Launched in 2007; a collaborative initiative by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Harm Reduction International (HRI, formerly IHRA), funded by Drosos under the “Strengthening the role of civil society organisations in the Middle East and North Africa” project. Today, MENAHRA is an international NGO registered in Beirut under Presidential Decree number 7491, and its main funder is the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (GFATM).

MENAHRA is the first network on injecting drugs harm reduction in the MENA, its mission is to support, develop and advocate for harm reduction approaches in the field of drug use, HIV/AIDS, public health, and social inclusion by following the principles of humanity, tolerance and partnership with respect to human rights and freedoms. MENAHRA covers 20 countries (Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Yemen), with its secretariat in Beirut, and three knowledge hubs (KHs) based in Iran (KH-INCAS), Lebanon (KH-SIDC), and Morocco (KH-ArRazi).