Hivos

Hivos is an international organisation dedicated to contributing to a free, fair, and sustainable world. Through its projects in over 30 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, Hivos works to promote sustainable economies and inclusive societies. It partners with business and civil society organisations to achieve structural change. 

The organisation focuses its activities on several main areas: sustainable food, renewable energy, transparency and accountability, freedom of expression, sexual rights and diversity, and women’s empowerment. 

Hivos is also active in the field of Internet governance. Some of its work is dedicated, for example, to consolidating and safeguarding Internet freedom around the world, through activities covering three areas: prevention and protection (digital safety and security for activists), policy and privacy (Internet governance policy and privacy protection), and pressure (against online human rights abuses). The organisation contributes to raising activists’ awareness of and skills in preventing and dealing with (online) security threats, so they can enjoy full freedom of expression online safely. It also conducts research, offers training, and encourages peer-to-peer learning with the aim to enhance secure communication. In addition, Hivos lobbies for proper and inclusive Internet governance regulation, and supports Internet governance dialogues, as well as research into the technology ecosystem. It also launches initiatives aimed to promote the use of information and communication technologies as tools to safeguard and anchor freedom of expression, freedom of information and Internet freedom into legislation and societies worldwide. 

In the area of capacity development for Internet governance, Hivos has launched the IGMENA programme, aimed to bring voices together from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region on Internet governance and policies. The programme aims to improve knowledge and awareness on Internet governance among different regional stakeholders, and to contribute to enhancing the legislation on Internet policy in the region.