With a presence and a track record of more than 30 years in Southern Africa, Hivos has been seeking new and creative solutions to persistent global problems. Our founders held the conviction that “necessary changes should spring from communities themselves – from people at the base of society”.
This is still reflected in our work today, as we support our frontrunners to innovate for change in their home environments. It is in this light that Hivos took the important decision in 1985 to decentralize its work from The Hague (the Netherlands) to regional offices. In 1988, Hivos’ first regional office was opened in Harare, Zimbabwe, with project offices following in Malawi and Zambia.
Over the years, our work has covered multiple sectors, amongst which human rights, good governance, climate change, digital rights, arts and culture, sustainable development, small and micro-enterprise development, and microfinance. In addition, we have focused on the specific rights of various groups that Hivos recognized as marginalized, in particular women, LGBTIQ+ people, and people living with HIV.
