Hivos is a Dutch non-governmental organisation guided by humanist values. Together with local organisations in developing countries, Hivos strives for a world in which all citizens, both men and women, have equal access to resources and opportunities for development and can participate actively and equally in decision-making processes that determine their lives, their society and their future.

Hivos trusts in the creativity and capacity of people. Hivos is committed to poor and marginalised groups in Africa, Asia and Latin America. A lasting improvement in these people’s situation is the ultimate measure for the work and efforts of Hivos. One of the guiding principles of our philosophy is strengthening the social position of women.

The work of Hivos aims at structurally alleviating poverty, with an emphasis on civil society building and on sustainable economic development. The efforts of Hivos are focused on nine themes: financial services and business development; sustainable production; human rights and democratisation; HIV/AIDS; gender, women and development; art and culture; ICT & media; advocacy and communication; and the knowledge programme. In 2008 as much as 94,4 percent of the total Hivos budget was allocated to projects of partner organisations. This amounted to 94 million euros in 2008.

Joining forces and pooling resources is crucial to achieve the objectives of Hivos. Hivos supports over 800 partner organisations in 30 countries through financial means and institutional support as well as the exchange of knowledge and experience. In addition, Hivos works together with a number of organisations, companies and governments in the Netherlands and Europe, and it belongs to various national and international networks. Hivos also conducts advocacy activities itself in the Netherlands, throughout Europe and worldwide. In the European context, Hivos actively collaborates with like-minded development organisations in the Alliance2015.

Hivos has a total staff of approximately 210. Part of the programme is implemented from the regional offices in Costa Rica, India, Indonesia and Zimbabwe. These offices take care of a significant part of the contacts with partner organisations, such as providing advice and support.

Hivos, the Humanist Institute for Cooperation with Developing Countries (in Dutch: Humanistisch Instituut voor Ontwikkelingssamenwerking) was set up in 1968 by the Dutch Humanist League, the Vereniging Weezenkas (United Orphans' Fund) and Humanitas. Hivos has a Management Board, a Supervisory Board and an Advisory Council. Hivos operates under ISO certification and has the CBF (Dutch Central Bureau for Fundraising) quality mark.

Hivos financially supports the Humanist Networking and Development programme. With this programme, IHEU supports member organisations in the South by providing them with grants to strengthen their organisation and enable their activities in the field of the promotion of Humanism, Universal Human Values and Universal Human Rights. The grants enable partner organisations to develop their outreach strategy, as well as to integrate Humanist goals and approaches with mainstream human rights activism. The programme has helped to establish Humanist groups worldwide and to implement projects, particularly in South Asia and Africa. For example, three Humanist schools have been established in Uganda, Dalits have received leadership training in India and the IHEU member body in Nepal has played an active role in the development of a secular constitution in the country. The programme has also enabled the exchange of ideas among humanists through arranging meetings and facilitating travel.