What Memisa Belgium does

Memisa Belgium is a Belgian medical non-governmental organization (ASBL/vzw) founded in 1988 and headquartered in Brussels, specializing in international cooperation for healthcare systems strengthening. The organization operates in seven countries — DR Congo, Benin, Burundi, Guinea Conakry, India, Mauritania, and Belgium — reaching more than 7 million people in partner countries through programs that include construction and renovation of health centers and hospitals, support for national medicine delivery systems, training of local healthcare workers, community-based solidarity financing, and advocacy toward health authorities. Memisa's core differentiator is the Hôpital pour Hôpital (Hospital for Hospital) network, which pairs 17-20 Belgian hospital groups with specific health zones in Africa, creating durable institutional partnerships that channel funds, awareness, and knowledge exchange.

The organization's business model is diversified across four primary revenue streams: private individual donations (one-time gifts, monthly direct debits of €10/€13.50/€25, and event-based giving through solidarity photo shoots), legacies and bequests (€282,916 in 2025), corporate and institutional partnerships, and contributions channeled through the Hôpital pour Hôpital hospital network. Belgian Development Cooperation (DGD) provides co-financing at a 4:1 matching ratio on certain hospital-raised funds, and provincial governments (West Flanders, East Flanders) provide supplementary project funding. Fundraising is conducted through street teams (Trust Marketing through 2025, Direct Result from 2026), telephone campaigns (The Crew), an online donation portal, annual awareness campaigns, and solidarity events.

Memisa's 2025 financial results show private donations and legacies stable at approximately €2 million annually, with a negative annual result of -€638,100 reflecting a challenging financial context. The organization is governed by a voluntary Board of Directors led by President Frank De Paepe, with General Director Elies Van Belle managing operations. In 2025, Memisa co-founded the Health Impact Coalition, bringing together eight Belgian NGOs to strengthen collective impact in international health cooperation. The wage gap ratio of 3.29 in 2025 indicates moderate internal pay dispersion. Membership in VEF (Ethics in Fundraising), CNCD 11.11.11, and Acodev/ngo-federatie reinforces sector credibility and compliance with Belgian NGO transparency norms.

Name

Memisa Belgium

Legal name

Memisa asbl

Website

https://memisa.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Memisa Belgium is a Brussels-based medical NGO (founded 1988) that strengthens healthcare systems in seven countries (DR Congo, Benin, Burundi, Guinea, India, Mauritania, Belgium), reaching over 7 million people through infrastructure, training, and the Hôpital pour Hôpital hospital-twinning network connecting 17-20 Belgian hospitals to African health zones.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Health Cooperation NGO

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Medical Missions & Global Health NGOs (BPAGACAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

International & Local Implementing NGOs (HLAJAKAD), Health Systems Strengthening & Global Health Technical Assistance (BPADAEAH), Maternal, Newborn, Child & Adolescent Health (MNCAH) NGOs (HLAJAKAG), Humanitarian Health & Emergency Medical Relief NGOs (HLAJAKAE)

Keywords

• Healthcare NGO services
• International health cooperation
• Maternal child health
• Medical capacity building
• Health systems strengthening

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Private individual donations: Individual donors contribute through one-time gifts, monthly direct debits (domiciliation), and event-based giving (solidarity photo shoots, birth lists). Donations from private individuals constitute the primary revenue stream, historically around €1.9 million annually (dons privés + dons privés libellés combined). Tax deductible in Belgium for donations ≥ €40 per year, providing a 30% tax credit.
2. Legacies and bequests: Memisa actively promotes testamentary giving and legate donations as a long-term fundraising mechanism. Legacies constituted €282,916 in 2025. The organization offers free advice and information on legacy planning and is registered with Testament.be.
3. Corporate and institutional partnerships: Corporate partners support Memisa through direct financial contributions, knowledge/expertise sharing, and cause-marketing campaigns. Belgian institutional funders (Belgian Development Cooperation — DGD) co-finance country programs, with a 4:1 matching formula for certain projects.
4. Hôpital pour Hôpital hospital network contributions: Belgian solidarity hospitals (currently ~17–20 groups) contribute annual financial support to their paired health zones in Africa, channeled through Memisa. These contributions fund infrastructure, equipment, training, and operational costs in partner health zones.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Memisa Belgium is a Belgian medical non-governmental organization that supports structural access to quality healthcare for vulnerable populations, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa and India. It funds and operates the Hôpital pour Hôpital hospital twinning network linking Belgian hospitals with health zones in partner countries, alongside programs covering maternal and child health, chronic disease and mental health, medical training, health infrastructure, and emergency response (e.g., Ebola). The organization is funded through individual donations, legacies, corporate partnerships, and institutional co-financing (notably Belgian Development Cooperation).

Product overview

Memisa Belgium is a Belgian medical NGO for international cooperation that operates as a program-focused organization rather than a technology product company. Its main offering is a portfolio of healthcare access programs including the Hôpital pour Hôpital hospital twinning network connecting Belgian hospitals with healthcare structures in DR Congo, Benin, Burundi, Guinea, India, and Mauritania. Supporting programs include online donation platforms, solidarity birth/celebration lists, professional photo shoots for fundraising, volunteer programs, and specialized healthcare services such as the Kamiano homeless care center in Brussels and a floating clinic in Benin. The organization reaches more than 7 million people across 7 partner countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hôpital pour Hôpital (Hospital for Hospital) hospital twinning network A hospital twinning network connecting ~17 Belgian hospital groups with specific health zones in partner countries (primarily DR Congo and Benin). Each Belgian hospital raises funds and awareness among its staff, patients, and visitors, and channels annual financial support to its paired health zone for infrastructure, equipment, training, and operational costs, sometimes with DGD matching (4:1). Measurable outcomes include AZ Delta Roeselare's ~€12,500/year for Pay Kongila and 20 health centers, and Budjala maternal mortality of 1 in 1,500 vs. national 1 in 150.
• Medical projects (construction, training, medicines, advocacy) Comprehensive healthcare program delivery across seven partner countries: construction and renovation of health centers and hospitals; support to national medicines/medical supply chains; training of local healthcare staff; sensitization of populations on health rights; social protection mechanisms; community-based solidarity financing; and advocacy toward health authorities and policymakers. Programs span maternal health, child health, chronic diseases (diabetes, hypertension), mental health, and disease outbreak response (Ebola, mpox).
• Online donation platform (donate.memisa.be) Digital giving platform accepting one-time and recurring donations via credit card and SEPA direct debit, with tax attestation certificates available for Belgian donors making annual donations ≥€40 (30% tax credit). Supports suggested unit donation amounts (e.g., €35 for 5 prenatal consultations, €65 for a premature newborn resuscitation kit, €144 for emergency transport and cesarean for 3 women) and monthly direct debits at suggested tiers of €10, €13.50, and €25.
• Kamiano healthcare center for homeless people (Brussels) Memisa-supported healthcare center in Brussels providing medical consultations for homeless people. In 2025 the center delivered medical consultations to people in precarious situations, addressing domestic healthcare exclusion alongside Memisa's international programs.
• Clinique flottante / Bootkliniek (floating clinic, Benin) Floating clinic operating in southern Benin (Sô-Ava and Aguégués) to provide healthcare access to populations in areas with limited road connectivity. In 2025 the floating clinic enabled thousands of people to access care in lake-based communities.
• Solidarity birth list / Celebration list service Service enabling families to direct gifts from celebrations (e.g., births, weddings) toward Memisa's healthcare projects instead of traditional presents. Combines emotional engagement with fundraising outcomes and supports donor retention.
• Solidarity photo shoots (Maman pour la vie / Mama's voor het leven) Annual in-person events held across Belgian cities where families receive professional digital photos in exchange for a donation to maternal and child health programs in Africa and India. Since 2018, 30+ shoots have been organized and 1,480 families have participated.
• Legacy and testamentary giving program Memisa's legacy giving program enables Belgian supporters to include the organization in their wills; legacies totaled €282,916 in 2025. The organization provides free advice and information on legacy planning and is registered with Testament.be.

Quantifiable outcome

• Maternal mortality reduced to 1 in 1,500 deliveries in Budjala health zone (DR Congo) vs. national average of 1 in 150
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship / core, minor and core.

• Health Impact Coalition (HICO)flagship / coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Memisa is co-founder of the Health Impact Coalition, which brings together eight Belgian NGOs specializing in international health cooperation. The coalition aims to strengthen collective impact of Belgian health cooperation through coordinated and systemic approaches. Official launch in 2025.
• Evara and Frères de la CharitéminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024New collaboration following Fracarita Belgique, with the aim of maintaining mental health care and care for people with disabilities so that these particularly vulnerable populations are not abandoned, particularly in DR Congo and Burundi.
• Fraternité Médicale Guinée (FMG)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Local NGO partner in Guinea Conakry. Memisa has worked with FMG since 2017, supporting the strengthening of local health systems in Guinea, which was recognized by Belgian Development Cooperation as a partner country.
• Médecins Sans VacancescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Five-year intensive collaboration (2017-2021) developed jointly between Memisa and Médecins Sans Vacances, covering countries where both organizations are active in Africa, as well as activities in Belgium. Joint annual awareness campaigns, Hôpital pour Hôpital network collaboration, and shared advocacy platforms (Be-Cause Health, Plateforme d'Action Santé & Solidarité, 'No profit on pandemic').
• Sant'EgidiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMemisa supports Sant'Egidio to improve access to healthcare for the most vulnerable in Belgium, recognizing that healthcare exclusion also affects people living in precarious situations domestically.
• Acodev / ngo-federatieminorOthersAcodev (French-speaking) and ngo-federatie (Dutch-speaking) are umbrella organizations for Belgian NGOs. Memisa participates in their training programs to maintain competence levels and align practices with sector norms in integrity and governance.
• Trust MarketingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStreet fundraising partner. Trust Marketing's field teams canvass in Belgian public spaces to recruit monthly direct debit donors for Memisa. Fundraisers receive training at Memisa's Brussels office.
• Direct ResultminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStreet fundraising partner (2026 onward). Direct Result's field teams recruit monthly donors for Memisa in Belgian cities.
• The CrewminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTelephone fundraising partner for Memisa's outbound call campaigns to recruit and retain donors.
• Vereniging voor Ethiek in de Fondsenwerving (VEF / AERF)minorOthersMemisa is a member of the Association for Ethics in Fundraising. VEF/AERF annually screens Memisa's fundraising activities and ensures transparency and ethical standards. Memisa's annual accounts are published on donorinfo.be and ngo-openboek.be.
• CNCD 11.11.11minorOthersMemisa is a member of CNCD (Centre National de Coopération au Développement), the umbrella organization for nearly 80 development NGOs, trade unions, and permanent education associations in Belgium's French and German-speaking communities. Memisa actively participates in the Central Africa platform.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Médecins Sans Vacances: Belgian medical NGO for international cooperation that strengthens healthcare systems in Africa, with an overlapping country footprint and a formal 2017-2021 joint programming partnership with Memisa.
• Médecins du Monde: International medical humanitarian NGO active in maternal and child health in low-resource settings; Memisa has partnered with MdM on joint annual awareness campaigns (e.g., 'Accoucher n'est pas un jeu').
• Artsen Zonder Vakantie: Dutch-speaking sister organization of Médecins Sans Vacances; Belgian medical NGO strengthening African healthcare systems through hospital partnerships, comparable in mission and Belgian fundraising model to Memisa.
• Handicap International / HI (now Humanity & Inclusion): French-founded international NGO working on disability and healthcare in low-income countries, with Belgian presence; comparable sector and operational presence in DRC and Burundi.
• Plan International Belgium: Belgian child-rights NGO with significant health programming for mothers and children in developing countries; direct competitor for Belgian individual donors and DGD co-financing.

Broad incumbents

• Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF): Largest global medical humanitarian organization, with a Belgian section (MSF Belgium) operating in conflict and epidemic zones including DRC; overlaps with Memisa on maternal health, Ebola response, and emergency healthcare delivery.
• Caritas International Belgium: Belgian federation of humanitarian and development NGOs with health programming in Africa; broader portfolio than Memisa but overlapping donor base and DGD funding channels.
• Oxfam Belgium: Belgian development NGO with global health and WASH programs; comparable in fundraising structure, Belgian policy advocacy role, and DGD funding relationship.
• UNICEF Belgium: Belgian national committee of a UN agency with dominant global presence in maternal, newborn, and child health; competes for individual donors and corporate partnerships in Belgium.

Regional players

• Solidarités International: French-founded humanitarian NGO specializing in water, sanitation, and healthcare in crisis-affected and developing countries; overlaps with Memisa on health systems strengthening in African countries.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MemisaBelgium
• Facebookfacebook.com/MemisaBelgium
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/memisa-belgium

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Memisa Belgium