Humana People to People – Development Together with the People

Humana People to People (HPP) is a global network of 29 national member organisations working in more than 46 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Together, they share one mission: to inspire, mobilise, and connect people in creating a more just and sustainable world through development.
For over 40 years, Humana People to People has stood for an approach rooted in solidarity, equality, and participation. The federation believes that real and lasting change is possible only when people work with each other — not for each other. This is why their guiding principle has always been “development together with the people”. Every action is built on the idea that communities themselves hold the knowledge, resilience, and strength to lead their own transformation when given the right tools and partnerships.
Each year, Humana People to People reaches more than 15 million people through over 1,800 project units worldwide. Their work creates meaningful change in five key areas:

🌱 Community Development

Community Development projects form the heart of Humana’s work. They bring people together to tackle shared challenges such as poverty, education, health, and environmental degradation. Through Village Action Groups, Farmers’ Clubs, and Child Aid projects, communities learn to identify local needs and take collective action to address them.

From supporting women in forming savings groups in Malawi, to mobilising families in Zambia to fight child malnutrition, Humana’s community projects empower people to become active agents of their own progress. The results are not just measurable in statistics, but visible in renewed dignity and confidence.

🌍 Sustainable Agriculture and Environment

Climate change is one of the greatest threats facing developing countries today — and Humana’s programmes are on the frontlines of that fight. The organisation works with hundreds of thousands of smallholder farmers to improve food security and adapt to changing weather conditions.
Through methods like Conservation Agriculture, permaculture, and climate-smart farming, farmers learn to protect soil fertility, manage water resources, and reduce dependence on chemical fertilisers. In many areas, these programmes also include tree planting, waste reduction, and water conservation initiatives — practical steps that build climate resilience from the ground up.

❤ Health

Humana’s community-based health programmes reach millions each year, addressing diseases that continue to threaten lives and livelihoods. The focus is not just on treatment, but on prevention, education, and empowerment.
Projects such as Total Control of the Epidemic (TCE) and HOPE Humana equip communities to take charge of their health by raising awareness about HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, nutrition, and maternal health. Local field officers and trained volunteers go door to door, breaking stigma, promoting testing, and ensuring that no one is left behind.

📚 Education

Education is the foundation of all development, and Humana’s work in this area is transformative. The federation runs Teacher Training Colleges in several African countries — such as Mozambique, Malawi, and Angola — where thousands of new teachers are trained every year.
The training is based on active learning, responsibility, and practical teaching experience in rural communities. Beyond schools, Humana also supports adult literacy, youth empowerment, and skills development programmes that open doors for future employment and self-reliance.

♻ Reuse and Circular Economy

One of Humana’s most unique strengths is its international network of second-hand clothing operations. Each year, more than 100 million pieces of clothing are collected, sorted, and reused — reducing waste, promoting circularity, and generating funds for community projects. This social enterprise model ensures that development is not dependent on charity, but sustained by practical, environmentally responsible action.
CICD and Humana – A Partnership for Action
At CICD, we are proud to work in partnership with Humana People to People. Each year, our Development Instructors join Humana’s projects across Africa and India, bringing energy, creativity, and commitment. They live and work alongside local people, learning the deep meaning of “standing shoulder to shoulder with the people.”

This collaboration is not about charity — it’s about solidarity. It’s about building bridges between communities, countries, and experiences. Our participants return with a new understanding of the world and of their role in it: that change doesn’t begin in grand institutions, but in human relationships, small actions, and shared purpose.
Together, CICD and Humana People to People are part of a movement — one that believes in people, in cooperation, and in the power of collective action to build a more just and sustainable world for all.
You can download Humana People to People Progress Report of 2024 to get a better and deeper idea of the work: https://www.humana.org/images/publications/Humana-Progress-Report-2024.pdf