The Correlation Network (CN) is a European civil society network and centre of expertise in the field of drug use, harm reduction and social inclusion.

Overall objective of this proposal:
Improve the access to and the quality of harm reduction services for People Who Use Drugs (PWUD), including other related vulnerable and marginalised people and to enhance policies and practices that increase social inclusion.

This is achieved by the following strategic objectives
- Strengthen the network and the collaboration with its members and partners through an adequate and solid organisational network structure
- Monitor developments and collect information and evidence in the field of drug use and harm reduction, by involving the expertise of civil society organisations
- Strengthen capacities of the various players in the field of drug use and harm reduction and facilitate exchange between network members and partners
- Advocate for full coverage of harm reduction programmes in Europe, addressing both health and social aspects.

All CN activities will pay specific attention to Hepatitis C, new drug trends and drug patterns and overdose prevention.

Relevant CN outputs include : Sustainable network, Annual Monitoring Reports, Online knowledge and training hub, European Harm Reduction Conferences (2018/20), policy recommendations.

CN contributes to the Third Health Programme (THP) by promoting health (in particular harm reduction), prevent diseases (in particular drug-related diseases and infectious diseases such as HCV and HIV/AIDS), and foster supportive environments for healthy lifestyles (e.g. by reducing barriers to access health and social services).

CN contributes as well to the following THP priorities:
1.2. Drugs-related health damage, including information and prevention
1.3. HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and hepatitis
2.2. Capacity-building against health threats in Member States, including, where appropriate, cooperation with neighbouring countries.

The overall objective of of Correlation - European Harm Reduction Network is to improve the access to and the quality of harm reduction services for People Who Use Drugs (PWUD) and to enhance policies and practices that increase their social inclusion.

The specific objectives of the CN are organised according to the structure of CN and the four network pillars. The key operational objectives for 2018 are directly linked to the problem analysis and the specific objectives and describe, in a concrete way, how these are reached.

Specific objectives:
1. Strengthen the network and the collaboration with and between members and partners through an adequate and solid organisational network structure
2. Monitor developments and collect information and evidence in the field of drug use and harm reduction by involving the expertise of civil society organisations
3. Strengthen capacities and facilitate exchange of knowledge and expertise between network members and partners in the field of drug use and harm reduction
4. Advocate for sufficient coverage of harm reduction programmes and other inclusive interventions in Europe


The network function of CN is a relevant element within the multiannual work plan. CN strives to create sustainable and stable network structure, which will facilitate meaningful network activities in the future. The development of a stable foundation requires actions on different levels, including
The content-based activities in 2018 will be organised within the pillars Monitoring, Capacity Building and Advocacy and will address the topics HCV in substance users, new drug trends and drug patterns and overdose prevention.

The three content-related pillars are closely linked to each other and activities in one pillar can inform or build up upon work of other pillars. All activities rely on the input and expertise of different stakeholders. To safeguard that their expertise is utilised in the most optimal way, different groups of experts are being compiled.

CN responds to the transnational dimension of public health and takes into consideration the European perspective on Public Health in general, and European health strategies in particular by:
- assuring involvement of EFTA countries and partnerships with organisations from neighbouring countries of the European Union, such as the Balkan countries, Russia, Georgia and the Ukraine;
- cooperating with WHO Europe, EMCDDA, the EU Civil Society Forum on Drugs and the EU CSF on HIV/AIDS and linking up with other European networks;
- collecting and summarising evidence and models of good practice. In partnership with other actors in the field, CN disseminates and promotes effective tools and strategies on the European level, and contributes to the provision of comparable data and information;
- addressing local or national health constraints, such as HCV incidence, HIV treatment compliance, hard-to-reach communities, and comparing responses in different settings, so that stakeholders can learn from each other’s experiences and approaches;
- collecting information and materials in a documentation centre on the CN website; disseminating information and materials all over Europe to intermediaries, service providers and decision makers.

In addition to the overall added value on EU level, CN will create specific impact on EU level in 2018:
- CN is part of the European Civil Society Forum on Drugs and the European Civil Society Forum on HIV/Aids. As member of both fora CN is able to create additional impact, by promoting CN objectives, activities and results and by advocating for more coverage and quality of harm reduction services on a European level.
- CN will organise the first European Civil Society Conference on Drug Policy in 2018. This conference will be organised in cooperation with both Civil Society Fora and alongside the annual meeting of the Horizontal Drug Group and the Think Tank on HIV/AIDS. It will offer a platform for exchange between

Specific objective 1: Strengthen the network and the collaboration with its members and partners through an adequate and solid organisational network structure
- Formation of a intermediary Steering Committee
- Organisation of the 2 face-to-face SC meeting, combined with additional experts
- Adoption of the annual work plan 2018
- Update CN governance structure and CN statutes by SC
- Maintenance of CN secreteriat
- Approach and designate FPs in all EU MS and abroad
- Organisation of member and expert meeting during EHRC
- Develop and implement an Evaluation Plan
- Assess and consolidate thematic expertise within CN
- Compile 3 thematic expert groups (based on assessment), by focusing specifically on HCV, new drug trends and drug patterns and overdose prevention
- Develop and implement communication strategy, including the development and maintenance of an updated website, promotion materials, including leaflet and electronic newsletters and social media (facebook, twitter, linked-in and vimeo account) .

Specific objective 2: Monitor developments and collect information and evidence in the field of drug use and harm reduction by involving the expertise of civil society organisations
- Establish scientific expert group
- Develop a monitoring work plan for 2018
- Develop and review a topic list to define content and data, which needs to be collected

Specific objective 3: Strengthen capacities of the various players in the field of drug use and harm reduction and facilitate exchange between network members and partners
- Develop a draft structure and matrix for an online knowledge hub on drug use and harm reduction
- Start collection of existing resources and publications in the field of drug use and harm reduction
- Organisation of the European Harm Reduction Conference
- Setup of a conference website
- Organisation and contribution to other European conferences and events, including International Aids Conference 2018, Hepatitis C Community Summit in Lisbon, European Civil Society Conference on Drug Policy in September in Brussels, contribution and support for HR services during European HIV/HCV Testing Week 2018 .

Specific objectives 4: Advocate for full coverage of harm reduction programmes in Europe, addressing both health and social aspects
- Assess and identify relevant events, meetings and conferences for advocacy activities in 2018 and 2019
- Consult SC members and thematic experts (in the field of harm reduction, HCV, new drug trends and drug patterns and overdose prevention) for relevant input on advocacy strategy
- Develop a draft advocacy strategy, including advocacy messages, methods and activities
- Organise policy dialogue sessions during the EHRC in 2018

Correlation – European Harm Reduction Network


The strategic objectives, activities and operational targets of Correlation – European Harm Reduction Network are organised in four network pillars:
• Pillar 1: Network
• Pillar 2: Monitoring and Data Collection
• Pillar 3: Capacity Building and knowledge exchange
• Pillar 4: Advocacy

The network pillar improves and strengthens the overall structure of CN and creates the prerequisites for the implementation of actions in the other three content-based pillars. The three content-based pillars focus on drug use and harm reduction in general and more specifically on HCV in substance users, new drug trends and drug patterns and overdose prevention.

Operational objectives and activities are organised within these pillars and contribute to the realization of the overall and strategic objectives of the network. The pillars are closely linked to each other and can inform or build upon work of other pillars.

The activities to be carried out in 2018, prepare the fundament for implementations in the years to come. In addition, ongoing activities and collaboration with other stakeholders on certain projects contribute to the objectives of the network.


Activities 2018

Activities for structural development of the network

Steering Committee December 2017:
- Transitional Steering Committee (SC) was established to support the development of network structure and it´s activities.
- A Programme Committee was established to support the organisation of the European Harm Reduction Conference in 2018.
- Preparatory meeting for all interested CN members and partners to explain governance structure and envisaged activities and workplans.

Governance
- The CN secretariat, including a member for Public relations, was set up to organise, support and coordinate the different CN activities.
- ToRs for SC, Focal Points and memberships were developed
- The new European privacy regulations were adapted and applied in relation to data collections and membership and newsletter registration.
- Transparency statement was developed in regard of industry funding.
- A new governance structure, mission, vision and basic principles was developed and approved by the SC.
- A 2 day SC meeting was organised, including scientific and thematic experts to discuss and approve the workplan of 2018, to approve the new governance structure and to organise the work in the different expert groups, in particular in regard to the monitoring activities.

Communication
- A communication strategy is developed and implemented
- The new name and focus was launched and shared widely among members and stakeholders.
- Facebook and twitter accounts were updated and a social media plan is developed.
- Regular newsletters and social media messages were implemented.
- A new website concept is developed and will be launched at the end of August.

Members
- All existing CN members are approached to confirm their CN membership, based on the new CN governance structure, mission, vision and principles.
- A CN member survey is currently carried out to assess the expertise of CN members. This will help to better understand the needs of CN members and to utilise the existing knowledge within the network.
Focal points
- A renewed Focal Point System in all EU MS and neighbouring countries is developed and on it’s way of implemenations. Currently, FPs of 21 countries signed a FP – CN letter of intent. With other country, this process is ongoing. FP sign Terms of Reference, identifying tasks and commitments, even if their contributions are voluntarily and free of financial implications.
- Focal Points (FPs) will be responsible for implementing the CN monitoring tool and collect national data and information. FPs need to be well connected within their country and willing to collect and summarise information from different national stakeholders.
- FPs will be invited to the annual CN meetings and conferences, contribut