In 2006, IHRA received a 5‐year grant from DFID to develop a conducive policy environment for the implementation and scaling up of harm reduction activities on a global scale. An independent evaluation of the DFID programme focused primarily on IHRA's work with multilateral agencies such as those of the United Nations and civil society organisations, in particular harm reduction networks and drug users groups. This work, based largely on a human rights approach to harm reduction, included developing and disseminating evidence‐ based reports and publications, advocacy and lobbying with a wide range of national and international partners and planning the annual International Harm Reduction Conference.