Our Story

“Hak[i]” means truth or justice in Swahili, Arabic and other languages, a reflection of the centrality of justice to human existence. Hakí is re-inventing how international development is done, by putting local organizations first. We are a global network of local community organizations across more than 50 countries, working together collectively to promote justice as the core tenet for finding durable solutions to the world’s toughest problems.

At Hakí we believe first and foremost in local, community engagement. We build community paralegal networks. We support local networks of advocates and public interest lawyers. We bridge the divide between community and responsible investment. We advise justice systems on how to become more responsive to citizens. Hakí members bring local knowledge and perspectives to national and international debates on legal issues that directly affect the poor, including:

• Fighting poverty and food insecurity through strong land and natural resource rights

• Injecting international human rights into business practices

• Eliminating injustice and violence against women

• Ensuring sustainable access to justice and affordable legal services for the poor

• Improving governance and reducing corruption

We are both a social enterprise and non-profit that uses flexible, innovative solutions, working with both the public and private sectors through a global network across the developing world to emphasize sustainable results that benefit local communities.