In Bolivia, fear and stigmatization cause many people to ostracize and disrespect people because of their HIV-status, their (actual or perceived) sexual orientation, gender identity and expression. Members of the LGBTI community are often discriminated against, and live without expressions of affection – even from their own families. They experience unequal treatment in the workplace […]
How an Open Source Seed System in Kenya helps local farmers to register, produce and trade crops By Nout van der Vaart, Advocacy Officer Sustainable Food Last week, I visited the Seed Savers Network in Kenya. The organization helps small-scale farmers to identify, store and scale up the seeds of traditional crop varieties. This is […]
In Kenya, there is still a long way to go when it comes to gay acceptance and equal rights. Filmmaker Wanuri Kahiu made a special film about two girls who fall in love with each other: Rafiki. The film, which is banned in the country, won the Hivos Free to be me Award last week. […]
Basically everyone agrees that climate change is the biggest challenge of the coming decades. It is also widely recognized that vulnerable people in low- and middle-income countries will be hit hardest by its impact. The consequences have already affected their lives severely. Urgent action is therefore required. As I already laid out in this interview, […]
Hivos has launched its first-ever international crowdfunding campaign. We are raising money for a tool to protect courageous human rights defenders in Guatemala – it’s an alert system called: The Activist Alert. In neighboring Honduras, the warning system has already proven effective. Our goal is to make it available to Guatemala as soon as possible, […]
Every day, human rights defenders in Guatemala come under serious threat. These courageous people deserve our support and must be protected. That is why we have designed an effective tool to help: the Activist Alert. We want to make this system available to Guatemala as soon as possible. But we need funding for that. That’s why […]
This project allowed women to give expression to the violence and oppression they faced through theater.
This year marks 25 years since the creation of the Hivos-Triodos Fund (HTF). In 1994, the joint initiative of Hivos and Triodos Bank started as one of the first movers worldwide in financial inclusion investments. From its early beginnings, HTF invested in microfinance institutions, making small loans available to entrepreneurs in disadvantaged markets in developing […]
Hivos in Bolivia has been awarded for its best practices and contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), in particular to SDG 10 “Reduced Inequalities.” The Confederation of Private Businesses in Bolivia (CEPB) rewarded projects by NGOs, public and private sector that are making an outstanding contribution to the sustainable development agenda. The awards were […]
Hivos is proud to announce the release of a moving documentary about the lives of three transgender people. The film, titled m/f/x, premiered at the Amsterdam Pink Film Days. It follows the lives of a transgender woman in Honduras, a transgender man in Vietnam and a transgender non-binary person in the Netherlands. Three unique people, […]
As the world celebrates International Women’s Day, this year’s theme #BalanceforBetter provides a breeding ground for recognizing the potential of a gender equal world in ending inequalities that continue to exist in our society. Hivos adds a voice to this momentous occasion by sharing the stories of some of the amazing and powerful women we support in East Africa, who in their own way are contributing to a gender balanced world.
Women’s underrepresentation in formal entrepreneurial activities has negative consequences for women and for Africa’s overall development. The lack of female scientists and techies means major untapped potential for national economies and future employment needs. Without access to, understanding of and participation in science and technology, women are at greater risk of being left behind in […]