Hilfswerk International

Hilfswerk International is an Austrian, non-profit, and independent NGO based in Vienna that has been providing humanitarian aid and development cooperation worldwide since 1978.

Our mission is to alleviate poverty and suffering while empowering individuals to reach their full potential. We prioritize vulnerable groups, including children, women, and minorities. We firmly believe that every person deserves a fair chance. Therefore, our vision is to ensure that all people – especially children – have the opportunity for a better life through participatory approaches and equal partnerships.

Our projects are characterized by needs-based solutions, flexibility, independence, and effectiveness.

Our assistance is tailored to the needs of the people we serve. We work closely with local communities to create immediate, customized improvements while fostering long-term and sustainable development. We listen, respect people’s dignity, culture, history, and traditions, and provide innovative self-help support. Many of our partnerships span over 20 years, making us deeply rooted in our focus regions and trusted by local communities, thanks to our in-country teams, partners, and networks.

Hilfswerk International is non-denominational and non-partisan. Our independence allows us to address diverse crises and forgotten emergencies. Transparency and accountability are central principles: we manage donor and grant funds responsibly, report clearly and comprehensively, and take full ownership of our decisions. This fosters trust and credibility among our donors, partners, and beneficiaries.

Our streamlined structure and short decision-making processes enable us to act swiftly and respond efficiently to changing needs and conditions. This ensures that our work is not only timely and targeted but also sustainable.

Regular internal monitoring and external evaluations confirm the high effectiveness of our projects. The continuous positive feedback we receive from beneficiaries, local partners, and donors underscores the impact of our work.

Hilfswerk International emerged in 1978 from the Austrian Hilfswerk (ÖHW), which initially focused on social services within Austria. By the late 1980s, international aid initiatives, such as the "Christmas Aid for Children," laid the foundation for our global engagement. As our commitment to development cooperation and humanitarian aid grew, we restructured as an independent, internationally active organization.

The world faces major challenges such as war, hunger, poverty, migration, climate change, and inequality. We believe that every person deserves to live a life of dignity and security.

Therefore, we see it as our responsibility to support those most affected, particularly children.

• FAIR OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL: Our projects aim to ensure that every person, starting with the youngest, has the right to a fair chance at a good life.
• ALLEVIATE SUFFERING: We provide rapid assistance to people affected by conflicts, natural disasters, and other humanitarian crises.
• UNLOCK POTENTIAL: Our goal is to help people realize their potential, even in difficult circumstances, and establish sustainable structures that enable them to lead independent lives free from poverty and hardship.

Our mission is to empower all people to realize their potential, with a strong focus on vulnerable groups such as children, women, and minorities.

• Children at the Center: Children are particularly vulnerable and require special protection. That’s why they are central to our activities. We invest in education and child development to equip them to shape a better future. Supporting children means supporting the future.
• Empowering Women: Poverty is still predominantly a female issue. We actively promote gender equality and women’s empowerment, advocating equal political, economic, and social participation, preventing gender-based violence, and improving reproductive health services.
• Giving Minorities a Voice: Minorities often face social exclusion and discrimination. We work to strengthen their rights, amplify their voices, and provide access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. Through participatory approaches, we empower minorities to actively shape their communities.