South Wind

What South Wind does

SÜDWIND Institut e.V. is a German non-profit research and advocacy institute headquartered in Bonn, founded in 1991 and led by Managing Director Dr. Ulrike Dufner. Operating at the intersection of economics and ecumenism (Institut für Ökonomie und Ökumene), the organization produces evidence-based research, policy papers, factsheets, podcasts, and digital tools on human rights risks in global supply chains — particularly textiles, cocoa, bananas, and coffee — and on sustainable finance, with the stated aim of advancing economic, social, and ecological justice.

Its portfolio of knowledge products includes studies, policy briefs, dossiers, and handbooks; the "Wissen schafft Gerechtigkeit" podcast; a multi-edition-per-year newsletter; traveling photo exhibitions on child labor (loaned to schools, municipalities, and CSOs); the Interactive World Map of supply-chain human-rights risks; and the co-developed Textile Incidents Website that documents labor-rights violations in major garment-producing countries under UN Guiding Principles. Public outputs are distributed free via PDF downloads, supplemented by ~10 press releases per year, conferences, and webinars (e.g., with Heinrich Böll Stiftung).

The institute funds itself through three streams: annual membership fees (reduced €36, regular €85, institutional €300), tax-deductible donations under its gemeinnützig status, and project-based institutional grants — most notably from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) for multi-stakeholder programs such as the Multi-Actor Initiative on Gender Justice in Occupational Safety and Health (with FEMNET, Cividep India, TURC Indonesia). Its customer base spans German and EU policymakers (Lieferkettengesetz, EU CSDDD), civil-society coalitions (Initiative Lieferkettengesetz, Kampagne für Saubere Kleidung, VENRO, Fairtrade Deutschland), companies and financial institutions (BMW Group, Alfred Ritter, GLS Investment Management, Evangelische Bank, Oikocredit), and academic users of its roughly monthly publication cadence.

Name

South Wind

Legal name

SÜDWIND Institut e.V.

Website

https://suedwind-institut.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SÜDWIND Institut e.V. is a Bonn-based German non-profit research and advocacy institute that publishes evidence-based studies, factsheets, podcasts, and digital tools on human rights in global supply chains and sustainable finance, serving EU policymakers, NGOs, companies, financial institutions, and academia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy research and global justice advocacy

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning (MERL) (BPAGABAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Institutional Capacity Building & Training (Workforce/Systems Strengthening) (BPADAEAC), Peace, Security Sector Reform & Stabilization Programs (BPADABAH), Due Diligence & Investigative Research (BPAHALAI)

Keywords

• Global supply chain research
• Human rights due diligence
• Sustainable finance advocacy
• Labor rights research
• Fair trade policy

Headquarters

HQ city

Bonn

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: SÜDWIND generates revenue through annual membership fees paid by individuals and organizations. Individual membership tiers include reduced (€36/year), regular (€85/year), and organizational/institutional memberships (€300/year). These fees provide access to newsletters, annual reports, and participation in the general assembly.
2. Donations: The organization accepts donations from individuals and organizations. Donations are tax-deductible as SÜDWIND e.V. is recognized as a charitable (gemeinnützig) organization. Automatic annual donation receipts are issued.
3. Project funding and grants: SÜDWIND conducts projects funded by government donors such as the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). For example, the Multi-Actor Initiative on Gender Justice in Occupational Safety and Health (with FEMNET, Cividep India, and TURC Indonesia) is BMZ-funded.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

SÜDWIND Institut is a non-profit research and advocacy organization that produces evidence-based studies, factsheets, policy papers, podcasts, and digital tools focused on global supply chain transparency, human rights due diligence, labor rights, and sustainable finance. It conducts primary research with Global South partners, engages in policy advocacy with German and EU legislators, and delivers educational content (newsletter, blog, exhibitions, videos) for public awareness of global economic justice issues.

Product overview

SÜDWIND Institut is a development policy research institute (SÜDWIND e.V. – Institut für Ökonomie und Ökumene) with over 30 years of expertise. Rather than a unified software product, it offers a portfolio of knowledge products including publications (studies, factsheets, policy papers), the SÜDWIND Podcast series, newsletters, photo exhibitions available for loan, annual reports, and digital tools like an Interactive World Map and Textile Incidents Website. The organization also produces campaign materials and guides for various stakeholders. All offerings center on research and advocacy for global economic justice, labor rights, sustainable finance, and fair supply chains.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Publications (Studies, Factsheets, Policy Papers, Dossiers) Academic and policy publications including studies, factsheets, policy papers, dossiers, and handbooks on global justice topics such as supply chain labor rights, sustainable finance, child and forced labor, and human rights. Distributed primarily as free PDF downloads on the SÜDWIND website.
• SÜDWIND Podcast (Wissen schafft Gerechtigkeit) Podcast series covering forced labor, child labor, supply chain legislation, logistics, and global economic justice, featuring SÜDWIND researchers and external experts.
• SÜDWIND Newsletter Email newsletter delivered multiple times per year with current publications, project updates, event announcements, and press releases.
• Photo Exhibitions for Loan Roll-up photo exhibitions (e.g., "Durch Kinderaugen sehen – Gegen Missstände handeln" on child labor in Turkey) available for loan to schools, municipalities, and civil society organizations for a shipping cost contribution (€150) or free pickup in Bonn.
• Annual Reports Annual reports documenting SÜDWIND's activities, finances, and achievements, available as PDF downloads.
• Interactive World Map on Human Rights Risks in Supply Chains Interactive web map documenting human rights risks along transportation routes for products including bananas, cocoa, textiles, and rubber.
• Textile Incidents Website Website co-developed by SÜDWIND documenting diverse labor rights violations in textile factories in Bangladesh and other major production countries, used for risk analysis under UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
• Video Content (Wissenschaf(f)t Gerechtigkeit documentary and explanatory videos) Video productions including the "Wissenschaf(f)t Gerechtigkeit" documentary and explanatory videos on topics such as forced labor and exploitation in global supply chains.
• Campaign Materials and Guides Guides and handbooks for investors, companies, and municipalities on combating forced and child labor, sustainable supply chains, and responsible procurement, including the Peacewashing aufdecken campaign materials.

Quantifiable outcome

• SÜDWIND's research and advocacy contributed to the development of the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (Lieferkettengesetz) and ongoing EU Supply Chain Directive debates.
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, moderate and minor.

• FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020FAO commissioned SÜDWIND to pilot-test the FAO Framework for Ending Child Labour in Agriculture in Côte d'Ivoire, focusing on the cocoa sector. The project ran from September to October 2020 and included stakeholder interviews, proposals for FAO framework implementation, and specific interventions for women's empowerment, food security, and institutional strengthening.
• FEMNET e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFEMNET and SÜDWIND co-organize the Multi-Actor Initiative on Gender Justice in Occupational Safety and Health in the garment and footwear sectors, focusing on India and Indonesia. The initiative includes research, stakeholder dialogues, and the development of practical guidance on gender-responsive OSH approaches. Funded by BMZ.
• Cividep IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCividep India is a project partner in the Multi-Actor Initiative on gender justice in occupational safety and health, focusing on apparel production in India. SÜDWIND and Cividep collaborate on research and advocacy to improve working conditions in Indian textile supply chains.
• Trade Union Rights Centre (TURC) IndonesiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTURC Indonesia is a project partner in the Multi-Actor Initiative on gender justice in occupational safety and health, focusing on footwear manufacturing in Indonesia. Collaboration includes joint research and advocacy for better working conditions.
• Heinrich Böll StiftungmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSÜDWIND collaborates with Heinrich Böll Stiftung on webinars and policy discussions regarding human rights in the financial sector, contributing to shared advocacy goals on sustainable finance regulation in Europe.
• MISEREORmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMISEREOR (the development agency of the Catholic Church in Germany) has collaborated with SÜDWIND on development policy, fair economics, and advocacy for just global economic structures. Dr. Bernd Bornhorst, then Managing Director of MISEREOR, has publicly endorsed SÜDWIND's work.
• VENRO e.V. (Verband Entwicklungspolitik und Humanitäre Hilfe deutscher Nichtregierungsorganisationen)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVENRO is the German NGO association for development policy. SÜDWIND is a member and active participant in VENRO, collaborating on policy advocacy, joint statements, and campaign coordination on issues including supply chain legislation and development finance.
• Fairtrade DeutschlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFairtrade Deutschland recognizes SÜDWIND as an important and critical partner. SÜDWIND's research on supply chains, labor rights, and sustainability informs Fairtrade's advocacy and standards development.
• Germanwatch e.V.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGermanwatch and SÜDWIND share overlapping interests in global justice, climate policy, and supply chain regulation. Klaus Milke, Ehrenvorsitzender of Germanwatch, has publicly acknowledged SÜDWIND's work.
• Kampagne für Saubere Kleidung (Campaign for Clean Clothes)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSÜDWIND is an active member of the German Clean Clothes Campaign (Kampagne für Saubere Kleidung). Together they publish the Just Fashion Manifest with over 230 allies and coordinate advocacy for fair fashion and supply chain legislation.
• Initiative Lieferkettengesetz (German Supply Chain Act Initiative)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSÜDWIND is a member of the Initiative Lieferkettengesetz, a coalition of German civil society organizations advocating for strong supply chain due diligence legislation. SÜDWIND staff contributed to the initiative's position papers and policy proposals on the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive.
• FinanzwendemoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinanzwende (a German organization focused on financial market policy) collaborates with SÜDWIND on research and advocacy regarding sustainable finance and the role of the financial sector in human rights due diligence.
• Oikocredit Westdeutscher Förderkreis e.V.moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerOikocredit (a cooperative providing microfinance and working toward inclusive finance) collaborates with SÜDWIND on research and advocacy related to sustainable finance, impact investment, and development finance.
• Evangelische Bank e.G.moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvangelische Bank collaborates with SÜDWIND on sustainable finance topics, using SÜDWIND's research on ethical investment criteria and human rights due diligence to inform their own sustainability standards.
• BMW GroupmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerBMW Group's Sustainability Supply Chain team engages with SÜDWIND in stakeholder dialogues, the Automotive Sector Dialogue, the Ruggie Round, and the Global Platform for Sustainable Rubber, where SÜDWIND contributes expertise on labor rights and human rights due diligence in supply chains.
• Alfred Ritter GmbH & Co. KGmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlfred Ritter GmbH & Co. KG (chocolate manufacturer) works with SÜDWIND for evaluation of their Cacao-Nica engagement, using SÜDWIND's expertise in sustainable cocoa sourcing and human rights due diligence in the cocoa sector.
• GLS Investment Management GmbHmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerGLS Investment Management commissioned SÜDWIND to produce the study 'Kleines Geld – große Erwartungen. Wirkung von Mikrofinanz als Impact Investment' (2023) and collaborates on sustainable and ethical investment research.
• Global Policy ForummoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Policy Forum collaborates with SÜDWIND on global governance, development finance, and international policy issues, sharing research and advocacy interests on sustainable development and economic justice.
• Sirkhane DarkroomminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSirkhane Darkroom (a Turkish organization) collaborated with SÜDWIND to create the photo exhibition 'Durch Kinderaugen sehen – Gegen Missstände handeln,' featuring photographs taken by working children in Turkey.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• MISEREOR: The German Catholic Church's development agency; a long-established player in development policy and advocacy. Significantly larger and operates more broadly (project funding worldwide, campaigns), but overlapping audience and shared advocacy themes (just economic structures).
• Welthungerhilfe: Large German development and relief NGO with policy advocacy in Bonn. Compared to SÜDWIND it is broader (food security, emergencies) but shares the German development-policy ecosystem, donor pool, and policy-influence channel.
• Brot für die Welt: The German Protestant development and relief service. A larger incumbent in development-policy advocacy and education; overlaps with SÜDWIND on global economic justice, supply-chain rights, and ecumenical engagement.
• Oxfam Deutschland: Large German affiliate of a global confederation focusing on inequality, trade justice, and corporate accountability. Operates at much greater scale and geographic breadth but competes for similar donor and supporter pools and covers overlapping supply-chain and finance themes.
• Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung: German political foundation affiliated with the Greens, conducting policy research and convening on sustainable finance, human rights, and global governance. Listed as a SÜDWIND collaboration partner (joint webinars on financial-sector human rights).
• terres des hommes Deutschland: German children's-rights and development NGO, broader in scope (child protection, education, emergencies) but overlaps with SÜDWIND on child-labor supply-chain work and development policy advocacy.

Direct peers

• Germanwatch e.V. Bonn-based German NGO combining policy analysis and advocacy on global justice, supply chains, and climate. Highly comparable mandate, headquarter location, and target audiences (policymakers, companies, civil society), and listed as a SÜDWIND collaboration partner.
• Global Policy Forum: International research and advocacy organization on global governance, development finance, and corporate accountability. Listed as a SÜDWIND collaboration partner and overlaps on policy research and advocacy targeting UN and EU processes.
• inkota-netzwerk e.V. Berlin-based German development NGO focused on global justice, supply-chain transparency, and labor rights with a similar size and membership-based structure. Comparable thematic overlap (textiles, food, finance) and advocacy-driven operating model.
• SOMO (Stichting Onderzoek Multinationale Ondernemingen): Amsterdam-based independent research organization focused on multinational corporations, supply-chain due diligence, and human-rights research. Closely comparable in mission (corporate accountability research) and output style (publicly-available reports and briefings).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=-gVNOiTkA78
• LinkedInde.linkedin.com/company/s%C3%BCdwind-e-v-%E2%80%93-institut-f%C3%BCr-%C3%B6konomie-und-%C3%B6kumene
• Xx.com/suedwind_ev

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about South Wind