What Partos does

Partos is a Dutch branch association (vereniging) headquartered at The Hague Humanity Hub, founded in 2004, that represents approximately 115 member organizations active in international development cooperation, poverty alleviation, humanitarian aid, human rights, and sustainable development. It is the sole recognized representative body of the Dutch international development NGO sector vis-à-vis the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, parliament, and international networks such as CONCORD Europe. The organization provides four interlocking service lines: (i) advocacy and policy influence across funding, civic space, policy coherence, and climate justice; (ii) knowledge sharing via the Innovation Hub, Communities of Practice, working groups, publications, and the Knowledge Bank; (iii) quality and integrity assurance through the Partos 9001 standard (an ISO 9001 adaptation for development NGOs that incorporates an integrity clause and pre-employment screening requirement, granting certified organizations an exemption pathway from the Ministry's Organisational Risk and Integrity Assessment); and (iv) intelligence and convening via the weekly Political Monitor database, the Innovation Impulse festival, and cross-sector coalitions such as 'Nederland is geen Eiland'.

The business model is member-funded rather than commercial. Revenue historically derived from two streams — recurring membership contributions on a sliding scale tied to member organization turnover, plus a structural subsidy from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DGIS). The DGIS subsidy was discontinued after 2025, ending the 12-year Leren en Innoveren (Learning & Innovation) programme on December 31, 2025, and triggering an approximately 40% budget reduction and a reorganization from 12 to 7 employees (10 to 6 FTE) effective 2026. Membership contributions are also declining by nearly 100,000 EUR in 2026 as members activate hardship clauses to move to lower tiers in response to Dutch ODA cuts. Partos holds ANBI (Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling) public benefit status and is governed by its member General Assembly under Director Liana Hoornweg. Distribution is exclusively direct-to-member via the member portal, Political Monitor, working groups, events, and shared services, with no commercial product sales or reseller channels.

Name

Partos

Legal name

Vereniging Partos

Website

https://partos.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Partos is the Dutch branch association for international cooperation, representing approximately 115 Dutch development NGOs and providing them with advocacy, quality standards (Partos 9001), an Innovation Hub, political monitoring, and shared services funded by member contributions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Den Haag

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Member contributions: Partos is funded primarily by membership contributions from Dutch development cooperation NGOs. Contributions are based on member organization size/turnover. Many members have been affected by government spending cuts and some use hardship clauses to move to lower contribution tiers. For 2026, this represents nearly 100,000 EUR less than previous years due to declining member revenues.
2. Government subsidy (DGIS/Ministry of Foreign Affairs): Partos historically received a structural subsidy from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DGIS). This subsidy was discontinued after 2025. The Leren en Innoveren (Learning & Innovation) program, running for 12 years, ended December 31, 2025. This represented a major financial loss for Partos.
3. Publications and events: Partos generates some revenue through publications and events, including the annual Innovation Impulse festival. Publications issued by Partos may be freely distributed (as stated in their terms).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Partos is a Dutch membership-based branch association for international cooperation that represents more than 80 Dutch development NGOs. It delivers collective advocacy on policy coherence, sector-wide quality assurance through Partos 9001, innovation support via the Innovation Hub, political intelligence through the Partos Political Monitor, knowledge sharing through Communities of Practice and a Knowledge Bank, and operational services such as shared vacancies and events for its member organizations.

Product overview

Partos is the branch association (branchevereniging) for international cooperation in the Netherlands, representing approximately 115 member organisations active in poverty alleviation, humanitarian aid, human rights, and sustainable development. Rather than a traditional software product company, Partos offers a suite of member services including the Innovation Hub (facilitating collaboration and innovation among development professionals), the Political Monitor (weekly political database and newsletter), Partos 9001 (ISO 9001-based quality management standard), Communities of Practice (peer networks on topics like inclusive communication), and the Learning & Innovation Programme. The organisation also coordinates events including the annual Innovation Impulse festival, provides publications and knowledge resources, and facilitates shared services for members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Partos Innovation Hub: A space where development professionals come together to learn, experiment, collaborate and innovate to maximize impact.

Products and services

• Partos Innovation Hub Innovation Hub for Dutch development NGOs that funds pilots, supports cross-organization innovation projects, and connects members working on innovative approaches in international cooperation.
• Partos Political Monitor Online political intelligence service that tracks Dutch and EU policy developments, legislative changes, and political signals relevant to international development NGOs, delivered through monitor.partos.nl.
• Partos 9001 Proprietary quality management standard for the Dutch international development sector, providing a baseline for accountability, organizational learning, and certification held by virtually all Dutch development NGOs.
• Partos Communities of Practice Peer-learning networks for Partos member organizations that facilitate knowledge exchange, thematic collaboration, and best-practice sharing across the Dutch international development sector.
• Partos Knowledge Bank and Publications Online knowledge repository and publication series (including the annual Partos Jaarboek) that aggregates reports, research, and insights on Dutch and international development cooperation for members and the broader sector.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 80 organizations participated in the 'Nederland is geen Eiland' coalition coordinated by Partos, reaching 13 national media outlets.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Nederland is geen Eiland CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 November 2024Partos is a member of the broad 'Nederland is geen Eiland' (Netherlands is not an island) coalition, which includes FNV, KNVB, Raad van Kerken, Oxfam Novib, and Cordaid. This coalition conducted nationwide campaigns including petitions around Prinsjesdag, opinion pieces, national advertisements, and the 'Rennen voor Rechtvaardigheid' action calling on 10 political parties to reinvest in development cooperation. The coalition won the award for most groundbreaking cooperation at the Nacht van de Lobbyist. It reached 13 national media outlets and achieved political impact.
• CONCORD EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartos is a member of CONCORD Europe, the European NGO confederation for relief and development. CONCORD sent the 'Enabling Environment Toolkit' to members with the slogan #StopAttackingNGOs. Partos participated in CONCORD events in Brussels, discussing NATO and development cooperation.
• ForusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartos is not yet a member of Forus (the global network of national platforms) but is in the process of joining as part of the Nieuwe Coalities (New Coalitions) project. Partos Director Liana Hoornweg attended the Forus General Assembly in Siem Reap, Cambodia in March 2026, representing 73 delegates from 65 countries.
• Peace Direct (Call to Action on Locally Led Development)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartos joined the Call to Action on Locally Led Development initiated by Peace Direct, in advance of new OECD guidelines on locally led development (published May 29). The Call to Action calls on all development partners to integrate OECD guidelines into their policies, programs, and partnerships, covering areas such as co-creation, equitable partnerships, funding quality, due diligence, and local monitoring and evaluation.
• BOND (UK) and the Global Majority manifestominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnder supervision of BOND (UK), a manifesto was published for the 2026 Global Partnerships Conference in London, calling for fundamental transformation of the global development system based on colonial power dynamics. The manifesto calls for at least 25% of funding to go directly to local organizations. Partos supports this Beyond Aid agenda.
• Innovation Impulse 2025 supporting partnersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Innovation Impulse 2025 event featured supporting organizations and workshop providers: StoneX (workshop on local currency payments), Impact House – Grant Thornton (social entrepreneurship), ImpactID (small donor fundraising), and HVFC-International (failing forward fundraising game). Also featured HuCom (Expertise Centre Humanitarian Communication) for the inclusive communications workshop.
• Adviesraad Internationale Vraagstukken (AIV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartos is actively contributing to the AIV advisory project commissioned by Minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma on the future vision of development cooperation toward 2040. The AIV is seeking input on who to speak with, what to read, and what questions to ask. Partos is starting a consultation with members and their southern partners within the Nieuwe Coalities project.
• Woord & DaadminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartos participated in a meeting with Minister Klever at the Woord & Daad shop, along with Wilde Ganzen. The purpose was to present the broad story of development cooperation and the value of involving civil society organizations in Dutch international work.
• FNV (Federatie Nederlandse Vakbeweging)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartos collaborated with trade union FNV to organize a large-scale demonstration for international solidarity. FNV approached Partos to potentially stage a large manifestation, leading to the 'Nederland is geen Eiland' coalition and the award-winning cooperation.
• KNVBcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe KNVB (Royal Dutch Football Association) is a member of the 'Nederland is geen Eiland' coalition coordinated by Partos, demonstrating cross-sector alliance building between sports and development sectors.
• Raad van Kerken (Council of Churches Netherlands)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Raad van Kerken (Council of Churches Netherlands) is a member of the 'Nederland is geen Eiland' coalition coordinated by Partos, representing religious civil society in the alliance.
• Clingendael (Netherlands Institute of International Relations)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartos plans to explore involving Clingendael (Netherlands Institute of International Relations) in its work on new coalitions for international cooperation, particularly at the intersection of defense and development cooperation.
• Expertise Centre Humanitarian Communication (HuCom)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartos has collaborated with HuCom and its community of practice on hope-based and inclusive communications over the past 3 years. HuCom organized the 'Inclusive Communications in 2025 and beyond' workshop at the Innovation Impulse 2025.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• VENRO: German umbrella association of development and humanitarian NGOs. Closest geographic and structural analogue to Partos as a national branch association representing German development NGOs.
• Forus: Global network of national NGO platforms. Peer in the form of Partos's own platform aggregation — Forus aggregates the equivalent national bodies of which Partos is becoming a member.
• Coordination SUD: French national coordination platform for international solidarity NGOs. Direct structural peer performing the same advocacy, training and convening role in France that Partos performs in the Netherlands.
• CONCORD Europe: European confederation of NGOs for relief and development, of which Partos is a member. Highly comparable as a national-platform aggregator for advocacy, policy coherence and member services at the European level.
• BOND (UK): UK membership body for NGOs working in international development. Direct structural peer to Partos — national NGO platform providing advocacy, networking, training and policy influence for member organisations.
• FINGO: Finnish national platform of civil society organisations for global development. Comparable as a national NGO membership association providing advocacy, capacity building and member services in Finland.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PartosNL
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/partos
• Instagraminstagram.com/partosnl
• Facebookfacebook.com/PartosNL

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Partos