An idea can be the beginning of change. This scholarship gives it shape.
K•A•C announces the 2025 call for its international Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme. Applications will be accepted until July 31, 2025.
Lighting a cigarette remains, for many, a daily gesture—and for millions, a death sentence. The urgency cannot be postponed any longer. Over eight million lives are extinguished each year due to tobacco-related causes, while one billion people continue to feed an industry that thrives on fatigued lungs.
Rethinking strategies is not merely a public health obligation; it is an ethical responsibility, a political act of imagination, a radical form of care.
With this spirit, the Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme by K•A•C launches its 2025 cohort call—an invitation for those who dare to rethink the problem from within, with knowledge, compassion, and courage.
A Space for New Voices
Launched in 2018, the Scholarship Programme was not just an academic initiative—it was the opening of a door. A door for those who, through research, teaching, or health communication, were searching for more than just data: they were searching for pathways. Pathways to confront one of the most persistent public health crises in human history with new tools, new voices, and new languages.
Since then, 119 people from 42 countries—spanning six continents—have become part of this expanding network. More than numbers, they are nodes in a global ecosystem that cultivates innovation, knowledge, and action with the power to transform paradigms in the field of health.
A Radical Proposal, Real Support
This proposal does not disguise itself with neutrality—it is clear and deliberately radical. It speaks to those who think with both body and mind: young researchers, activists, communicators, and health professionals who dare to challenge dogmas, disrupt inertia, and dismantle the well-settled certainties of traditional tobacco control.
In a field where debate is often reduced to slogans, where stigma replaces analysis, and polarization silences nuance, the Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme emerges as a tangible alternative. In the face of structural inequalities—most acutely felt in low- and middle-income countries—it offers more than a scholarship: it provides community, guidance, and sustenance. A space to think out loud, together, and to act with transformative intent.
What Does the Programme Offer?
More than a scholarship, the programme offers a comprehensive experience, designed to support each stage of the process, from the initial idea to full implementation. Selected participants will receive:
Up to USD 12,000 to develop their project.
Ongoing, personalized mentorship from international experts in Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR).
An intensive online course on the science and practice of tobacco harm reduction.
A fully funded trip to Istanbul, Turkey, in November 2025 to participate in the in-person Induction Programme (including accommodation, travel, and daily expenses).
Technical, logistical, and academic support throughout the entire process.
Lifetime access to a global network of alumni, fostering collective learning, collaboration, and long-term engagement.
During the selection process, priority will be given to applicants from low- and middle-income countries.
Who Can Apply?
The programme seeks more than just geographical or cultural diversity—it seeks, above all, diversity of knowledge. Participation is especially encouraged from:
Emerging researchers and scientists, as well as active professionals in public health and tobacco harm reduction.
Healthcare professionals committed to innovative and human-centered approaches.
Postgraduate students.
Harm reduction practitioners working in community or institutional settings.
Users of reduced-risk nicotine products, whose experiences and insights are essential.
Journalists, writers, and science communicators.
Digital content creators and social media specialists.
Filmmakers and multimedia content producers.
Note: Individuals affiliated with organizations funded by Global Action to End Smoking (GA), as well as their immediate family members, are not eligible to apply.
What Kind of Projects Is the Programme Looking For?
The Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme is seeking proposals that combine rigor with creativity. Projects should be well-structured, feasible, and aligned with one or more of the programme’s core objectives:
Strengthening research and practice capacities in tobacco harm reduction (THR).
Expanding the scientific evidence base on reduced-risk nicotine technologies.
Introducing new perspectives, approaches, and languages into the THR field.
Improving risk communication for diverse audiences.
Reaching historically underserved communities, particularly in low-resource settings.
Examples of eligible projects include:
Original research, such as national or regional studies.
Institutional collaborations aimed at gaining practical experience.
Educational interventions targeting health professionals or communities.
Production of educational content (documentaries, videos, visual or digital materials).
Organization of workshops, training cycles, or public events.
Strengthening of networks or organizations focused on THR.
Policy studies on harm reduction in underserved or resource-limited contexts.
Those unsure whether their idea fits the programme’s scope are encouraged to contact the team at: scholarships@kachange.eu
Before Applying
As a preliminary step, all applicants must complete the open-access course Understanding Tobacco Harm Reduction. This requirement will be verified during the evaluation process and provides a solid foundation for developing stronger, more well-informed proposals.
Key Dates
Application deadline: July 31, 2025
Announcement of results: Early September 2025
What Is Expected from Applicants?
The programme will give special consideration to applications that present an original, feasible, and well-structured proposal, supported by clear evidence of the applicant’s technical and organizational capacity. A demonstrated commitment to completing the project within a maximum of eleven months will be essential, along with strong skills in planning, execution, and reporting. Proficiency in both written and spoken English will also be a key criterion in the selection process.
Detailed application instructions can be found on the programme’s official website. Applications must be submitted by July 31, 2025.
