Terras Dentro

What Terras Dentro does

Terras Dentro – Associação para o Desenvolvimento Integrado is a Portuguese private non-profit association founded in 1991 in Alcáçovas, Alentejo, dedicated to integrated territorial development across six municipalities of Central Alentejo (Alvito, Cuba, Montemor-o-Novo, Portel, Viana do Alentejo, Vidigueira). It operates as a community-led local development association (GAL Terras Dentro 2020, now PEPAC 23.27 DLBC) implementing the LEADER approach through EU co-funded programmes, while simultaneously delivering social intervention (CLDS 5G, Programa Escolhas), adult qualification and accredited vocational training (Centro Qualifica, DGERT since 1998), environmental awareness campaigns (Embalagem da Sorte, + Ambiente), and international cooperation projects with CPLP countries as a recognized ONGD (since 1999).

The association is legally constituted as a Private Institution of Social Solidarity (IPSS, 2009) and an entity of Public Utility (1997), with additional recognition as an Environmental NGO (ONGA, 2004). Its operating model is event-driven and grant-dependent: projects are acquired through competitive calls (LEADER, PRODER, DLBC, PEPAC, CLDS, Escolhas, Fundo Ambiental) and consortium partnerships with the six member municipalities plus 50+ organizations including AMCAL, ADRAL, CIMAC, Instituto Politécnico de Beja, Universidade de Évora – ICAAM, IFAP, CCDR Alentejo, and various agricultural cooperatives. Service distribution is delivered through six physical offices across the intervention territory plus the consortium implementation model.

Revenue is sourced primarily from EU structural funds (FEADER, FEDER, FSE) and national programme grants, with the DLBC programme alone carrying €5,350,188.85 in multi-year allocations. Supplementary streams include government programme funding (PEPAC, CLDS, Escolhas), membership and association fees, and project-specific grants (LIFE, Erasmus+, NOVO VERDE). Pricing is not applicable as the association does not sell commercial products or services. Headcount is 11-50 employees organized under a General Assembly, Board of Directors (President Alexandra Correia), Fiscal Council, and a local technical team (Equipa Técnica Local).

Name

Terras Dentro

Legal name

Terras Dentro – Associação para o Desenvolvimento Integrado

Website

https://terrasdentro.pt

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Terras Dentro is a Portuguese non-profit development association founded in 1991 that delivers community-led rural development, social intervention, training, and environmental programmes across six municipalities of Alentejo Central, financed primarily by EU and national government grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rural and Community Development Services

NAICS

Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (925120), Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (92512), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ecosystem Services & Natural Capital Programs (Water, Biodiversity Credits, PES) (IMAMAJAK), Donor Coordination, Monitoring & Evaluation (MEL) Programs (BPADABAN), Regenerative Agriculture & Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) (EUABABAE)

Keywords

• Rural development programs
• Community development services
• Social intervention programs
• Adult education training
• Environmental awareness campaigns

Headquarters

HQ city

Alcáçovas

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. EU Structural Funds: Primary revenue from EU funding programs including FEADER (European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development), FEDER (European Regional Development Fund), and FSE (European Social Fund). The DLBC program alone has allocations of 2,180,173.85 EUR (FEADER), 2,109,709.00 EUR (FEDER), and 1,060,306.00 EUR (FSE).
2. Government Program Funding: Funding from national programs including PEPAC (Programa Estratégico da Política Agrícola Comum), CLDS (Contratos Locais de Desenvolvimento Social), Programa Escolhas, and various social intervention programs.
3. Membership and Association Fees: Revenue from membership fees as a non-profit association with legal status under Portuguese law.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Terras Dentro is a private non-profit association that implements community-led local development programs across six municipalities in Portugal's Alentejo Central region. Its core offerings are funded program lines — DLBC/LEADER rural development grants, PEPAC rural development grants, CLDS social intervention contracts, accredited adult education and RVCC certification through Centro Qualifica, environmental awareness campaigns (Embalagem da Sorte), and international cooperation projects with CPLP countries. Revenue is sourced primarily through competitive EU structural funds (FEADER, FEDER, FSE) and national government grants, with delivery executed through consortium arrangements with local municipalities and partner organizations.

Product overview

Terras Dentro is a non-profit association (founded 1991) offering community development programs and social services rather than a technology product. Its portfolio centers on five interconnected program areas: (1) LEADER/DLBC rural development programs implementing community-led local development strategies through EU co-funded initiatives; (2) CLDS social intervention contracts providing employment support, poverty reduction, and community capacity building; (3) Education and training services through an accredited training entity and Centro Qualifica for adult certification; (4) Environmental programs including awareness campaigns and sustainable development projects; and (5) International cooperation projects with CPLP countries. Key program names include DLBC GAL Terras Dentro 2020, PEPAC 23.27, CLDS 5G, Centro Qualifica, SAL project, and Embalagem da Sorte campaign. The association also produces publications and pedagogical materials as knowledge products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DLBC – Desenvolvimento Local de Base Comunitária Community-led local development program implementing the LEADER approach across six municipalities (Alvito, Cuba, Portel, Montemor-o-Novo, Viana do Alentejo, Vidigueira), supporting SMEs, rural development, and local economic diversification through grant allocation.
• PEPAC 23.27 | DLBC Rural development program under Portugal's Common Agricultural Policy 2023-2027 implementing the GAL Terras Dentro Local Development Strategy through the Community-Based Local Development approach, offering grants for agricultural investments, bioeconomy, and circular economy projects.
• CLDS 5G – Contratos Locais de Desenvolvimento Social Local Social Development Contracts (5th generation) providing integrated social intervention across multiple municipalities, including employment support, poverty reduction, childhood guarantee, and community capacity building for vulnerable populations.
• Centro Qualifica Adult qualification center providing recognition, validation and certification of competencies (RVCC) services for adults, offering educational and professional certification pathways across Alentejo Central and selected Baixo Alentejo municipalities.
• Education and Training Programs Professional training and adult education services covering diverse areas including business management, hospitality, agriculture, traditional crafts, digital skills, and pedagogical training, delivered since 1998 as a DGERT-accredited training entity.
• Environmental Programs Environmental projects including environmental education, nature protection, waste management awareness campaigns, and sustainable development initiatives, implemented under LIFE program, Fundo Ambiental, and related mechanisms.
• Cooperation for Development International development cooperation projects with CPLP countries including training missions, local product promotion, tourism development, and youth empowerment initiatives, conducted as a recognized ONGD since 1999.
• Social Intervention Services Social inclusion programs targeting vulnerable populations including youth empowerment projects (Programa Escolhas), Roma community integration, family support, and local volunteer bank initiatives, delivered as an IPSS.

Quantifiable outcome

• 35 years of continuous operation serving regional development needs
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• AMCAL - Associação de Municípios do Alentejo CentralcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the 'Embalagem da Sorte' environmental awareness campaign promoting selective packaging collection. AMCAL coordinates the initiative with financing from NOVO VERDE, involving municipalities of Alvito, Cuba, Portel, Viana do Alentejo and Vidigueira.
• ADEGA Cooperativa de Vidigueira, Cuba e Alvito C.R.L.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural cooperative partner in the GAL Terras Dentro 2020 partnership, contributing to rural development initiatives and local product promotion.
• ADRAL - Agência de Desenvolvimento Regional do Alentejo, S.A.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional development agency partner supporting Alentejo territorial development through the GAL Terras Dentro partnership network.
• CIMAC - Comunidade Intermunicipal do Alentejo CentralcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntermunicipal community partner in the GAL Terras Dentro 2020 consortium, representing 6 municipalities in Central Alentejo.
• Instituto Politécnico de BejasecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigher education institution partner contributing to knowledge transfer and capacity building in the GAL Terras Dentro partnership.
• Universidade de Évora - ICAAMsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural and environmental sciences institute partner providing technical expertise for rural development projects.
• ACVER - Associação Internacional para a Cooperação e Desenvolvimento de Comunidades Rurais (Cabo Verde)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational cooperation partner for PEPRA project in São Nicolau, Cabo Verde focused on poverty reduction programs.
• Associação IN LOCO (Portugal)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead partner in PROMOÇÃO DOS PRODUTOS LOCAIS cooperation project with São Tomé and Príncipe.
• Associação Agro-Hortelã - Cabo VerdesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural association partner in NOS TERRA II project for tourism development in São Miguel, Santiago, Cabo Verde.
• Know and Can Association (Bulgária)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean partner in HANDS 4 FUTURE youth project, contributing to cross-cultural youth empowerment initiatives.
• Associação Projeto Roda Viva (Brasil)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrazilian partner in HANDS 4 FUTURE international youth cooperation project.
• ROÇAMUNDO - Associação para a Cultura e Desenvolvimento (São Tomé e Príncipe)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural and development association partner in HANDS 4 FUTURE youth empowerment project.
• Municípios de Alvito, Cuba, Montemor-o-Novo, Portel, Viana do Alentejo, VidigueiracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSix municipalities form the core intervention territory for GAL Terras Dentro, providing political commitment and co-funding for regional development projects.
• CCDR Alentejo - Comissão de Coordenação e Desenvolvimento Regional do AlentejocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional coordination commission for EU fund management and regional development policy implementation in Alentejo.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• IN LOCO - Associação para a Cooperação e Desenvolvimento Local: Portuguese Local Action Group and ONGD operating in the Algarve region implementing LEADER/DLBC programs, social intervention, and development cooperation. Most direct peer as both an LEADER LAG and an active cooperation partner of Terras Dentro.
• ADL - Associação de Desenvolvimento do Litoral Alentejano: Portuguese LAG implementing LEADER/DLBC on the Alentejo Litoral, adjacent to Terras Dentro's territory, with the same business model (EU-funded community development grants, consortium governance, social and rural programming).
• ADER-AL - Associação para o Desenvolvimento Rural do Norte Alentejano: Northern Alentejo LAG running DLBC, LEADER approach and rural development grants, with analogous municipal partnership governance and EU funding mechanics to Terras Dentro.
• LEADEROESTE - Associação para o Desenvolvimento Rural da Região Oeste: Western region LAG implementing community-led local development under PEPAC 23.27 with similar GAL partnership structure; directly comparable in terms of EU fund management and territorial development mandate.
• MONTE - Desenvolvimento Alentejo Central, ACE: Alentejo Central development consortium active in the same region as Terras Dentro, working on EU-funded rural and social programs with similar municipal and cooperative partners.
• ADREPES - Associação para o Desenvolvimento Rural da Península de Setúbal: Setúbal peninsula LAG with PEPAC/DLBC programming, multi-municipal governance, and rural/social development focus mirroring Terras Dentro's model.

Broad incumbents

• Minha Terra - Federação Portuguesa de Associações de Desenvolvimento Local: National federation representing Portuguese LAGs/GALs. Provides Terras Dentro with sector-wide advocacy, training, and representation; broader umbrella organization rather than a competing implementer.
• Euromontana: European multi-country association promoting integrated territorial development in mountainous and rural areas; relevant thematic peer given Terras Dentro's rural territorial mandate and EU policy engagement.
• ELARD - European LEADER Association for Rural Development: European network of LEADER LAGs providing policy advocacy and knowledge exchange across EU member states; thematic peer for Terras Dentro given shared LEADER methodology.

Others

• CONFAGRI - Confederação Nacional das Cooperativas Agrícolas e do Crédito Agrícola: Portuguese confederation of agricultural cooperatives; ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor, but a key partner type for LAGs (Terras Dentro's ADEGA cooperative partner is a CONFAGRI affiliate).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@terrasdentro3422
• Facebookfacebook.com/terrasdentro.pt
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/terras-dentro

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Terras Dentro