Fundación Cinde

What Fundación Cinde does

Fundación CINDE (Centro Internacional de Educación y Desarrollo Humano) is a Colombian non-profit foundation founded in 1975 in Manizales, operating across Manizales, Sabaneta, Medellín, and now Bogotá with 71 employees. It is a research-and-education institution focused on childhood, youth, education, and human development, delivering three accredited graduate programs (Maestría en Desarrollo Educativo y Social — 40+ years, Maestría en Educación y Desarrollo Humano — 25 years, Doctorado en Ciencias Sociales, Niñez y Juventud — 23+ years) through alliances with Universidad de Manizales, Universidad Católica Luis Amigó, and Universidad de Santander, and operating the Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Niñez y Juventud (CEANJ) as a co-joint research center. It also runs territorial intervention programs — STEAM+ (Sabaneta, 8 schools), Convidarte para la Paz (since 2009, rural Manizales), Biofábricas (Caldas), Cuenta con Efigas (Coffee Axis, 130 fellows/year, since 2015), and Paternar (responsible fatherhood with ICBF) — and publishes the Scopus/Capes A2-indexed Revista Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales, Niñez y Juventud.

Core technology comprises the ÉKORA digital learning platform for scalable teacher training, a Q10 Académico virtual classroom, an open-access institutional repository, the Observatorio de Infancias y Juventudes, and proprietary methodologies including Convidarte para la Paz (peacebuilding through ludic-pedagogical strategies) and STEAM+ pedagogy. Research methodology is biographic-narrative and participatory action research; no proprietary AI/ML capabilities are disclosed.

The revenue model is diversified across four streams: (1) recurring tuition from accredited graduate degree programs (subscription-style, multi-year cohorts); (2) project-based government contracts with municipal and departmental education authorities (Alcaldía de Sabaneta, Secretaría de Educación de Zipaquirá, ICBF) for educational transformation programs; (3) international development cooperation grants from GIZ, CLACSO, UNESCO, and Fondation Botnar for research and intervention projects; and (4) continuous education fees through ÉKORA. The foundation is governed by a board, led by Director General Sara Victoria Alvarado Salgado and Director Ejecutivo Salim Chalela Naffat, with no parent company and no public revenue disclosure.

Name

Fundación Cinde

Legal name

Fundación Centro Internacional de Educación y Desarrollo Humano

Website

https://cinde.org.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Fundación CINDE is a Colombian non-profit foundation (est. 1975) that delivers accredited graduate programs in education and social sciences, runs territorial education and childhood-development programs (STEAM+, Convidarte para la Paz, Paternar, Cuenta con Efigas), and produces indexed research across a 15+ country Latin American network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education and Research Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Professionals (Teacher/Administrator CE, CPD) (EDAAALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Development & Donor-Funded Education Programs (EDADALAB), Education, Skills & Workforce Development Aid Programs (BPADABAE)

Keywords

• Education research services
• Graduate degree programs
• Teacher professional development
• Human development research
• Educational consulting services

Headquarters

HQ city

Sabaneta

HQ country

Colombia

HQ region

Latin America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Graduate Degree Programs (Maestrías and Doctorados): CINDE generates revenue through tuition fees from its master's and doctoral programs offered in alliance with Universidad de Manizales, Universidad Católica Luis Amigó, and Universidad de Santander. Programs include the Maestría en Desarrollo Educativo y Social (40+ years), Maestría en Educación y Desarrollo Humano (25 years), and Doctorado en Ciencias Sociales, Niñez y Juventud (23+ years). Programs are accredited in High Quality by the Ministry of Education.
2. Government-Funded Educational Projects: CINDE receives project-based funding from municipal and departmental governments in Colombia for educational transformation programs, such as the STEAM+ program with the Alcaldía de Sabaneta, and teacher training with the Secretaría de Educación de Zipaquirá.
3. International Development Cooperation Grants: CINDE receives funding from international organizations and development agencies including GIZ (German Cooperation), CLACSO, UNESCO, Fondation Botnar, and other foundations for specific research and social development projects.
4. Continuous Education and Training Programs: CINDE offers continuing education programs, workshops, and professional development courses through its ÉKORA digital platform, generating revenue from individual and institutional participants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Fundación Cinde is a non-profit research and educational foundation that delivers graduate degree programs (master's and doctoral) in education and human development through alliances with Colombian universities; implements contracted educational transformation programs for municipal governments (STEAM+, teacher training); operates the ÉKORA digital learning platform for continuous teacher formation; and produces peer-reviewed academic research on childhood, youth, and social development through its Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Niñez y Juventud (CEANJ). It also delivers named social programs including Convidarte para la Paz (peacebuilding), Biofábricas (bioeconomy education), Cuenta con Efigas (reading/writing/orality promotion), and Paternar (responsible fatherhood).

Product overview

Fundación CINDE (Centro Internacional de Educación y Desarrollo Humano) is a research and educational foundation that does not offer a single commercial product but rather a portfolio of educational programs, academic degrees, research initiatives, and digital platforms. Its core offerings include doctoral and master's degree programs (in alliance with Universidad de Manizales) such as the Maestría en Educación y Desarrollo Humano (25 years), Maestría en Desarrollo Educativo y Social (40+ years), and the Doctorado en Ciencias Sociales, Niñez y Juventud (23+ years); the digital school platform ÉKORA for continuous teacher formation; the STEAM+ educational methodology program for K-12 schools; the Convidarte para la Paz peacebuilding program (active since 2009); the Biofábricas bioeconomy and environmental education program; the Cuenta con Efigas reading/writing/orality animation program; and the Paternar responsible fatherhood program. CINDE also operates the Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Niñez y Juventud (CEANJ), the Red de Educación y Desarrollo Humano (REDH) teacher network, the RedINJU international postgraduate school, the Latin American Journal of Sciences/Childhood/Youth, a digital observatory, and a virtual classroom on the Q10 Academico platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Maestría en Educación y Desarrollo Humano Master's degree program in Education and Human Development offered jointly by Universidad de Manizales and CINDE, with 25 years of trajectory. It holds High Quality accreditation renewed by Colombia's Ministry of Education and targets educators and education professionals seeking advanced graduate training.
• Maestría en Desarrollo Educativo y Social Master's degree program in Educational and Social Development with over 40 years of trajectory, accredited in High Quality by the Colombian Ministry of National Education. It targets professionals in education, social development, and related fields.
• Doctorado en Ciencias Sociales, Niñez y Juventud Doctoral program in Social Sciences, Childhood and Youth offered jointly by Universidad de Manizales and CINDE, with over 23 years of execution. It includes high-level research groups recognized by Minciencias in the highest categories and is delivered in hybrid (online and in-person) modalities, expanding to Bogotá in 2026.
• ÉKORA Digital School Platform Proprietary digital education platform of Fundación CINDE used to deliver continuous formation programs to teachers and educators across Colombia, including the flexible learning model for early childhood development training. Used for the Zipaquirá teacher training program (150 teachers since October 2024).
• STEAM+ Program STEAM+ is an interdisciplinary educational approach integrating Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics with a human and social perspective, implemented in partnership with the Secretaría de Educación y Cultura de Sabaneta to transform pedagogical practices across all 8 official educational institutions in the municipality, reaching approximately 50 teachers and hundreds of students.
• Convidarte para la Paz Peacebuilding educational program for early childhood and their relational agents, using participatory and creative artistic and ludic-pedagogical methodologies to promote non-violent care practices and human development in rural and conflict-affected contexts. Active since 2009 with 21 children participating at I.E. Alfonso Hoyos Ocampo in rural Manizales.
• Biofábricas Program Bioeconomy and environmental education program aimed at strengthening competitiveness in Caldas through biodiversity and biotechnological innovation, implemented in rural schools with participatory governance. Includes community composter and school garden projects at institutions such as I.E. Naranjal in Chinchiná, Caldas.
• Cuenta con Efigas Sociocultural animation program for oral, reading, and writing promotion (oralidad, lectura y escritura) in the Eje Cafetero region, co-managed with Grupo Efigas for 10 years. Works with LEO (Lectura, Escritura, Oralidad) animators, scholars, librarians, and cultural managers; trained 130 fellows in the 2025 cycle.
• Paternar Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 8-year renewal of High Quality accreditation for the Master's in Education and Human Development by Colombia's Ministry of Education (2026)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

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

• CLACSO (Consejo Latinoamericano de Ciencias Sociales)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023CINDE coordinates the RedINJU network within CLACSO's framework. This partnership enables the Escuela Internacional de Posgrados, international research collaborations (including CLACSO-ONU Mujeres research grants), and broader institutional credibility across Latin American academia.
• Universidad Católica Luis AmigócoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020CINDE became a new strategic ally for the Doctorate in Education at Universidad Católica Luis Amigó, which renewed its registration and expanded its national reach in 2026. The university also served as host of the XIII Escuela Internacional de Posgrados (RedINJU) in Medellín in April 2026.
• Universidad de ManizalescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1990The most important and longstanding partnership for CINDE is the Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Niñez y Juventud (CEANJ), a joint initiative for advanced research and graduate education in childhood, youth, and social sciences. This alliance has produced the Doctoral Program in Social Sciences, Childhood and Youth (23+ years), two accredited Master's programs (MEDH with 25 years, MDEyS with 40+ years), and the indexed academic journal Revista Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales, Niñez y Juventud (Scopus/Capes A2).
• RedINJU (Red Iberoamericana de Posgrados en Infancias y Juventud)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRedINJU is an international academic network coordinated by CINDE/CEANJ since its founding approximately 15 years ago. The network connects postgraduate programs and research centers on childhood and youth across 15+ Latin American countries, hosting annual schools and producing shared research agendas.
• Secretaría de Educación y Cultura de SabanetacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Alcaldía de Sabaneta and CINDE co-implement the STEAM+ program since 2023, transforming pedagogical practices across all 8 official educational institutions in the municipality. The program includes teacher training, inter-generational encounters, leadership strengthening, and STEAM+ Boot Camps. Phase 2 ran May–December 2025. Contact (+57) 3009201113.
• Secretaría de Educación de ZipaquirámajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCINDE partnered with the Secretaría de Educación de Zipaquirá (Cundinamarca) in October 2024 to deliver continuous teacher training to 150 preschool and primary school teachers, delivered through the ÉKORA digital platform.
• Equimundo (Centro de Masculinidades y Justicia Social)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEquimundo coordinates the Paternar program together with CINDE, promoting responsible and non-violent fatherhood and care for early childhood. CINDE provides methodological support and territorial implementation, reaching fathers and families across Colombia through hybrid (digital and in-person) modalities.
• The Digging Deep ProjectmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the mental health empowerment project for adolescents and youth (with CIEN+ and Fondation Botnar), contributing the Shadow's Edge video game platform based on narrative therapy for youth mental health.
• CIEN+ (Centro de Investigación y Estudios para el Niño, la Niña y la Familia)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner in the adolescent and youth mental health project (with The Digging Deep Project and Fondation Botnar), contributing to youth empowerment and mental health management.
• Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar (ICBF)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerICBF staff were trained by CINDE and Equimundo on the Paternar program for responsible fatherhood, including a fully digital version for 10 weeks via WhatsApp targeting fathers across all localities of Bogotá.
• Efigas (Grupo Efigas)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCINDE has co-managed the 'Cuenta con Efigas' sociocultural animation program for reading, writing, and orality in the Coffee Axis (Eje Cafetero) for 10 years. The program trained 130 fellows in 2025 and operates with regional educational and cultural institutions.
• Fundación Bien HumanomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCINDE partnered with Fundación Bien Humano on the research project 'Monarcas en vuelo, vidas en tránsito' on the care work of Colombian migrant women, funded by GIZ. CINDE contributed research capacity and territorial networks for the biographic-narrative study of 30 women.
• United Way ColombiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCINDE participates in the Mesa Primero la Infancia in Manizales alongside United Way Colombia, among other institutional allies, to mobilize early childhood on the public agenda.
• Fundación LukerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Mesa Primero la Infancia (Manizales) and educational initiatives in the Coffee Axis region, contributing to early childhood development efforts.
• Universidad de SantandermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCINDE offers the Master's in Early Childhood Education: Education and Development in alliance with Universidad de Santander, expanding its academic reach in northeastern Colombia.
• NiñezYAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCINDE organized the public conversation 'Incidir para transformar: voces que ponen a la niñez en el centro' in alliance with NiñezYA and Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, with the participation of UNESCO expert Carmen Dionne.
• UNESCO / Carmen Dionne (Cátedra UNESCO en Primera Infancia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCINDE hosted Carmen Dionne, Ph.D., holder of the UNESCO Chair in Early Childhood and Inclusive Early Intervention, for a territorial and academic agenda in Manizales and Medellín (March 2026), exploring cooperation in science diplomacy and international research collaboration.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• FLACSO (Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales): FLACSO is a Latin American inter-governmental system dedicated to graduate social-science research and postgraduate teaching across the region. It is directly comparable to CINDE in mission, regional scope, and graduate-program delivery model.
• Fundación Carolina: Spanish-based foundation promoting education, research, and academic exchange between Spain and Latin America. Comparable to CINDE in being a non-profit foundation that supports graduate training and applied research in the Ibero-American space.
• Equimundo (formerly Promundo): Global research and advocacy organization focused on gender equality, masculinities, and fatherhood. CINDE is its Colombian implementation partner on the Paternar program; comparable in thematic focus, applied research methodology, and hybrid digital/in-person delivery.
• CLACSO (Consejo Latinoamericano de Ciencias Sociales): CLACSO is the largest academic network of social-science institutions in Latin America and the framework within which CINDE coordinates RedINJU. Comparable in coordinating role, regional academic convening power, and grant-administration model.
• OEI (Organización de Estados Iberoamericanos): Ibero-American inter-governmental organization for education, science, and culture. Comparable to CINDE in coordinating regional education initiatives, teacher training, and educational research networks across Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries.
• Fundación Santillana: Ibero-American education foundation promoting literacy, teacher development, and educational innovation. Comparable to CINDE as a non-profit foundation combining educational research, teacher training, and cultural programs across Latin America.

Broad incumbents

• CINVESTAV (Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados del IPN): Mexican public research center offering graduate programs across science and social sciences. Comparable in combining accredited graduate education with high-category research groups; broader in disciplinary scope and significantly larger in scale.
• UNESCO IESALC (International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean): UNESCO-affiliated institute for higher education across Latin America. Operates as a broader incumbent in the same academic-policy space, providing research, convening, and policy advisory functions that overlap with CINDE's CEANJ and RedINJU activities.
• UNICEF Latin America and the Caribbean: UN agency addressing childhood and youth across the region. Directly comparable in thematic focus on children and youth policy and programming; broader in mandate and funding scale, but a potential partner or competitor for the same donor pool.

Others

• Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) — Education Division: Multilateral lender financing education projects across Latin America. Comparable as a potential commissioning counterparty for large-scale municipal education programs of the type CINDE delivers; functions as funding ecosystem rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/fundacioncinde
• YouTubeyoutube.com/fundcinde
• Facebookfacebook.com/cindecolombia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fundaci%C3%B3n-cinde
• Instagraminstagram.com/fundacioncinde

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Fundación Cinde