HRI is seeking a consultant to identify and document compelling examples of divestment from punitive approaches and investment in programmes that prioritise health, community and justice. These case studies will support the Divest/Invest campaign. 

Harm Reduction International (HRI) envisions a world in which drug policies uphold dignity, health and rights. We use data and advocacy to promote harm reduction and drug policy reform. We show how rights-based, evidence-informed responses to drugs contribute to healthier, safer societies, and why investing in harm reduction makes sense. We provide tools, strategic analysis, and evidence to support advocacy for the adequate funding of harm reduction. We track harm reduction funding trends globally – including support provided by international donors and domestic governments – and the impact these have on HIV and other health responses. We advocate for redirection of funding for punitive drug control towards life-saving, cost-effective, and rights-based harm reduction interventions and in programmes which prioritise health, community and justice.

In 2023, we launched the Divest/Invest campaign to call for the redirection of funding from ineffective drug law enforcement to harm reduction. We call on donors and governments to scrutinise their budgets and to divest from ineffective and unjust responses to drugs. We highlight that this divestment will free up essential funds to invest in programmes that prioritise community, health, climate, and justice. This includes harm reduction as well as other social and community programmes that benefit marginalised people and lead to healthier, safer societies. Through just a 7.5% redirection of funding for law enforcement we could almost entirely end AIDS among people who inject drugs by 2030, preventing viral hepatitis, saving thousands of lives through overdose prevention and improve the health of people who use drugs in prisons and detention centres by providing harm reduction services in those settings.

This campaign unites a broad and diverse coalition of people working in allied social justice movements that are challenging exclusion, criminalisation, stigma and discrimination. This includes advocates working on racial justice, criminal legal reform, gender justice, sex workers’ rights, LGBTQIA+ rights, and climate justice.

Harm Reduction International has previously documented six compelling examples of successful divestment from punitive or harmful policies, associated with an investment in policies that have contributed to healthier, safer societies. These examples focused on examples ranging from full spectrum harm reduction initiatives for people who use crack in Brazil, to an expansion of rights and protections for sex workers in India.

We are seeking a consultant to expand this base of case studies beyond the current geographic and thematic scope. We are looking for examples from the African continent and the Middle East and North Africa region. The examples can come from outside the harm reduction sector and examples focusing on cross-cutting issues are encouraged. These examples will further support a strong Divest/Invest campaign calling for the redirection of funds from punitive law enforcement to health and harm reduction programmes that connects with parallel campaigns from intersectional movements.

The consultant will:  

• Familiarise themselves with the evidence base, including existing HRI research and case studies, informing the call for the divestment of funds from punitive approaches to drugs and investment in programmes which promote health, community and justice, including harm reduction (to include HRI reports, www.investinjustice.net website and broader literature).  

• Compile a shortlist of 5-7 compelling examples of redirection of funds from punitive approaches to health, community and justice to present to HRI. These examples should come from Western, Eastern or Southern Africa, or the Middle East and North Africa. 

• Gather data and build case studies on 3-5 of the shortlisted examples of redirection for publication, through desk-based research and interviews. Case studies should follow the outline of previous case studies shared on HRI’s campaign website. They should include details on the punitive approach that had been supported with funding, how and why this was challenged and what instigated decision makers to change their approach to the health, community or justice-focused programme that was subsequently funded. The case studies should ideally include financial details, names of any individuals/organisations involved in the work and highlight the impact of advocacy actions. Case studies should be a maximum of 2 pages in length.  

• Provide additional 2-page document summarising topline details of the case studies, providing overall conclusions and key learnings to support redirection advocacy.

The consultant will be required to submit the following:  

• At least three 2-page case studies detailing successful examples of redirection of funds from punitive approaches to health, community and justice, based on information gathered through desk-based research and interviews.  

• 2-page summary document containing topline details of the case studies, overall conclusions and key learnings to support redirection advocacy. 

The case studies and summary document will be reviewed by HRI staff and the consultant is required to incorporate input and feedback to the submitted report.

The assignment is expected to take around 7 days. The first case study is expected by November 23rd, with additional deadlines to be agreed. The available fee is USD 2,750. 

To apply, please send a letter of interest and CV to hiring@hri.global by midnight BST on 1st October 2025.