# Reducing Drug Harm – Pre-applications Phase 1 (NWA)

**Funder:** ZonMw
**Budget:** Up to €1,067,737.75 per pre-proposal (Phase 1); €4,270,951 total for Phase 2 joint application
**Deadline:** 7 July 2026 (Phase 1 pre-proposal deadline; assessment of foreign organisations by 23 June 2026. Phase 2 full application deadline: 30 March 2027.)
**Duration:** Up to 5 years
**Consortium:** Required — minimum: main applicant, co-applicant, and cooperation partner; Dutch knowledge institutions, societal organisations, and citizens eligible
**Application:** 2-stage: Phase 1 pre-proposal (deadline 7 July 2026) → Phase 2 full application via synergy workshops (Nov 2026–Feb 2027), full proposal deadline 30 March 2027
**Frequency:** One-off
**Eligible countries:** NL
**Official call:** https://www.zonmw.nl/en/subsidy/reducing-drug-harm-pre-applications-phase-1
**Last verified:** 18 June 2026

## Eligibility & scope

Funds research on mechanisms of drug(-related) harm and effective societal interventions in the Netherlands. Consortium required (main applicant + co-applicant + cooperation partner); researchers, knowledge institutions, and societal organisations may apply. Max 4 pre-proposals selected in Phase 1; a single joint consortium is formed in Phase 2 via mandatory NWO-facilitated synergy workshops. Submitted via Mijn ZonMw.

## Summary

The ZonMw Reducing Drug Harm (NWA) call funds research on the mechanisms of drug-related harm and effective societal interventions in the Netherlands, with Phase 1 pre-proposals receiving up to €1,067,737.75 and a single joint consortium advancing to Phase 2 for up to €4,270,951 over five years. A mandatory consortium, comprising a main applicant, co-applicant, and cooperation partner, must include Dutch knowledge institutions, societal organisations, and citizen involvement. This one-off call takes a two-stage approach: only four Phase 1 pre-proposals will advance to mandatory synergy workshops, where selected teams will merge into a single joint application.

## Who should apply

- Researchers and knowledge institutions based in the Netherlands
- Multidisciplinary teams combining academic expertise with societal-organisation partners and citizen representatives
- Applicants able to commit to mandatory synergy workshops (November 2026, February 2027) if selected in Phase 1
- Consortia with a clear main applicant, named co-applicant, and cooperation partner ready to form a joint entity in Phase 2

## Key dates

- Phase 1 pre-proposal deadline: 7 July 2026 (19 days away); foreign-organisation assessment deadline 23 June 2026
- Phase 1 to Phase 2 transition: Mandatory synergy workshops November 2026, February 2027; single joint consortium formed
- Phase 2 full application deadline: 30 March 2027; project duration up to five years

## Tips for applicants

- Only four Phase 1 pre-proposals advance to Phase 2; your pre-proposal must articulate a clear evidence gap in drug-harm reduction and name a feasible, differentiated intervention pathway to compete.
- Ensure your synergy-workshop commitment is explicit in Phase 1, this is mandatory if you advance, and absence of confirmed participant availability will disqualify you in Phase 2 consensus-building.
- Citizen and societal-organisation co-applicants must be named and active in Phase 1; they are not add-ons. ZonMw expects lived experience or practitioner expertise to shape the research design, not just the dissemination plan.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much funding does the Reducing Drug Harm NWA Phase 1 offer?

Phase 1 pre-proposals receive up to €1,067,737.75 each; four selected teams advance to Phase 2, where a single joint consortium applies for up to €4,270,951 over five years.

### Who must be in a Reducing Drug Harm NWA consortium?

A consortium requires a main applicant, a co-applicant, and a cooperation partner, with all members being Dutch knowledge institutions, societal organisations, or citizen representatives.

### What happens between Phase 1 and Phase 2 in the Reducing Drug Harm NWA?

Four Phase 1 pre-proposals are selected; their teams participate in mandatory synergy workshops (November 2026, February 2027) to merge into a single joint consortium before submitting the Phase 2 full application.

### Is the Reducing Drug Harm NWA a recurring call?

No, this is a one-off call with a single funding cycle.

### What is the project duration for the Reducing Drug Harm NWA?

Projects funded in Phase 2 may run for up to five years.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/zonmw-reducing-drug-harm-pre-applications-phase-1-nwa-2026-07) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.