About Us

Ending poverty begins with agriculture

Heifer International is on a mission to end hunger and poverty in a sustainable way by supporting and investing alongside local farmers and their communities.

Heifer's Mission

We work to end hunger and poverty in partnership with the communities we serve. Our programs support entrepreneurs around the world, creating lasting change from the ground up.

It begins with a seed investment of livestock or agriculture, followed by mentorship to help project participants build a business, and ultimately to gain access to supply chains and markets.

These families are able to earn a living income and continuously lift up their communities as they train the next generation of leaders.

By supporting and training the world's farmers, ranchers, and female business owners, we're investing in a new breed of success.

Woman in India carrying a pan of milk from her goats.
Historical photo of group of people with a Heifer cow.

Our History: 75 Years of Lasting Change

In 1944, Dan West began outlining a simple but groundbreaking plan to tackle hunger around the world. His philosophy still inspires Heifer’s work today. Partnering with farmers across a range of different livestock and crops, we create unique solutions to local challenges. Together, we build inclusive, resilient economies, so communities can develop effective ways to end global hunger and poverty in a sustainable way.

See our history

Where We Work

Heifer International is working to end world hunger in 19 countries across four continents. Heifer works in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Ethiopia, Honduras, India, Kenya, Malawi, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, the United States of America and Zambia.

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Where We Work

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Cambodian farmers feed flock of chicks from Heifer International

Cambodia

Heifer International has had a presence in Cambodia since 1999, working alongside women farmers to enhance their ability to raise more, sell more, and earn more from chicken, swine, and vegetable value chains.  Our programs advance women leaders, reduce domestic violence, and give women more prominent voices building successful farming enterprises.

Learn More Cambodia
Ecuador women with alpaca in background at her farm.

Ecuador

From training rural farmers in agroecology to building alliances with government and private entities, Heifer's work in Ecuador has spanned all levels of this biologically diverse country since 1954.

Learn More Ecuador

Guatemalan farmers.

Guatemala

Heifer works with local farmers in protected areas to develop sustainable green businesses that allow local people to generate incomes and care for the forests.

Learn More Guatemala
Man and woman holding a goat in Haiti.

Haiti

Heifer provides Haitian farmers with livestock, seeds, animal management training, as well as finance and technical support to overcome adversity.

Learn More Haiti
Smiling Honduran woman farmer with cow.

Honduras

With Heifer's support, family farmers are diversifying their businesses and incomes through agroecology.

Learn More Honduras
Heifer helps establish living incomes in India.

India

Heifer's programs create valuable opportunities for women to become Community Agro-Veterinarian Entrepreneurs who provide paid services within their communities.

Learn More India
Three Children holding chickens and smiling in Kenya.

Kenya

We work in partnership with producer groups, financial institutions, county governments, processors, and input and service providers across the dairy, poultry and beef value chains.

Learn More Kenya
Map of malawi projects, highlighting regions of Thyolo and Lilongwe as active project regions, and Mchinji, Dowa and Kasungu as past project locations.

Malawi

Farmers are diversifying crop yields, incomes and diets with sustainable farming  methods and are increasing resilience to climate change.

Learn More Malawi
Man and Woman trading goods at a market in Mexico.

Mexico

Since 1977, Heifer International has worked in Mexico, supporting local farmers through livestock projects and agricultural training that enables them to diversify their families’ diets and increase incomes.

Learn More Mexico
Nepalese women tending to goats in a field.

Nepal

With modern training and access to markets, Heifer Nepal helps farmers raise quality livestock, improving nutrition and increasing incomes.

Learn More Nepal

Rwanda pineapple farm

Rwanda

We support farmers to set up their own cooperatives, where they share knowledge, pool resources, as well as access financing to invest and grow their farms. 

Learn More Rwanda
Senegal children with a donkey helping with dairy farming in arid conditions.

Senegal

We equip farmers with the tools and expertise they need to increase productivity and close the living income gap.

Learn More Senegal
Woman in Tanzania at a Water Well.

Tanzania

Heifer's work in Tanzania involves strengthening access to local markets through business planning, marketing and establishing collection centers.

Learn More Tanzania
Ugandan woman carrying a harvest through a field.

Uganda

Heifer mobilizes farmers and works with partners to help them connect into cooperatives to share knowledge and access financial services.

Learn More Uganda
Smiling American woman farmer with herd of cows in the background.

United States

Heifer USA provides training to farmers in cultivation techniques, and helps them organize cooperatives that share marketing, packaging, distribution, and credit and loan services.

Learn More United States
Zambian women indoors listening to a presentation.

Zambia

Heifer works with partners in Zambia to build sustainable livelihoods through agriculture, enterprise development, gender equity, and livestock while mitigating the impact of HIV/AIDS and climate change.

Learn More Zambia

Bangladesh women sell crops at market

Bangladesh

Heifer International began work in Bangladesh in 2006, focusing on three main value chains: dairy, goat and beef. We work with women farmers in northern Bangladesh to improve sustainability and build their farming capacity through better animal care and cultivation techniques.

Learn More Bangladesh
Women with goat in field.

Bihar, India

In one of India's poorest states, Heifer empowers women farmers to provide food for their families, improve the local environment and increase business opportunities for their communities.

Learn More Bihar, India
Woman milking cow.

East Africa Dairy Development Project

Dairy farmers in East Africa face many barriers to entering the formal economy.

Learn More East Africa Dairy Development Project
Group of youth in a field.

East Africa Youth Inclusion Project

The majority of Uganda and Tanzania’s populations are youth, who grow up in poverty.

Learn More East Africa Youth Inclusion Project
Women sitting in a semi-circle in Nepal.

Empowering Women Farmers

Nepal

Heifer works with farmer cooperatives to improve financial management and link them to distribution markets.

Learn More Empowering Women Farmers
Chicks being held by two hands.

Hatching Hope

China

An efficient, productive poultry farm can change everything for farmers, their families, and their communities.

Learn More Hatching Hope

INCOME Project

Through specialized production techniques, cooperatives and connections to local markets, Cambodian families earn living incomes.

Learn More INCOME Project
Woman with her Cattle.

Lenca II Project

Powering local dairy production in Lempira, located in western Honduras, which is the country's poorest department.

Learn More Lenca II Project
Woman with her child interviewing.

Leveraging Success

Honduras

Heifer provides training and technical support for farmers to boost yields of quality, reliable products for high-value markets.

Learn More Leveraging Success
Hands making cheese product.

NIKA Milk Project

Supporting farming families in Nicaragua’s ‘Milky Way,’ to increase production and diversify their product offerings.

Learn More NIKA Milk Project
Farmer with a bull.

REACH Project

Haiti

Restoring rural livelihoods by promoting sustainable food production

Learn More REACH Project
Woman mixing a glass jar with child on her back.

Women's Empowerment and Entrepreneurship Project

Sololá, Alta and Baja Verapaz, Guatemala

By identifying local market demand and providing support and training, Heifer International and partners are paving the way for women to earn living incomes.

Learn More Women's Empowerment and Entrepreneurship Project
Woman sorting eggs.

Rural Entrepreneurs Project

In this partnership with the Walmart Foundation, Heifer empowers women farmers across Mexico through training, finance and providing connections to formal markets where they can sell their products.

Learn More Rural Entrepreneurs Project
Three people stand at a market in Ethiopia

Ethiopia

With support from Heifer Ethiopia and its partners, farmers can connect to new markets and capital, expanding their businesses.

Learn More Ethiopia

Our Projects

Our community development model focuses on building social capital by increasing income and assets within farming families, improving their food security and nutrition, and protecting the environment - with women's empowerment and connected communities at the very center.

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Call Toll Free: 1.855.9HUNGER (1.855.948.6437)

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