Bioforce

What Bioforce does

Bioforce is a French non-profit association (association loi 1901) founded in 1983, recognized by the French state as an organization of general interest (d'intérêt général). It operates as a specialized humanitarian training school, delivering professional certification programs and short courses to individuals pursuing humanitarian careers and to humanitarian organizations seeking to strengthen their staff capabilities. The organization runs two physical training campuses — in Vénissieux (Lyon metropolitan area, France) and Dakar (Senegal) — and serves learners across 19 countries through in-person, distance, and in-field formats, with the latter delivered via its Campus Éphémère model in crisis-affected regions such as Lebanon and Madagascar.

The core product portfolio comprises eight RNCP-registered professional certifications (Levels 5, 6, and 7) covering humanitarian logistics, programme coordination, HR and finance management, operational health/water/environment, and child protection, alongside short competency-based courses (2-40 days), a Validation des Acquis de l'Expérience (VAE) pathway, and customized enterprise training. Underlying technology is the Moodle-based BioMoodle e-learning platform supporting distance learning, complemented by physical simulation facilities (including 4x4 vehicles and radios for logistics training). Bioforce employs a network of 208 trainers with direct humanitarian field experience and reports 3,540 people trained and 582 organizations supported in 2025, with 89% positive evaluations and 100% Bachelor alternation placement.

Bioforce's revenue model blends individual tuition fees (European programs €5,710-€11,540; African programs 650,000-4,208,000 FCFA; distance learning €7,400-€7,700; short courses €450-€4,400), organizational custom training contracts, French apprenticeship tax (Taxe d'Apprentissage) from corporate supporters including bioMérieux, Sanofi-Aventis Groupe, Ricoh France, Transdev Rhone Alpes, and Institut Mérieux, and donations. CPF-eligible status for RNCP certifications broadens individual learner access. Strategic partnerships with Mérieux Foundation, Community Jameel, Croix-Rouge Française PIROI Center, Université Saint-Joseph, Danish Refugee Council, Triangle Génération Humanitaire, and the Principality of Monaco anchor both delivery capacity and a pipeline of institutional clients.

Name

Bioforce

Legal name

Bioforce

Website

https://bioforce.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Education and Training

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee, Crisis & Humanitarian Education Partnerships (EiE) (EDADALAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Risk, Governance & Compliance (incl. PMO) (EDABAHAG)

Keywords

• Humanitarian training programs
• Professional certification courses
• Capacity building services
• E-learning education platform
• Vocational training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Vénissieux

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Training Fees - Certification Programs: Revenue from tuition fees for professional certification programs (Bachelor, Logisticien, Coordinateur de Programme, etc.) with fees varying by location and program duration
2. Training Fees - Short Courses: Revenue from short competency-based training courses ranging from 3 days to 5 weeks
3. Apprenticeship Tax (Taxe d'Apprentissage): Corporate contributions from French companies supporting vocational training programs
4. Donations: Donations from individuals and organizations supporting humanitarian training missions
5. Customized Training for Organizations: Tailored training programs designed for partner humanitarian organizations and their staff
6. VAE (Validation des Acquis de l'Expérience): Fees for validating professional experience toward certifications

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Bioforce is a non-profit humanitarian training organization that delivers professional certifying training programs (3 months to 3 years) and shorter competency-based courses (3 days to 5 weeks) for humanitarian professions including logistics, programme coordination, HR/finance, health/water/environment, and child protection. Training is delivered at its physical campuses in Vénissieux (France) and Dakar (Senegal), through a Moodle-based e-learning platform (BioMoodle), via distance learning, and through customized programs for partner organizations and Campus Éphémère immersive events in crisis regions.

Product overview

Bioforce is a humanitarian training organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of professional certifying programs and short courses. The core offering consists of 'Formations Métiers Certifiantes' - vocational training programs ranging from 3 months to 3 years that prepare individuals for humanitarian professions including logistics, programme coordination, HR/finance, health/water/environment, and child protection. Key programs include the Bachelor Logistique (3-year post-bac), Logisticien, Responsable Logistique, Coordinateur de Programme Humanitaire, Humanitarian Programme Manager (English), Responsable RH et Finances, and specialized certifications. These are complemented by short training courses (3 days to 5 weeks), VAE (prior learning recognition), the BioMoodle e-learning platform, and Campus Éphémère immersive programmes. Training is delivered at physical centers in Europe (Vénissieux, France) and Africa (Dakar, Senegal), via distance learning, and directly in intervention countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bachelor Logistique Humanitaire A 3-year post-baccalaureate bachelor's degree in humanitarian logistics and workplace environment management, combining classroom learning with a 4-month humanitarian internship and 12-month apprenticeship, available outside the Parcoursup system. Designed for individuals entering the humanitarian logistics profession.
• Logisticien de l'Action Humanitaire Professional certification (RNCP Level 5) training logistics officers for humanitarian action, available in 6-month in-person format in Europe or Africa, followed by a 6-month application period. Targets individuals seeking operational logistics roles in the humanitarian sector.
• Coordinateur de Programme Humanitaire Professional certification (RNCP Level 7) training humanitarian programme coordinators. Available in 6-month in-person, 3-month experienced track, or 7-month distance learning format with 15-day in-person gathering. Designed for current or aspiring programme coordinators in NGOs.
• Humanitarian Programme Manager (Online Training) A 350-hour distance learning programme delivered in English for professionals seeking to break into the aid sector or advance into leadership roles, with a flexible part-time format. Targeted at international English-speaking humanitarian professionals.
• Responsable Logistique Professional certification (RNCP Level 6) training logistics managers for humanitarian action, available in 6-month in-person in Africa, 3-month experienced track, and distance learning format (from January 2027). Targets logistics professionals advancing to management roles.
• Responsable RH et Finances Professional certification (RNCP Level 6) training HR and finance managers for humanitarian action, available in 3-month experienced track in Africa, and distance learning format (350 hours over 6 months with 15-day in-person gathering). Targets HR/finance professionals in humanitarian organizations.
• Responsable Opérationnel Santé, Eau et Environnement Professional certification (RNCP Level 6) training operational managers in health, water, and environment sectors for humanitarian action, available in 6-month in-person format in Africa followed by 3-month application period. Targets WASH and public health professionals.
• Responsable de projets Protection de l'enfance en situation d'urgence Bioforce certificate training child protection project managers in emergency situations, combining 3 months distance self-training, 3 months in-person training in Africa, and 3 months application period. Targets child protection specialists in humanitarian contexts.
• Formations Courtes (Short Training Courses) Competency-based short training courses ranging from 3 days to 5 weeks, available in-person in Europe and Africa, or via distance learning. Some are modules of certifying training programs and are CPF-eligible. Targets humanitarian professionals seeking targeted upskilling.
• Validation des Acquis de l'Expérience (VAE) Recognition of prior experience pathway allowing professionals to obtain Bioforce certifications based on documented work experience of at least 1 year in relevant fields. Targets experienced humanitarian practitioners seeking formal certification.
• BioMoodle E-learning Platform Online Moodle-based learning management system used to deliver distance training courses, providing access to course materials, collaborative tools, and virtual classroom functionality. The delivery platform for Bioforce's distance learning programs.
• Campus Éphémère Temporary immersive learning programs conducted in crisis-affected regions, bringing together humanitarian professionals for intensive training weeks. Recent editions include Madagascar (September 2026) and Beirut (2025). Targets humanitarian professionals in crisis zones.
• Formation sur Mesure pour Organisations Customized training solutions designed for humanitarian organizations to strengthen the capacities of their teams and partners, delivered on-site or remotely. Targets international and national NGOs requiring bespoke team training and capacity building.

Quantifiable outcome

• 89% positive evaluations from trained professionals
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Mérieux Foundation and Community JameelcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 April 2026Agreement to explore a regional hub to train 1,300 humanitarian and health professionals across MENA by 2030, announced at One Health Summit
• Croix-Rouge Française Piroi CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership for Campus Éphémère events in the Indian Ocean region, including Madagascar and La Réunion
• Université Saint-JosephmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership for Campus Éphémère Beirut 2025, designed to empower aid professionals facing Lebanon's complex crises
• Triangle Génération HumanitairemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Innovative action for Ukrainian humanitarian capacity building, delivering free training week for 60 staff from international and Ukrainian aid organizations in Dnipro
• Danish Refugee CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Strategic collaboration for strengthening local partner capacities in Burkina Faso
• biomérieuxminorOthersCorporate supporter contributing apprenticeship tax to Bioforce
• Sanofi-Aventis GroupeminorOthersCorporate supporter contributing apprenticeship tax to Bioforce
• Ricoh FranceminorOthersCorporate supporter contributing apprenticeship tax to Bioforce
• Transdev Rhone AlpesminorOthersCorporate supporter contributing apprenticeship tax to Bioforce
• Institut MérieuxminorOthersCorporate supporter contributing apprenticeship tax to Bioforce

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• RedR UK: RedR UK is a humanitarian training charity that trains aid workers for international relief operations — directly comparable to Bioforce's mission, delivery model, and target audience (humanitarian professionals and NGOs), though operating primarily in the English-speaking aid ecosystem.
• Humanitarian Leadership Academy: HLA, supported by Save the Children, delivers open-access and certified humanitarian training globally, including in crisis-affected regions — directly competing for the same learner persona and B2B capacity-building contracts as Bioforce.

Broad incumbents

• UNITAR (United Nations Institute for Training and Research): UNITAR provides training and research services across humanitarian, diplomatic, and development topics as part of the UN system; overlapping with Bioforce's mandate but with a broader portfolio of non-humanitarian training and a different funding/governance structure.
• Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Training Programs: MSF operates internal training institutes (e.g., MSF Academy) for its own staff in medical and humanitarian skills — a major employer of Bioforce graduates that also runs internal capacity-building with overlapping subject matter.

Emerging players

• DisasterReady: DisasterReady is an online learning platform offering free and low-cost humanitarian training courses; it overlaps with Bioforce's BioMoodle short-course segment but is digital-only and lacks RNCP-level certification.

Regional players

• People in Need: People in Need is a Central-European humanitarian and development organization that runs its own capacity-building programs for aid workers in its priority regions; comparable to Bioforce on training content but with a different geographic footprint.
• Université Saint-Joseph Humanitarian Programs: USJ's partner relationship with Bioforce for the Beirut 2025 Campus Éphémère indicates overlapping academic/humanitarian-training capacity in MENA — a regional academic peer with humanitarian specialization.

Others

• ALNAP (Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance): ALNAP is a sector-wide learning network producing evaluations, studies, and learning events for humanitarian practitioners; closely adjacent to Bioforce's training mission and a content/information peer rather than a direct certification competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagrambioforce.org/liens-instagram
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/bioforceorg

Compliance4 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 Bioforce