What we do

Around the world, conservative fundamentalism has deliberately targeted the rights of women and sexual minorities in order to advance political agendas. In Central America, this continues to severely impact the position of young women and LGBTIQ+ people.

Hivos’ collaboration with ENERGIA works towards universal, equal and equitable access to and control over sustainable energy for all by putting women at the center of its multi-actor initiatives with over 30 partners worldwide.

Hivos’ collaboration with the RUAF Global Partnership on Sustainable Urban Agriculture and Food Systems aims to build sustainable city region food systems by connecting citizens and local entrepreneurs in multi-actor platforms.

In Brazil, Telma heads the Union of Indigenous Women of the Brazilian Amazon (UMIAB), an organization that champions the rights of Indigenous women. “We have been fighting for years to preserve our territory and to protect the Amazon rainforest from mining and pollution. Now we have to fight against climate change.”

Yuliana (27) is a passionate young climate activist from the Kefamenanu in Indonesia. She travels through Indonesia with the innovative action group Geng Motor Imut to raise awareness about climate change and sustainability.

Julius Mbatia is a young Kenyan climate activist. He has been pushing for years for policies that will reduce the impacts of climate change that are forcing many people in his country to earn less, live in poverty, and go hungry.

A revolution, Covid-19 and the massive explosion of August 2020 have led to a severe economic crisis. But the impact of these events reaches far beyond the economy. The sexual and reproductive health and rights of adolescent girls and young women from marginalized groups are also heavily affected.

The Southeast Asian Queer Cultural Festival took place at the beginning of this year, with more than forty artists participating. Their work tells the personal stories of LGBTIQ+ people and their path to acceptance and inclusion. “We wanted to touch people’s hearts and make them better understand the LGBTIQ+ community.”

“For LGBTIQ people in our region, participation in local politics is essential to gain a voice,” says Toots Estrada-Rivac, founder of Gayon Albay LGBT. “That way we can stand up for our rights and get funding to help our community. Thanks to support from the Hivos-Oxfam Voice program, we have made great strides in this area in recent years.”

With Hivos’ support, the Kenyan organization Sullivan Reed developed a special initiative for LGBTIQ+ students from the rural region of Kakamega. They can now gather together safely, which makes them feel less lonely and more confident in being open about who they are.