Heifer International

Heifer International is a US-based non-profit founded in 1944, on a mission to end global hunger and poverty by supporting and investing in farmers and their communities. Heifer partners with smallholder farmers — especially women farmers to improve their families' food security and increase their incomes, offering tools, training, and resources that help farmers work together to build profitable, sustainable businesses with strong market linkages.

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The organisation is partnership-driven in every country where it works, collaborating with farmer groups, businesses, and governments to scale impact and strengthen local ownership, including active programs in India, particularly with women farmers in states like Odisha.

Headquarters: Arkansas, USA (Global Headquarters); Heifer India office in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India

Major Areas of Work

• Work and Income: Helping farmers build profitable, sustainable livelihoods through market linkages, training, and business development.

• Women and Inclusion: Advancing financial independence and leadership for women farmers, who are disproportionately affected by hunger and poverty.

• Climate and Environment: Supporting farmers in adopting climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable agricultural practices.

• Food Security: Strengthening household and community-level food security through sustainable farming interventions.

• One Health: Addressing the interconnection between animal health, human health, and environmental wellbeing.

Major Initiatives & Programmes

• Micro-Loan Impact Fund: Provides micro-loans to help women farmers gain financial independence and build credit.

• Intelligent Giving: A model creating innovative solutions to the world's biggest hunger and poverty challenges.

• International Year of the Woman Farmer: A dedicated global campaign addressing the disproportionate impact of hunger and poverty on women and girls.

• Read to Feed: A free educational and fundraising program allowing students to learn about global hunger while helping others.

• Women's Cooperatives: Community-based cooperative models, including goat and poultry cooperatives, helping women farmers in India, Kenya, and beyond strengthen markets together.

Impact

Since 1944, Heifer International has helped more than 59.8 million households rise out of hunger and poverty. The organisation works across 19 countries on four continents, currently supporting 2.9 million active participants in its programs, and has trained more than 10 million people since 2012, 64% of whom are women. Heifer has been recognised with the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize, a Charity Navigator four-star rating, BBB Accredited Charity status, and GuideStar Silver Transparency Seal.

Leadership

Senior Director of Programs – Dr. Dilip Bhandari (recipient of the AVMA's Global Veterinary Service Award)

Heifer International is an excellent fit for professionals passionate about global food security, sustainable agriculture, women's economic empowerment, and international development who want to contribute to ending hunger and poverty at scale.