Who we are

SNV is a global development partner driven by a vision of a better world: a world where across every society, all people live with dignity and have equal opportunities to thrive sustainably. We aim to make this a reality through our mission to strengthen capacities and catalyse partnerships in the countries we are rooted in. By doing so, we aim to transform the agri-food, energy, and water systems to enable sustainable and more equitable lives for all.

Our work goes beyond the implementation of impactful projects - together with actors and partners - towards a deeper, more lasting change. We work towards systems transformation, and we make sure to build capacities for a long-lasting impact beyond project finalisation.

We do that as a team of over 1,600 colleagues, the vast majority of whom come from the contexts where we work, in more than 20 countries in Africa and Asia. Our team is inspired by the transformational principles and objectives set out by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and we are committed to:

  • building resilient agri-food systems that deliver food security and adequate nutrition

  • increasing the reliability and availability of water and sanitation at an acceptable quantity and quality

  • improving access to affordable and sustainable energy for all

In doing so, we aim to strengthen institutions, markets and effective governance within and across the agri-food, energy, and water sectors, reducing gender inequalities and barriers to social inclusion and enabling adaptation and mitigation to the climate and biodiversity crises.

We are committed to sharing our knowledge, expertise, and experience with other actors – governmental, institutional, NGO, CSO, and private sector - as well as adopting and adapting from their experience and expertise. We will be proactive in communicating passionately, critically, and clearly about our work and our learning to build understanding and leverage impact and influence.

Our results in 2022

6.2 million

lives improved

€173 million

to enable sustainable and more equitable lives for all

More than 90%

of our projects are financed by our top ten donors

Over 1,376

people employed. 32% of which are women.

Our annual reports provide insight into our work over the past years.

Leadership

SNV is led by a Managing Board, consisting of our Chief Executive Officer, the Managing Director Business/CFO and our Managing Directors for Countries and Sectors.

Simon O'Connell

Simon O'Connell

Chief Executive Officer
Hans Heijdra

Hans Heijdra

Managing Director Business CFO
Megan Ritchie

Megan Ritchie

Managing Director Countries
Andre de Jager

Andre de Jager

Managing Director Sectors

Our work is monitored by the SNV Supervisory Board, who ensures we are carrying out our mission - to alleviate poverty in the most effective and efficient way possible.

Melanie Maas Geesteranus

Chair - SNV Supervisory Board

Miriam Hamers

Member - SNV Supervisory Board

Stendert Krommendam

Member - SNV Supervisory Board

Joyeeta Gupta

Member - SNV Supervisory Board

Jenny Elissen

Member - SNV Supervisory Board

Laure Wessemius-Chibrac

Member - SNV Supervisory Board

Torgny Holmgren

Member - SNV Supervisory Board

Inspired to make a difference?

At SNV, we're always seeking new partnerships and collaborations to achieve our shared mission. Whether you're interested in learning more about our activities or exploring collaboration opportunities, get in touch with us to learn more.

Our focus areas

Agri-Food

We support the equitable transition to a sustainable and resilient agri-food system.

Energy

We support the development of inclusive markets for sustainable energy.

Water

We contribute to the water security of all people and the natural world.

Climate adaptation and mitigation

The climate crisis is undermining our systems. Our goal is to accelerate action for the world’s most vulnerable people.

SNV's Ambika Yadav, a community organiser in Nepal for gender equality and social inclusion

Gender equality and social inclusion

Inequalities drive poverty and vulnerability. GESI-responsive programming is core in our work on systems change.

Strong institutions and effective governance

We believe building strong institutions and ensuring effective governance are essential for transforming systems.

Other impact areas

At SNV, we envision a world where, across every society, all people live with dignity and have equitable opportunities to thrive sustainably.

We apply our strong foundations and technical expertise within and across three inter-related sectors of agri-food, energy, and water, which are critical to enabling people to lead dignified lives and thrive.

Within and across these sectors, we work on three core themes: GESI, climate adaptation and mitigation, and strong institutions and effective governance.

Across these sectors and themes, we also focus on impact driven finance, digitalistion, systems change, and youth.

  • Impact driven finance

    To achieve our global ambitions, developing countries face a funding gap of $2.5 trillion. SNV employs a range of innovative mechanisms to help bridge that gap.

  • Digitalisation

    Digitalisation presents opportunities and barriers alike. SNV works to bridge the digital divide and build an inclusive future for communities in low- and middle income countries (LIMCs).

  • Youth

    Young people can be a positive force for development across the globe. At SNV, our aim is to build opportunities for them to thrive.

  • Systems transformation

    Systems transformation has been at the heart of development cooperation for decades. SNV goes beneath the surface to address the root causes of poverty and inequality, at scale.