Organizzazione Umanitaria ONG Bambini nel Deserto ONLUS

What Organizzazione Umanitaria ONG Bambini nel Deserto ONLUS does

Bambini nel Deserto ETS (BnD) is an Italian non-profit humanitarian organization founded on 27 June 2000 and headquartered in Modena, Emilia-Romagna. It operates a portfolio of interconnected programmes — Drive4Aid vehicle convoys, BnD Biker Team reconnaissance missions, Sostegni a Distanza child sponsorship, Green Re-Evolution reforestation aligned with the Great Green Wall, Spedizioni humanitarian shipments, and Cinéma du Désert solar-powered mobile cinema — delivered across the Sahel (Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Morocco) and, since 2022, in Ukraine. As of the available data the organization reports roughly 20 staff and a global alliance footprint of offices in Italy, Switzerland, Ukraine and Niger, with 25 years of project history (500+ completed projects cited). Its core technical components are operational rather than software-based: motorised desert-to-conflict logistics, a solar cinema rig, and an internally developed management system called TheTree used to track distance-sponsorship operations.

BnD's business model is donation-driven: it receives general and project-designated contributions from individual donors, corporations and institutions, including subscription-style recurring child-sponsorship commitments, alongside revenue from solidarity-market sales of African artisanal products (wax fabrics, shea butter, argan oil, jewellery). Donations are accepted through website, IBAN bank transfer, PayPal and modern payment gateways (Stripe, TWINT, Apple Pay, Google Pay). Italian donors and corporations benefit from statutory tax deductions (30% for individuals up to €30,000, or up to 10% of declared income; up to 10% for businesses). Funding is supplemented by co-financed grants from AICS (Italian Agency for Development Cooperation), Regione Emilia-Romagna, EU-aligned consortia such as LINK 2007, and UN agency partnerships. The organization publishes a transparency metric stating 82% of EUR/CHF collected is allocated directly to field actions and 18% to management.

Primary beneficiaries are children, women, desert-affected communities, youth at risk of irregular migration and populations in acute humanitarian crises (notably Ukrainian civilian healthcare facilities). Segment mix spans individual mass-market donors in Italy, Switzerland and French-speaking regions, institutional co-financiers, and volunteer expeditioners. The organization holds ONLUS, ETS/RUNTS, AICS and Burkina Faso NGO recognitions and is GDPR-compliant, with cloud infrastructure on Google Cloud and email operations via MailerLite.

Name

Organizzazione Umanitaria ONG Bambini nel Deserto ONLUS

Legal name

Bambini nel Deserto ETS

Website

https://bnd.ngo

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bambini nel Deserto ETS is an Italian humanitarian NGO founded in 2000 in Modena that delivers child sponsorship, water and school construction, reforestation, and emergency aid convoys across the Sahel and Ukraine, funded by individual donations, sponsorships and institutional co-financing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Aid Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGABAH

Refugee, Migration & Displacement Support

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/International Development & Poverty Alleviation

SECONDARYBPADABAI

Climate, Environment & Natural Resource Management Aid Programs

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Bilateral Development Agencies & Aid Programs

SECONDARYHLAJAKAH

Nutrition & Food Security (Global Health) NGOs

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Public Health, Government & Regulators/Global Health & Development Agencies (NGOs/Multilaterals)

SECONDARYHLAJALAO

International & Global Public Health Aid Administration (Government Donors)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Public Health, Government & Regulators/Public Health Funding, Grants & Program Administration

Keywords

• Humanitarian aid services
• International development cooperation
• Child sponsorship programs
• Emergency logistics delivery
• Desert reforestation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Modena

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Primary revenue stream from individual donors, corporations, and institutional supporters making monetary contributions. Donations can be general or designated to specific projects. The organization reports that 82% of EUR/CHF collected goes directly to field actions.
2. Child and Distance Sponsorship Programs: Long-term support relationships where sponsors provide ongoing financial assistance to children and communities, providing food, education, and medical care.
3. Artisanal Product Sales: Sale of African artisanal products including Wax fabrics from Senegal, shea butter from Burkina Faso, Argan oil from Morocco, and jewelry from Niger and Morocco through solidarity markets and events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Bambini nel Desierto is an Italian humanitarian NGO that delivers aid and runs international cooperation projects in the Sahel (primarily Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali) and Ukraine. Its offer to funders spans child sponsorship (Sostegni a Distanza), self-organized humanitarian vehicle and motorcycle expeditions (Drive4Aid, BnD Biker Team), reforestation and water-infrastructure projects under the Green Re-Evolution program, and awareness-raising activities including the solar-powered Cinéma du Désert. Funded through individual donations, tax-deductible contributions, public grants (AICS, Regione Emilia Romagna) and partnership with multilateral agencies (UNHCR, UNICEF, UNDP, IOM, WFP, OCHA), the organization reports directing 82% of funds to field operations.

Product overview

Bambini nel Deserto ETS operates as a humanitarian NGO offering multiple interconnected programs: Green Re-Evolution (environmental regeneration through reforestation), Drive4Aid (humanitarian vehicle expeditions), BnD Biker Team (motorcycle reconnaissance), Sostegni a Distanza (child sponsorship), Spedizioni (humanitarian shipments), and Cinéma du Desert (solar cinema). The organization delivers international cooperation projects including schools, wells, healthcare, and microcredit across Africa and crisis zones like Ukraine, with 82% of donations directly funding field actions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Drive4Aid: Humanitarian aid delivery program using vehicles to bring essential aid, ambulances, and specialized vehicles to communities in emergency situations.
• BnD Biker Team
• Green Re-Evolution
• Sostegni a distanza (Child Sponsorship)
• Cinéma du Désert

Products and services

• Sostegni a Distanza (Child Sponsorship) Recurring donation and correspondence program pairing individual donors with children in BnD's recipient communities, managed through the proprietary TheTree platform. For individual donors and sponsoring families who want a sustained, named relationship with a specific child beneficiary.
• Drive4Aid / Spedizioni (Humanitarian Expeditions) Self-organized humanitarian vehicle convoy logistics program that transports donated aid, ambulances and specialized vehicles directly into recipient Sahelian communities. Used by partners and donors who want to underwrite in-kind delivery to specific communities.
• BnD Biker Team (Motorcycle Expeditions) Motorcycle-based reconnaissance and small-payload delivery unit that has completed missions across the Sahara, North Africa and the Balkans since 2012. Used for reconnaissance ahead of vehicle convoys and for lightweight aid delivery where trucks cannot reach.
• Green Re-Evolution (Reforestation and Water Infrastructure) Reforestation and water-infrastructure program aligned with the UN Great Green Wall initiative, including tree planting, microcredit for women's cooperatives, construction of schools, clinics, and the drilling and equipping of water wells with hand or solar pumps. For institutional funders and individual donors supporting long-term Sahelian development.
• Cinéma du Désert (Solar-Powered Mobile Cinema) Awareness-raising service running a solar-powered mobile cinema unit to bring film screenings to remote Sahelian villages, and Italian solidarity-market events to raise funds and visibility. For Italian and international audiences; supports both field awareness and domestic fundraising.
• Progetti di Cooperazione Internazionale (International Cooperation Projects) Multi-year international cooperation projects covering construction of schools, drilling of water wells, building of health points and microcredit programs for women, typically funded by AICS (Italian Agency for Development Cooperation), Regione Emilia Romagna and partner institutions. For institutional grant providers seeking accredited implementation partners in fragile Sahelian states.

Quantifiable outcome

• 82% of donations go directly to field actions
• +2 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

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AICS (Agenzia Italiana Cooperazione allo Sviluppo)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAICS is the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation. BnD has official recognition from AICS (Recognition No. 2969, Decree 07.04.2016) and implements co-financed projects including the SLUM project for improving quality of life in Ouagadougou neighborhoods, implemented with CISV and Medicus Mundi.
• UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNHCR logo displayed as partner, indicating collaboration on refugee and migration-related humanitarian initiatives.
• UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNICEF logo appears among BnD partners, supporting child-focused humanitarian programs.
• UNDP (United Nations Development Programme)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNDP logo displayed as partner organization.
• IOM (International Organization for Migration)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIOM logo displayed as partner, collaborating on migration management and migrant support initiatives.
• WFP (World Food Programme)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWFP logo displayed as partner organization.
• OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOCHA logo displayed as partner organization for humanitarian coordination.
• CISV (Comunità Italiana Servizio Volontario)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in SLUM project for improving quality of life in Ouagadougou neighborhoods alongside Medicus Mundi, co-financed by AICS.
• Medicus MundicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare-focused NGO partner in SLUM project for Ouagadougou, co-financed by AICS.
• Colibrì Association (Mantova)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in collecting essential medicines and medical/health materials for Ukraine humanitarian missions.
• Sartoria Sociale I fili di Colibrì (Alessandria)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial sewing workshop producing Easter solidarity items from African wax fabrics for TroisE campaign.
• FilodiffusioneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAssociation promoting emerging young artists collaborating with BnD on music and solidarity events including Hard Rock Cafe Milan evenings.
• LINK 2007coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian development organization leading Personal fulfilment as an alternative to migration project (2018-2024) with BnD participation, funded by DGIT of MAECI, in partnership with LVIA, CISP, Le Réseau, and JVE.
• LVIAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment NGO partner in Personal fulfilment as an alternative to migration project covering Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
• CISP (Comitato Internazionale per lo Sviluppo dei Popoli)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment NGO partner in Personal fulfilment as an alternative to migration project.
• Le RéseaucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfrican association partner in migration-development project with Vice President Mehret Tewolde.
• JVE (Jeunes Volontaires pour l'Environnement)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPan-African environmental youth organization, JVE Burkina Faso Representative Olivier Tuina, partner in migration-development project.
• Hard Rock Cafe MilanminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue host for International Women's Day 2025 solidarity event featuring Filodiffusione artists.
• Comune di ModenaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal government partner supporting local events and cultural initiatives.
• Comune di CerveteriminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost municipality for Etruscan Festival of Inclusion and Integration.
• Great Green Wall InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational program for transforming lives in the Sahel through tree planting. BnD participates with reforestation and mangrove planting activities.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• LVIA: Italian NGO (Associazione LVIA) active in Sahel development, with whom BnD co-implements the 'Personal fulfilment as alternative to migration' project. Direct co-implementation partner with overlapping Sahel and migration programs.
• Intersos: Italian humanitarian NGO focused on emergency response and protection of vulnerable populations in conflict zones, including active Ukraine programming since 2022. Strongly comparable on emergency response mission and Ukraine operations.
• Medicus Mundi Italia: Italian health-focused NGO co-implementing the SLUM project in Ouagadougou with BnD under AICS co-financing. Direct consortium partner with overlapping healthcare delivery in Burkina Faso.
• CESVI: Italian humanitarian NGO founded in 1985, headquartered in Bergamo, active in international cooperation, emergency response, and child welfare programs across Africa and crisis zones. Directly comparable in size, mission, and Italian institutional funding model.
• CISV (Comunità Italiana Servizio Volontario): Italian NGO partnering with BnD on the SLUM Ouagadougou project under AICS co-financing. Direct program partner with shared geographic and funding footprint.
• COOPI: Cooperazione Internazionale, one of Italy's largest humanitarian NGOs, with extensive Sahel and Sub-Saharan Africa programs. Highly comparable mission and beneficiary focus, though larger scale, making it a direct peer and sub-contracting counterpart.
• CISP (Comitato Internazionale per lo Sviluppo dei Popoli): Italian development NGO co-partner with BnD in the LINK 2007 migration project, active in Sahel and Horn of Africa. Direct consortium partner with similar AICS co-financed program model.

Broad incumbents

• AMREF Health Africa: Africa-focused health NGO with Italian presence, working on community health, water, and sanitation in the Sahel. Comparable health and water infrastructure mission, but much larger continental footprint.
• ActionAid Italia: Larger Italian chapter of global ActionAid federation, active in Sahel, migration, and women's rights programming. Comparable mission and donor base but materially larger scale and global brand.
• Save the Children Italia: Major Italian affiliate of global child welfare organization, operating child sponsorship, education, and emergency response. Comparable child sponsorship and African field operations but at vastly greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ong-bambini-nel-deserto-onlus

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Organizzazione Umanitaria ONG Bambini nel Deserto ONLUS