Hivos

A new EU SEE survey of 195 civil society organizations across 68 global majority countries finds funding cuts are forcing grassroots organizations to downsize or cease their operations. The findings underline the exceptional moment that the sector is confronting. More than three-quarters of respondents say funding is lower than at any point in the last decade, while 34% report cuts so severe they now threaten their organization’s survival.

Ainun grew up on the Indonesian island of Borneo. In her village, electricity was scarce and internet access non-existent. As a result, information about critical issues such as gender-based violence (GBV) never reached her hometown. Only after Ainun moved to Yogyakarta was she able to identify harassment and violence she had witnessed in the past. Meet the defenders Meet the defenders is a series highlighting inspiring human rights activists supported by Hivos.

The program Energizing Women’s Power and Equality in Central America project is coming to an end. Together with women in rural communities, it has realized capacity-building and community leadership, shaping life-changing business ideas. The program shows that when women gain access to opportunities, knowledge, and resources, the impact extends far beyond themselves and their families, reaching entire communities.

Free access to digital information, unrestricted by technical or legal barriers, is essential for resilient democratic spaces. Open data can connect diverse voices and make them more responsive to regional realities. But how can we ensure data is available and is used to defend civic space, expose inequalities, and drive transformation? This question was at the heart of Abrelatam Condatos 2026.

Developed through a collaborative effort led by SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) with partners including Hivos (through the Regional SRHR Fund), Equality Now, UNFPA, Plan International, CARE International Zambia, UNICEF, and Girls Not Brides, the SADC Child Marriage Dashboard is an innovative regional accountability tool designed to track progress in implementing the SADC Model Law on Eradicating Child Marriage and Protecting Children Already in Marriage.

Growing up in La Paz, Mateo faced discrimination and a legal system that refused to recognize his identity. He was unable to change his name, gender marker, and photo on his official documents, making everyday life an ongoing battle. Looking for a chance of a freer life, he moved to Argentina, marking the beginning of his journey as a human rights defender. Meet the defenders Meet the defenders is a series highlighting inspiring human rights activists supported by Hivos.

The LGBTIQ+ movement stands at the frontlines of the struggle for equality and justice. But as aid budgets are shrinking, they are often among the first to lose out. At WorldPride 2026, Chandreyi Guharay spoke with queer activists from around the world about how they’re navigating this new reality.

More than 450 civil society organizations from 65 countries around the world have called for an immediate end to the crackdown on LGBTIQ+ organizations, activists and human rights defenders in Turkey. The crackdown began on 12 September with sweeping restrictions on the digital platforms of feminist and LGBTIQ+ groups, media outlets, student organizations and rights defenders. Police operations targeting civil society organizations followed across several provinces.

Kenya is grappling with a growing waste management challenge. Most of the 8 million tons of annual waste is poorly managed, adding to existing pollution and CO₂ emissions. At the same time, Kenyans are coming up with creative solutions that turn waste into value. Six months ago, the EU SWITCH Kenya Green Tujenge Pamoja program was launched to support those solutions and accelerate Kenya’s transition toward a circular and inclusive green economy.

Dutch Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Sjoerd Sjoerdsma, and eleven Dutch civil society organizations launched a new, groundbreaking alliance yesterday for the promotion and protection of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) worldwide: the SRHR Next Alliance.