The Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) is a non-stock, not-for-profit, non-governmental entity (NGO) organized and existing under the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany with its main office in Munich, Germany. It supports projects in more than 60 countries worldwide. The international cooperation program of HSF is funded by official sources, namely, the Federal Government of Germany, the European Union and the Government of the Free State of Bavaria/Germany.

It has been active in the Philippines since 1979, extending development assistance to Philippine partner organizations mainly in the field of human resource and policy development ranging from training and education, community-based and top-level policy dialogues, research and publication, international/regional exchange, to project development.

In line with the Philippine government’s vision and goals as enunciated in the Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016 and President Benigno S. Aquino III’s call for transformational leadership, HSF currently supports development interventions in the country leading to the promotion and protection of human rights, strengthening good governance and the rule of law, enhancing equal access to justice, and increasing access to financial and non-financial services for the poor.

Its program and project activities in the country are undertaken based on a long-term partnership, at least over a three-year project cycle, together with local partner organizations which are directly implementing joint activities in the country. The intervention comes in the form of both technical and financial assistance. The current project term covers the period 2011-2013 in identified areas nationwide.

The Foundation currently undertakes the following major programs, to wit:

(1) Support for Public Administration
      1.1 Democracy, Human Rights and the Rule of Law
      1.2 Justice Sector Reform
      1.3 Good Governance

(2) Micro-finance and Micro-enterprise Development

(3) Support for Follow-up Activities
      3.1 Co-operative Strengthening Program
      3.2 ASEAN-EU Cooperation

Project activities are implemented in cooperation with:

• Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation (NCAF)
• Philippine National Police-Human Rights Affairs Office (PNP-HRAO)
• Armed Forces of the Philippines-Human Rights Office (AFP-HRO) and AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil Military Operations (J7)
• Alternative Law Groups (ALG)
• Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines (CHRP)
• People Power Volunteers for Reform (PPVR)
• Department of Justice (DOJ)
• PinoyME Consortium
• National Cooperative Movement (NCM)
• Ramos Peace and Development Foundation (RPDEV)