Hivos is a development organisation guided by humanist values. Together with civil society organisations in developing countries, Hivos contributes to a free, fair and sustainable world. A world in which women, men and children have equal access to opportunities and resources for development. Our projects are aimed at enabling people to participate actively and equally in the decision-making processes that determine their lives and their society.
The Hivos knowledge programme provides a platform to create, share and apply knowledge for development interventions. In order to come up with new solutions, Hivos integrates different types of knowledge ranging from academic understanding to the day-to-day experience of partners. Among practitioners there is a general sense that civil society can be more effective in mobilising people for their causes. Collaboration with academic centres provides both new insights as well as ‘new allies’ for civil society. Academics, on the other hand, increasingly support the claim for policy-relevant research. Together we strive to bridge the gap between research and practice and develop a sound knowledge base on the topics of citizen action and pluralism that feeds our input in the debate and improves our strategies.
