Associazione AMICI per il CENTRAFRICA ODV

What Associazione AMICI per il CENTRAFRICA ODV does

Associazione AMICI per il CENTRAFRICA ODV is an Italian volunteer-based nonprofit organization (Organizzazione di Volontariato) founded in 2001 by Carla Maria Pagani and Pierpaolo Grisetti and headquartered in Limido Comasco, Italy. It implements humanitarian programs in the Central African Republic (CAR) across healthcare, education, and social cohesion, funded primarily by Italian individual donors, the 5x1000 tax designation, and institutional grants from entities such as AICS, CEI, Regione Lombardia, and Fondazione Gruppo Credito Valtellinese. The association operates through on-the-ground project implementation in partnership with local missionary congregations and the CAR Ministry of Health, and is governed by a volunteer board led by President Cristina Ceresoli and Vice Presidents Stefano Robbioni and Pierpaolo Grisetti.

The portfolio of projects is anchored by the Centro Sanitario Mama Carla healthcare center in Bangui, which delivers approximately 3,000 patient visits per month (2023) including 130 HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy and 800 malnourished children under follow-up. Education programs include Scuola Ngouma (354 Pigmei Aka children), Scuola Yalokè (523 students including 35 Peul children, built 2011), the Jean Paul II teacher training institute (40 students/year), the Centro Ottico Anna optical center (since 2018), and a university scholarship program (Progetto Universat) for studies in Cameroon, Senegal, and Ivory Coast. The association also runs the Sostegno a Distanza distance-sponsorship program (€300/year or €25/month) and a solidarity-shopping catalog including bomboniere, rice bags, and vaccine kits. The organization is not a technology company, has no proprietary software product, and does not use AI as a functional component of its operations.

The revenue model is donation-driven and multi-stream: individual donations (online, bank transfer, postal, recurring SDD), the 5x1000 Italian tax designation, distance sponsorship subscriptions, solidarity shopping purchases, charity events (e.g., Villa d'Este annual dinner, Milano Marathon), and project-specific institutional grants. All donations are tax-deductible for Italian taxpayers under D.Lgs 117/17. The go-to-market motion is community-led, relying on a volunteer network, individual donor relationships, and Italian media and PR coverage (including endorsements from public figures such as Paola Minaccioni, Elisabetta Dami, and Giorgia Palmas). The organization reports no parent company, no subsidiaries, no investors, and no publicly disclosed financial figures.

Name

Associazione AMICI per il CENTRAFRICA ODV

Legal name

Associazione Amici per il Centrafrica Carla Maria Pagani ODV

Website

https://amicicentrafrica.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Italian volunteer-run nonprofit ODV founded in 2001 that runs healthcare, education, and social-cohesion projects in the Central African Republic, funded by individual donations, 5x1000, and institutional grants from Italian and EU bodies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Aid Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International & Local Implementing NGOs (HLAJAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Development & Donor-Funded Education Programs (EDADALAB), Maternal, Newborn, Child & Adolescent Health (MNCAH) NGOs (HLAJAKAG), Refugee, Migration & Displacement Support (BPAGABAH), Nutrition & Food Security (Global Health) NGOs (HLAJAKAH), NGO/Nonprofit Education Programs & Service Delivery (EDADALAC), Maternal, Newborn, Child & Adolescent Health (MNCAH) Partnerships (HLAJAOAG)

Keywords

• Humanitarian aid services
• Nonprofit healthcare
• Education programs
• Distance sponsorship programs
• International development charity

Headquarters

HQ city

Limido Comasco

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The association receives donations from individuals through online payments, bank transfers, postal payments, and recurring SDD (direct debit) arrangements. Donations are tax-deductible in Italy.
2. Distance Support (Sostegno a Distanza): Annual distance support program where donors support individual children for €300/year or €25/month, providing school materials, uniforms, and healthcare.
3. Solidarity Shopping: Sale of solidarity gifts including bomboniere (solidarity favors), certificates, rice bags, and vaccine kits at various price points.
4. 5x1000 Donations: Italian taxpayer can designate 5x1000 of their tax return to the association using their fiscal code (95069680130).
5. Institutional Funding: Funding from Italian institutions including AICS (Agenzia Italiana per la Cooperazione allo Sviluppo), CEI (Conferenza Episcopale Italiana), Regione Lombardia, and Fondazione Gruppo Credito Valtellinese.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The association delivers and finances a portfolio of humanitarian programs in the Central African Republic, including a maternity and primary-healthcare centre (Centro Sanitario Mama Carla), an optical clinic (Centro Ottico Anna), primary schools for Aka Pygmy and local children (Scuola Ngouma, Scuola Yalokè), a teacher-training course, a child distance-sponsorship program (Sostegno a Distanza), and university scholarships (Progetto Università). It also runs a solidarity-shop initiative (Shopping Solidale) in Italy, supported by a volunteer-driven headquarters and a small in-country management team.

Product overview

Associazione AMICI per il CENTRAFRICA ODV is a non-profit humanitarian organization founded in 2001 that operates a portfolio of interconnected social programs in the Central African Republic. The core offerings include the Centro Sanitario Mama Carla (healthcare), Scuola Ngouma (education for Pigmei), Scuola Yaloké (social cohesion), and the Centro Ottico Anna (eye care), supported by a teacher training institute (Jean Paul II), university scholarship program, and distance sponsorship services. Solidarity goods and the annual Premio Carla Maria Pagani complete the portfolio. The organization does not offer a technology product platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Centro Sanitario Mama Carla: Healthcare center providing free medical assistance to abandoned or orphaned children and local population in Bangui
• Centro Ottico Anna
• Centro La Joie de Vivre
• Premio Carla Maria Pagani per l'Eccellenza nel Volontariato

Products and services

• Centro Sanitario Mama Carla Maternity, prenatal, and primary-healthcare centre for vulnerable women and children in Centrafrica, named after the founder. Targeted at expectant mothers, newborns, and the surrounding rural population.
• Centro Ottico Anna Eye-care clinic offering vision screening, refraction, and distribution of corrective glasses to children and adults in Centrafrica. Targeted at local populations with limited access to ophthalmic services.
• Scuola Ngouma – Pigmei Aka Primary school for children of the Aka Pygmy community, providing basic literacy, numeracy, and social integration in Centrafrica. Targeted at Aka Pygmy children and their families.
• Scuola Yalokè Primary school serving local children in Centrafrica, complementing the Aka Pygmy-focused Scuola Ngouma with broader community primary education.
• Corso di formazione per Insegnanti Teacher-training program for instructors serving the association's schools in Centrafrica. Targeted at local teachers and school staff to improve instructional quality.
• Progetto Università University-scholarship program for selected Centrafrican students, financed by Italian donors and tied to the broader education strategy of the association.
• Sostegno a Distanza (Distance Sponsorship) Subscription-style child-sponsorship program allowing Italian donors to fund a specific child's schooling, nutrition, and welfare in Centrafrica through recurring contributions.
• Shopping Solidale Solidarity-shop initiative in Italy selling branded charity merchandise (including 5x1000-awareness pens and other gadgets) with proceeds directed to the association's Centrafrica programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20,000+ healthcare visits per year at Centro Sanitario Mama Carla
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Four partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Ospedale Pediatrico di BanguimajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 November 2024Pediatric hospital partnering with association for ambulance transfer of 30 children daily to Centro Sanitario Mama Carla, helping reduce burden on the only pediatric hospital in Bangui.
• Ministry of Health of Central African RepubliccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Official government partner providing recognition and approval for healthcare projects including the new operating room at Centro Ottico Anna. Ensures integration with national health system.
• Congregazione AbizeramariyacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Rwanda-based religious congregation operating the Centro di Accoglienza for street children in Bangui. Sister Agathe was trained at Mama Carla dispensary to open new center in Boyali.
• Saint Paul de ChartrescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Missionary congregation of sisters who first gathered 350 children in makeshift classes in 2008, beginning the association's work in Yaloké. Long-term operational partner.

Scale indicators13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Intersos: Italian humanitarian NGO assisting victims of armed conflict and natural disasters, with significant operations in Central and West Africa. Comparable as an Italian-registered NGO with field programs in fragile states, including Central African Republic.
• Amref Health Africa: Africa's largest health-focused international NGO, with an Italian chapter fundraising through Italian donors for African healthcare programs. Comparable healthcare mission in Africa with Italian tax-advantaged donor support.
• CESVI: Italian humanitarian NGO founded in 1985 in Bergamo, operating in food security, health, and education across multiple African countries. Comparable scale, Italian donor base, and integrated program model.
• CUAMM - Medici con l'Africa: Italian NGO focused on healthcare training and hospital support across several African countries. Directly comparable on healthcare delivery in Africa, partnership model with local health systems, and Italian donor base.
• Fondazione AVSI: Major Italian nonprofit foundation operating international development and education projects across Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. Closely comparable as an Italian ODV delivering integrated education, healthcare, and social programs with Italian institutional funding.
• COOPI - Cooperazione Internazionale: Italian NGO founded in 1965 implementing international cooperation projects in healthcare, education, and WASH across Africa and Latin America. Highly comparable in mission, funding sources, and program design.

Others

• Fondazione Telethon: Large Italian nonprofit foundation with similar tax-advantaged donation infrastructure (5x1000, deductions). Comparable as an Italian nonprofit leveraging Italian tax-incentivized giving and recurring donor models for sustained funding.

Broad incumbents

• Medici Senza Frontiere (MSF Italia): Italian section of Doctors Without Borders providing emergency medical care in conflict and fragile settings. Directly comparable as an Italian-led NGO delivering healthcare to vulnerable populations in fragile African states with institutional funding.
• Save the Children Italia: Italian section of Save the Children, delivering education and health programs for children in fragile states. Comparable target population (vulnerable children), program verticals (education, health), and Italian donor infrastructure.
• Emergency (ONG): Italian NGO (founded by Gino Strada) providing free surgical and medical care in conflict zones including Africa. Comparable as an Italian humanitarian organization delivering healthcare in fragile African states with strong donor and volunteer network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCCoZrLBqazVzGLAqY0akqZw
• Facebookfacebook.com/AmiciCentrafrica
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/associaizone-amici-del-centrafrica
• Instagraminstagram.com/amicicentrafricaonlus

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Associazione AMICI per il CENTRAFRICA ODV