What Hivos International does

Hivos International is a Dutch non-governmental organization founded in 1968, headquartered in The Hague, that operates as a grant-making, capacity-strengthening, and movement-building intermediary in human rights, social justice, climate justice, and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). The organization serves as a funder and partner to civil society organizations, NGOs, informal groups, independent media, cultural actors, and human rights defenders across 25+ countries spanning East Africa, Southern Africa, Latin America, Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA), West Africa, and Southeast Asia. Hivos does not sell commercial products; instead it receives institutional grant funding primarily from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Union, the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), and select national embassies, which it deploys through multi-year programmatic grants and consortium models.

Hivos' core "products" are 12+ flagship programs delivered via consortium partnerships and sub-granting, including We Lead (€40.7M, 2021-2025, SRHR for young women across 9 countries), Free to be Me (LGBTIQ+ economic empowerment in Southern/East Africa), Voices for Just Climate Action (VCA), ENERGIA (gender-responsive energy access — 9,000+ women entrepreneurs trained, 4M+ people reached), Urban Futures (climate-resilient cities in 10 cities across 5 countries), the Challenge Fund for a Just Transition (€5M, green SMEs in North Africa), the West & Central Africa Alliance for Biodigester Promotion (€1.26M across 8 countries with SNV), Tujenge Pamoja (€5.4M Kenya circular economy), and Women and Youth Leadership and Participation (€1.1M Zimbabwe). Underlying technology consists of organizational IT, an SO/GIE/SC training resource (Creative Commons-licensed), website, and social media — there is no proprietary technology product. Documented outcomes include the Honduras emergency contraceptive ban lift (March 2023), Zimbabwe Parliament youth MP growth from 6 to 35 (2018-2023), and the Lapu-Lapu City Anti-Discrimination Ordinance with a 1% LGBTIQ+ employment quota.

Hivos' business model is grant-funded rather than revenue-generating; the organization employs 501-1,000 staff across regional offices (Harare since 1988 as first regional office, plus East Africa, Latin America, SWANA, Southeast Asia presence) and operates as an independent NGO governed by its own board with no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no equity or VC backing. Go-to-market is community-led: Hivos identifies partners through calls for proposals and direct outreach, then deploys multi-year grants plus capacity strengthening, with secondary individual-donation revenue via the website. The organization is privately held and not subject to public-market or PE/VC ownership disclosures.

Name

Hivos International

Legal name

Hivos

Website

https://hivos.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Hivos International is a Dutch non-governmental organization founded in 1968 that provides grant funding, capacity strengthening, and consortium-based programmatic support to civil society organizations, human rights defenders, and marginalized communities across human rights, SRHR, climate justice, and green economy verticals in 25+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Development and Human Rights Grant-Making

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Democracy, Human Rights & Governance Assistance (BPADABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK), Refugee, IDP & Migration Humanitarian Assistance (BPAGAAAH), Sexual Health & Relationship Wellness Education (EDAAAHAM)

Keywords

• Human rights advocacy
• Social justice programs
• Civil society development
• International development funding
• Grant-making foundation

Headquarters

HQ city

The Hague

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Institutional Grant Funding: Hivos receives funding from institutional donors including the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which funds major programs like the We Lead program (€40.7 million under the SRH-R Partnership Fund). The organization also receives funding from other government agencies and foundations to support its social justice programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Hivos International is a grant-making, non-profit international NGO that strengthens and resources civil society organizations, movements, activists, and human rights defenders across Africa, Latin America, Southwest Asia and North Africa, and Europe. It delivers this through programmatic funding, capacity strengthening, consortium partnership management, and platform amplification on thematic priorities including sexual and reproductive health and rights, LGBTIQ+ rights, climate justice, gender equality, and civic participation.

Product overview

Hivos International is a human rights and social justice organization (not a technology company) operating multiple social impact programs. The portfolio includes: We Lead (SRHR for young women), Free to be Me (LGBTIQ+ economic empowerment), Voices for Just Climate Action (VCA), ENERGIA (gender-responsive energy access), Urban Futures (climate-resilient cities), The Challenge Fund for a Just Transition (green SGBs in North Africa), Biodigester Alliance (West & Central Africa), Right Here Right Now (youth SRHR), Tujenge Pamoja (Kenya circular economy), Women and Youth Leadership Participation (civic engagement), Green Entrepreneurship (impact businesses), and SO/GIE/SC Training Materials. These programs address climate justice, gender equality, SRHR, and economic empowerment across Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Strategic Compass 2021-2024: Hivos' strategic framework for 2021-2024 focusing on strengthening, amplifying and connecting rightsholders who call for just, inclusive and life-sustaining societies.
• We Lead
• Free to be Me
• ENERGIA
• Urban Futures
• Voices for Just Climate Action (VCA)
• The Challenge Fund for a Just Transition
• West & Central Africa Alliance for biodigester promotion
• Right Here Right Now
• Green Entrepreneurship

Products and services

• We Lead A multi-country sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) program that strengthens the influence and position of young women whose SRHR are most neglected, in nine countries across Africa, the Middle East, and Central America. Intended audience: young women with HIV, disabilities, from LBTI+ communities, or affected by displacement, and the civil society organizations serving them.
• Free to be Me An LGBTIQ+ economic empowerment program supporting organizations and activists working for the human and socio-economic rights of the LGBTIQ+ community in Southern and East Africa, enabling access to economic resources, opportunities, and services.
• Voices for Just Climate Action (VCA) Climate justice initiative that ensures local civil society and marginalized groups take central roles as creators, facilitators, and advocates of innovative, locally-led climate solutions.
• ENERGIA A gender-centered energy access program that has trained more than 9,000 women entrepreneurs who have sold renewable energy products, providing over four million people with access to affordable energy.
• Urban Futures Program operating at the intersection of urban food systems, youth wellbeing, and climate action in ten cities across five countries, supporting local partners and young people to create inclusive, climate-resilient cities.
• The Challenge Fund for a Just Transition Program contributing to climate change mitigation by supporting green Small and Growing Businesses (SGBs) in North Africa and providing sustainable decent jobs in the region's green transition. Period: November 2022 – June 2026, €5 million.
• West & Central Africa Alliance for Biodigester Promotion Consortium program implemented by Hivos with SNV to boost the growth and sustainability of the commercial biodigester sector in eight Sub-Saharan African countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo). Period: December 2021 to December 2025, €1,260,000.
• Right Here Right Now Multi-country program (2016-2020) allowing young people, including young LGBTI+ persons, to live free from discrimination and improve access to comprehensive sex education and youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services.
• Tujenge Pamoja: Advancing Kenya's Circular Economy EU SWITCH Kenya Green program (€5.4 million) that accelerates Kenya's transition toward a circular and inclusive green economy through partnerships, innovation, sustainable enterprise development, and community-driven solutions. Implemented by Hivos with consortium partners.
• Women and Youth Leadership and Participation (WYLP) Project Program (2023-2025, €1.1 million) strengthening the participation and leadership of women and youth in accountability and decision-making processes in Zimbabwe, creating platforms for civic rights learning.
• Green Entrepreneurship Business support structure for entrepreneurs focused on social and environmental impact, creating sustainable jobs and incomes; trained 25 local business support trainers in Southern Africa. Period: 2018-2020, €2.7 million.
• SO/GIE/SC Training Materials Online Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SO/GIE/SC) training materials, including facilitator's manual, PowerPoint slides, worksheets, and glossary, published under Creative Commons License for free non-profit use.

Quantifiable outcome

• Trained over 9,000 women entrepreneurs who sold renewable energy products providing access to affordable energy for over 4 million people
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

36 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SNVcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2021SNV is a consortium partner in the West and Central Africa Alliance for biodigester promotion, working with Hivos to boost growth and sustainability of commercial biodigester sector in Sub-Saharan African countries.
• Positive VibescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner in the We Lead program, contributing to strengthening influence and position of young women whose SRH-R are neglected.
• Restless DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner in the We Lead program working with young women on sexual and reproductive health and rights.
• Marsa Sexual Health CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner in We Lead program, offering sexual health services and training for vulnerable women in Lebanon.
• FEMNET (African Women's Development and Communication Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner in We Lead program, contributing to gender equality and women's empowerment across Africa.
• Central American Women's Fund (FCAM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner in We Lead program, supporting women's rights organizations in Central America.
• M&C Saatchi World ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical partner for We Lead program, providing technical expertise in advocacy and communications.
• Rutgers (Right Here Right Now consortium lead)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHivos is part of the Rutgers-led consortium for Right Here Right Now program, working on SRHR for young people.
• Dance for LifeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner in Right Here Right Now program addressing youth SRHR.
• Choice for Youth and SexualityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner in Right Here Right Now program.
• IPPF African RegionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner in Right Here Right Now program.
• ARROWminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner in Right Here Right Now program.
• LACWHNminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner in Right Here Right Now program for Latin America and Caribbean.
• Humanis Foundation (Indonesia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHivos closely collaborates with Humanis Foundation in Indonesia on shared social justice initiatives.
• Thomson Reuters FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to help local journalists tell balanced stories about LGBTIQ+ communities, with stories published on Openly platform.
• KEPSAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner in Tujenge Pamoja program advancing Kenya's circular economy.
• KCB FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner in Tujenge Pamoja program, providing financing and enterprise support.
• Somo AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner in Tujenge Pamoja program.
• USIU-AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner in Tujenge Pamoja program, providing academic and innovation center support.
• PalladiumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerManager of Challenge Fund for Youth Employment that funds the Challenge Fund for a Just Transition.
• VSO NederlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerManager of Challenge Fund for Youth Employment.
• RandstadminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerManager of Challenge Fund for Youth Employment.
• Zimbabwe Gender CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Women and Youth Leadership and Participation project in Zimbabwe.
• Women's Institute for Leadership Development (WILD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Women and Youth Leadership and Participation project.
• Parliament of ZimbabweminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Women and Youth Leadership and Participation project.
• SEED.unominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Green Entrepreneurship program providing business support structures.
• PANTAY (Philippine Anti-Discrimination Alliance of Youth Leaders)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Free to be Me program, organizing capacity-building summit for LGBTIQ+ groups.
• CURLS (Cebu United Rainbow LGBT Sector Inc.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLGBTIQ+ advocacy group that set precedent for SOGIESC Equality legislation, model for Anti-Discrimination Ordinance.
• Mujeres con Capacidad de Soñar a ColoresminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Honduras using creative arts for collective discussions and SRHR promotion.
• Women Human Rights Defenders Hub (Kenya)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in designing and delivering Safety and Security Training courses for We Lead program.
• A-01coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloped We Lead with Power feminist transformative leadership guide with young women participants.
• SRHR Alliance UgandacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity of Action partner supporting young women in Uganda.
• Collective of Women with the Ability to Dream in ColorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGuatemala-based partner organization for We Lead program, supporting women with disabilities.
• Egna LegnacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLebanon-based organization led by and for migrant women, providing workshops on sexual and reproductive health.
• GALZ (Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization working with LGBTIQ+ community in Zimbabwe on Free to be Me program.
• Centre for the Study of AdolescencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in Kenya supporting We Lead program implementation.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Open Society Foundations: Larger, well-resourced global grant-maker operating across human rights, governance and inclusion themes with a similar grant-and-amplify model, though at significantly greater scale and thematic breadth.
• Ford Foundation: Large private foundation heavily funding social justice, SRHR, LGBTIQ+ and civic space globally. Overlaps with Hivos in priorities and supported partner ecosystems but at greater scale and longer grant cycles.
• ActionAid International: Larger global INGO with rights-based programming and women's rights/ SRHR components comparable to Hivos' portfolio, though broader in scope and more service-delivery oriented.

Direct peers

• Rutgers: Dutch SRHR knowledge and programmatic organization; consortium lead that has partnered with Hivos on Right Here Right Now. Directly comparable in SRHR focus area and donor base.
• Restless Development: Youth-led development INGO operating on SRHR and youth leadership; consortium partner to Hivos in We Lead. Directly comparable mission and beneficiary focus.
• ILGA World (International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association): Global LGBTIQ+ advocacy and movement-support organization with strong overlap to Hivos' Free to be Me work; comparable grant-making-adjacent, advocacy-led approach.
• Heinrich Böll Foundation: German politically-aligned foundation working globally on democracy, gender, climate and rights through grant-making and convening. Comparable hybrid funder/advocate operating model and funding base mix.
• Oxfam Novib / Oxfam International: Major international NGO headquartered nearby (Oxfam Novib in The Hague) operating in the same geographies and themes (SRHR, gender, climate, civic space) and funded by similar Dutch/institutional donors. Directly comparable grant-making and advocacy model.
• SNV Netherlands Development Organisation: Large Dutch INGO operating in renewable energy, agriculture and water; Hivos' co-implementer of the West & Central Africa Biodigester Alliance. Comparable Dutch INGO model with a mix of programmatic grants and technical assistance.
• Mama Cash: Dutch-based international feminist fund providing grants to women's rights and SRHR organizations globally, including via the SRHR Partnership Fund. Direct overlap with Hivos We Lead and Rights work; smaller in scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hivos
• Facebookfacebook.com/hivos
• Instagraminstagram.com/hivos/?hl=en
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCxKIdAuUp-_XkFB_Va5r5QQ
• Xx.com/hivosorg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Hivos International