YouTube.

Revenue is generated through a combination of grants from major international foundations (Open Society Foundations, Elton John AIDS Foundation, Unitaid, Robert Carr Fund, The Hepatitis Fund, Gilead Sciences, ViiV Healthcare/Positive Action, Ethypharm), individual donations and fundraising, and conference registration fees. Core publications are distributed free of charge, while conference tickets are sold with early-bird and standard tiers and supplemented by scholarships for delegates from low- and middle-income countries. The organization operates with 11–50 staff across global regions including EMEA, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, North America and Africa, and serves five primary stakeholder segments: policymakers and government officials, researchers and academics, harm reduction advocates and activists, front-line health workers, and networks of people who use drugs.

Name

Harm Reduction International

Legal name

Harm Reduction International

Website

https://hri.global

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Harm Reduction International is a UK-registered international NGO, founded in 1990, that uses data research and advocacy to promote rights-based drug policy reform worldwide. It serves policymakers, researchers, advocates, health workers and people who use drugs across 100+ countries, and holds UN ECOSOC Special Consultative Status.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Health Advocacy

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services (BPAGAEAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Substance Use, Addiction & Harm Reduction Health Departments (HLAJAAAM), Multilateral Global Health Agencies (UN/IFIs) (HLAJAKAA), Injury Prevention, Disability & Rehabilitation Programs (BPADAIAM)

Keywords

• Harm reduction advocacy
• Drug policy reform
• Public health research
• Human rights monitoring
• International NGO services

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Conference Registration Fees: Fees charged to delegates attending the Harm Reduction International Conference, including early bird and standard registration rates
2. Donations and Fundraising: Voluntary contributions from supporters, individual donors, and members of the public who support the organization's mission

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Harm Reduction International is an international non-governmental organization that produces flagship research reports on global harm reduction services, drug policy, and the death penalty for drug offences; advocates for evidence-based and rights-based drug policies at the UN and globally; convenes the biennial Harm Reduction International Conference; and maintains the UN Human Rights Standards Database.

Product overview

Harm Reduction International is an international NGO that operates primarily as a research and advocacy organization rather than a technology product company. Its core offerings include three flagship research publications (The Global State of Harm Reduction tracking harm reduction service availability globally, The Death Penalty for Drug Offences monitoring capital punishment for drug crimes, and the Funding Landscape for Harm Reduction analyzing international funding flows), plus a UN Human Rights Standards Database. The organization convenes the biennial Harm Reduction International Conference series (with HR25 held in Bogotá, Colombia in April 2025 and HR27 scheduled for Belfast in 2027), and runs the Constellations online festival. The organization also publishes news, press releases, event summaries, briefings, and statements through its website.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Global State of Harm Reduction Flagship biennial research report tracking the global availability of harm reduction services including drug consumption rooms, needle and syringe programmes, and opioid agonist therapy such as methadone and buprenorphine.
• The Death Penalty for Drug Offences Annual flagship report monitoring global use of death penalty for drug offences, providing data on executions, death row populations, and international policy developments.
• Funding Landscape for Harm Reduction Flagship research tracking international funding for harm reduction programmes and analyzing the funding crisis facing the harm reduction sector globally.
• UN Human Rights Standards Database Online searchable database providing access to UN human rights standards relevant to drug policy and harm reduction.
• Harm Reduction International Conference Biennial international conference convened by Harm Reduction International since 1990. The leading international forum for exchange of information at the intersection of human rights, public health, and drug policy, attracting over 1,000 international delegates.
• Constellations Online festival on drugs and harm reduction hosted during COVID-19 pandemic, providing virtual programming and content related to harm reduction.

Quantifiable outcome

• 108 countries now include harm reduction references in national policies
• +4 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Corporación Acción Técnica Social (ATS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner for HR25 conference in Bogotá, Colombia. ATS is a civil society organisation working on drug policy reform, harm reduction, drug market regulation, human rights and consumer participation.
• Burnet InstituteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAustralian non-profit independent medical research organization that combines medical research with practical action to address health issues globally. Donor and sponsor of HR23 conference.
• UNODCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN Office on Drugs and Crime - convening organization for HIV prevention, treatment, care and support among people who use drugs and people in prisons. Cosponsor of UNAIDS.
• World Health Organization (WHO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWHO plays a prominent role in international drug policy dialogue, promoting evidence-based policy options and providing normative guidance on prevention, harm reduction and treatment interventions.
• Harm Reduction VictoriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian community-based organization advancing health and wellbeing of people who use drugs. Led coalition creating HR23 conference declaration. Partner for HR23 Melbourne conference.
• Australian Injecting & Illicit Drug Users League (AIVL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational peak body representing state and territory peer-based drug user organisations in Australia. Partner for HR23. Recipient of inaugural Gill Bradbury Award.
• Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNot-for-profit member-based organisation supporting members and sector partners in clinical management, research, education, policy and advocacy in Australasia and internationally.
• International Network on Health and Hepatitis in Substance Users (INHSU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational not-for-profit member-based organisation creating global network to support healthcare workers, policymakers, researchers and people who use drugs to improve hepatitis C prevention and care.
• Melbourne Convention BureauminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupported HR23 conference in Melbourne with venue planning and destination promotion.
• Vital StrategiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal health organization working on overdose prevention. Partner for HR25 podcast booth at conference.
• MainlineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational non-profit harm reduction organisation advocating for improving health and rights of people who use drugs for over 33 years. Exhibitor at HR23.
• Support. Don't PunishminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal campaign mobilising communities resisting repressive drug policies, promoting harm reduction and decriminalisation. Exhibitor at HR23.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA): EU agency providing epidemiological data and analysis on drugs; comparable to HRI in producing authoritative regional datasets on harm reduction services, but as an official EU body rather than an NGO advocate.
• UNAIDS: UN joint programme on HIV/AIDS co-sponsored by UNODC; comparable as a multilateral actor on HIV among people who use drugs, but operating at significantly larger scale and broader mandate than HRI.

Direct peers

• Drug Policy Alliance: Leading US-based organisation promoting drug policy reform and harm reduction; overlaps with HRI on evidence-based drug policy advocacy, harm reduction service promotion and human rights framing, though with a primarily US geographic focus.
• Release: UK-based centre of expertise on drugs and drug law; comparable niche advocacy and harm reduction focus, particularly on UK and European drug policy reform, and overlapping with HRI's human rights framing.
• International Network of People who Use Drugs (INPUD): Peer-led global network of people who use drugs advocating for health, rights and harm reduction; closely aligned with HRI's harm-reduction mission and a frequent collaborator at HR conferences.
• International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC): A global network of NGOs advocating for drug policy reform; directly comparable to HRI as a peer advocacy coalition working on UN drug policy, decriminalisation and harm reduction at the multilateral level.
• Mainline: Dutch non-profit harm reduction organisation advocating for health and rights of people who use drugs for over 30 years; directly comparable niche advocacy focus and historical participant in HRI's conferences.
• National Harm Reduction Coalition: US-based harm reduction organisation advancing the health and dignity of people affected by drug use; directly comparable mission and service population, though with a primarily North American geographic focus.

Regional players

• Australian Injecting & Illicit Drug Users League (AIVL): Australian peak body representing peer-based drug user organisations; comparable advocacy focus on harm reduction and people who use drugs, but operating regionally in Australia rather than globally.
• Harm Reduction Victoria: Australian community-based organisation advancing health and wellbeing of people who use drugs; comparable harm-reduction mission and peer-led advocacy, though with a state-level Australian geographic focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HRInews
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/HarmReductionInternational
• Facebookfacebook.com/harmreductionintl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/19546381
• Instagraminstagram.com/harmreductionintl

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Harm Reduction International