• 1.2 billion people use risky tobacco worldwide, leading to eight million preventable deaths annually
  • K·A·C’s Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme is looking for individuals committed to tackling the public health crisis of tobacco use through harm reduction
  • Scholars complete projects of their own design over 12 months, alongside personal mentoring and education in harm reduction policy and practice
  • Applicants must pass our short online course, and submit their project outline by 11/01/26

Our unique global programme aiming to develop tomorrow’s tobacco harm reduction leaders is accepting applications for its ninth cohort. Since its inception in 2018, Knowledge·Action·Change’s (K·A·C) Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme (THRSP) has had an unprecedented impact around the world, developing the careers of 164 Scholars from 49 countries across six continents, all of whom are dedicated to reducing tobacco-related harms in their communities.

1.2 billion people still use risky tobacco products worldwide, with the majority using the most dangerous product: combustible cigarettes. People use tobacco to consume nicotine, but nicotine itself does not cause the severe illnesses associated with high-risk tobacco; it is a comparatively low-risk drug, but its effects encourage repeated use. This means people find it hard to quit tobacco, despite knowing the dangers.

Tobacco harm reduction is a potentially life-saving intervention for those who cannot or do not want to stop using nicotine. It offers the chance to switch to a range of safer nicotine products that pose significantly fewer risks to health. These include nicotine vapes, heated tobacco products, snus and nicotine pouches. With most tobacco users in low- and middle-income countries, tobacco harm reduction has potential to diminish the burden of non-communicable disease now weighing on these populations.

Created and run by Knowledge•Action•Change (K•A•C), which produces the Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction, the THRSP is supported by a grant from Global Action to End Smoking (GA). Successful candidates receive a 12-month bespoke mentoring programme to undertake a THR-related project of their own design, plus up to $12k in financial support. There are 20 places available.

Applications will be accepted until 11/01/26, but before submitting their project ideas, all applicants must first complete K·A·C’s free online course Understanding Tobacco Harm Reduction. The course, designed to be completed over two to three hours, offers candidates the chance to gain a foundation in tobacco harm reduction, from which to develop their application.

Launched to increase research and practice capacity in tobacco harm reduction where current activities and resources are limited, the THRSP has a particular focus on low and middle-income countries, where the need for new approaches to tobacco-related harms are especially acute.

Welcoming innovative proposals from professionals of any background, previous Scholars have undertaken research on harm reduction approaches for different countries, occupational settings or vulnerable populations, organised workshops or training for target groups, developed materials for accurate risk communication to share on social media, or made films or other media resources to improve understanding about tobacco harm reduction.

Ethan Nadelmann, the founder and former executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, is Patron of the THRSP. On taking up his patronage, Nadelmann said: “I'm honoured to be a Patron of this Scholarship Programme, not just because I've met so many stellar recipients, but also because it's so essential given the resistance of World Health Organization (WHO), powerful philanthropists and so many governments to tobacco harm reduction.”


Application steps
Candidates should:

  1. Read the guidance material about applying for the Scholarship programme at https://thrsp.net/;
  2. Complete K·A·C’s short online course, Understanding Tobacco Harm Reduction at https://thr.academy/academy/understanding-tobacco-harm-reduction/;
  3. Take time to develop an original Scholarship project proposal, in support of one or more aims of the THRSP - for full details, see https://thrsp.net/;
  4. Complete the application form;
  5. Submit the full application before the deadline of 23:59 GMT on 11 January 2026.


Funding
The THRSP is funded with a grant from Global Action to End Smoking (formerly known as Foundation for a Smoke-Free World), an independent, US non-profit 501(c)(3) grant-making organisation, accelerating science-based efforts worldwide to end the smoking epidemic. Global Action has no role in the planning or execution of this project.

For further information visit www.thrsp.net