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Hivos
Hivos is a Dutch foundation deploying €100M annually into sustainable energy, food systems, and civic rights across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Hivos
Hivos was established in 1968 by a group of Dutch humanists aiming to build a secular development organization. It is headquartered in The Hague and maintains project offices across multiple continents, including in Kenya, Zimbabwe, Indonesia, and Guatemala. Hivos deploys capital through both grant-making and impact investing, focusing on renewable energy access, sustainable agriculture, and strengthening civil society. It operates programs like the Green Entrepreneurship program and the Voices for Climate Justice initiative. The organization co-founded the global network of Impact Hubs and has supported enterprises such as M-KOPA Solar in East Africa and Fairphone in Europe. Hivos employs roughly 200 to 300 staff across its offices and reports annual expenditures of over €100 million. The organization’s investment arm, Hivos Impact Investments, manages a portfolio of equity and debt investments in clean energy and agri-food ventures, targeting commercial returns alongside social impact. Recent years have seen expanded work on digital rights and civic space through the Free Press Unlimited alliance. Hivos is structurally distinct from a typical family office or private foundation by operating as a public foundation regulated under Dutch law, with a governance board that includes independent experts. Its endowment is not tied to a single family fortune, and its income derives from government contracts, European Union grants, and institutional donors rather than private wealth.
General information
Firm type
Foundation
Year founded
1968
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
Netherlands
City
The Hague
Corporate office
The Hague, Netherlands
Additional offices
El Segundo, United States · Menlo Park, United States · Delhi, India · Hong Kong, China · Palo Alto, United States · Yerevan, Armenia · Chevy Chase, United States · San Francisco, United States · Redwood City, United States
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
What is Hivos's investment approach?
Hivos deploys capital through grants and impact investments, targeting renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and civil society strengthening. Its investment arm takes equity and debt positions in early-stage enterprises in developing markets, seeking both commercial returns and measurable social impact (per Hivos official communications).
Does Hivos operate as a single-family office?
No, Hivos is a public foundation under Dutch law, not a family office. Its funding comes from government grants, EU funds, and institutional donors, not from a single family fortune.
What sectors does Hivos focus on?
Hivos concentrates on renewable energy access, sustainable food systems, climate adaptation, digital rights, and cultural expression. It avoids extractive industries and large-scale infrastructure (public record).
How does Hivos source deals?
Deal flow comes through its field offices in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, partnerships with local NGOs, and participation in networks like the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN). Hivos Impact Investments directly screens enterprises in clean energy and agri-food (per Hivos website).
Where does Hivos operate geographically?
Hivos has offices in the Netherlands, United States, India, China, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Indonesia, Guatemala, and several other countries. Its grant-making and investment activities span sub-Saharan Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and Latin America (public record).
What is the scale of Hivos's annual deployment?
Hivos reports annual expenditures exceeding €100 million, with a significant portion allocated to program activities including grants and impact investments. Specific AUM figures for the investment portfolio are not publicly disclosed.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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