The Development Network of Indigenous Voluntary Associations (DENIVA) is structured to facilitate collaboration among its extensive membership, which includes civil society organizations (CSOs) and community-based organizations (CBOs) throughout Uganda. It was founded in 1988 by 21 CSOs with the goal of strengthening civil society's influence on sustainable, people-centered development in Uganda.

DENIVA's organizational structure is primarily a network model, with the Secretariat at its core, overseeing various program areas such as Governance and Human Rights, Sustainable Livelihoods, and Civil Society Strengthening. The Secretariat acts as the central hub for coordination, policy guidance, and the overall implementation of programs. Additionally, DENIVA serves as the Secretariat for both the NGO Quality Assurance Mechanism (QuAM) and the Eastern Africa Regional Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR).

Member organizations are key stakeholders and are involved in various decision-making processes, creating a bottom-up approach where local CSOs and CBOs have an opportunity to voice their concerns and contribute to the national dialogue on development issues. This structure supports DENIVA's goal of enhancing citizen participation and decentralizing power to strengthen civil society's role across Uganda.

Moreover, the organization is governed by a board, with leadership and management teams overseeing specific programs, ensuring that cross-cutting themes like gender mainstreaming and youth empowerment are integrated into all projects. This structure ensures that DENIVA remains a key player in advocacy, policy influence, and capacity building for NGOs in Uganda.