Descosur

What Descosur does

Descosur (Centro de Estudios y Promoción del Desarrollo del Sur) is a Peruvian non-governmental development organization headquartered in Arequipa that has operated in Peru's southern macro-region since 1985 and was formally incorporated as a separate legal entity in 2016 following the restructuring of parent organization DESCO. The organization implements rural development, environmental management, and governance projects across four departments (Arequipa, Puno, Ayacucho, and Moquegua), serving approximately 5,515 small rural producer families in 2024 across 11 provinces and 23 districts, plus marginal urban populations in Arequipa. Descosur holds the official Partial Administration Contract for the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve (RNSAB), managing 366,936 hectares of protected high-Andean ecosystem in coordination with SERNANP since 2006, with the contract extended to 2026.

The organization's portfolio spans project implementation (agricultural innovation, livestock improvement, water security, climate adaptation), two physical production centers (CECIC for peasant training/research and CEDAT for alpaca genetic improvement), competency certification services accredited by SINEACE since 2013, consulting services for NGOs and companies, specialized internships, and newer initiatives including the Hilos de Altura artisan textile network and the MAEZAM water-ecosystem monitoring training program. Distribution is direct to communities and institutional partners through four Territorial Operating Units, with no commercial product channel.

Descosur's revenue model is grant-based: funding flows from international cooperation agencies (Brot für die Welt, Pan Para el Mundo, AECID, emp'ACT, Ayuda en Acción, CC.OO, Paz y Solidaridad de Navarra), corporate CSR programs from mining and industrial companies (Minsur, Aurubis, Coca-Cola Peru, Loro Piana, Inkaber), and the MERESE Hídrico ecosystem services payment mechanism channeled through SEDAPAR and PROFONANPE. There is no commercial product revenue, no public pricing, and the organization does not pursue traditional B2B/B2C go-to-market motions — instead it operates through donor-funded project cycles, long-term institutional partnerships, and direct community engagement.

Name

Descosur

Legal name

Centro de Estudios y Promoción del Desarrollo del Sur

Website

https://descosur.org.pe

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Descosur is an Arequipa-based Peruvian NGO founded in 1985 that implements rural development, climate adaptation, and environmental management projects across southern Peru for small rural producer families, peasant communities, and marginal urban populations, while administering the 366,936-hectare Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve under contract with SERNANP.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rural Development Services

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (924120), Support Activities for Crop Production (11511), Support Activities for Forestry (1153)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Forestry (800)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAGAI

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Environmental & Conservation Organizations

SECONDARYAFAMAMAF

Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) Program Development & Administration

Agriculture & Food Production/Forestry & Logging/Forest Ecosystem Services

SECONDARYBPADALAG

Sustainable Agriculture, Food Systems & Land Management

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Climate, Environment & Sustainable Development Programs

SECONDARYBPAGALAL

Fair Trade & Ethical Supply Chains (Certification, Traceability, Producer Support)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Enterprises & Impact Organizations

SECONDARYEUAHAAAH

Stakeholder Engagement, Indigenous/Tribal Consultation & Social Impact (SIA)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Environmental Compliance, Monitoring & Consulting/Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) & Permitting

Keywords

• Rural development services
• Sustainable agriculture programs
• Natural resource conservation
• Community development projects
• Agricultural training centers

Headquarters

HQ city

Arequipa

HQ country

Peru

HQ region

Latin America

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. International Cooperation & Development Project Funding: Descosur's primary revenue model is grant-based funding from international cooperation organizations, bilateral donors, and private companies via corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects. Revenue is generated through the execution of time-bound development projects with defined budgets, timelines, and deliverables. No commercial product or service revenue is described.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Descosur implements sustainable development projects in Peru's southern macro-region, working directly with small rural producer families, peasant communities, marginal urban populations, and rural women to improve livelihoods, strengthen governance, and conserve high-Andean ecosystems. The organization delivers a portfolio of services including SINEACE-accredited competency certification, consulting and project design for development institutions, specialized field internships, training through its CECIC and CEDAT production centers, and an educational portal on climate action. It also holds the official Partial Administration Contract for the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve (366,936 hectares).

Product overview

Descosur is a non-governmental development organization that offers a portfolio of services and programs rather than a unified software product. The main offerings include: competency certification accredited by Sineace; consulting services for development projects; specialized internships on successful field work alternatives; two production centers (CECIC for agricultural training and research, and CEDAT for alpaca breeding and genetic improvement); and an educational portal for climate action. Additionally, Descosur manages various development projects including PROANDINO III for Andean ecosystem management, the Women of Water initiative, and the Hilos de Altura artisan textile network. The organization also manages the Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve through an administration contract with the Peruvian State.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CECIC – Centro de Capacitación e Investigación Campesina (Peasant Training and Research Center) Production center for experimentation, training, and technology transfer in the Colca Valley. Activities include training, promotion and sale of forest seedlings, nurseries, seeds and small animal breeding stock, internships, module-based training, infrastructure rental, and agro and ecotourism activities through guided visits. Targets rural producers and organizations.
• CEDAT – Centro de Desarrollo Alpaquero de Toccra (Alpaca Development Center of Toccra) Breeding and production center for South American camelids established in 1996, located at 4,400 meters above sea level in Tocra annex, Yanque district, Caylloma province. Activities include training for peasant leaders, sale of certified animals, module-based training, and practical development. Targets alpaca producers and development projects.
• Certificación de Competencias (Competency Certification) Competency certification service accredited by SINEACE since 2013. One of twenty certifying institutions accredited in Peru. Provides formal competency assessment for rural professionals. Currently in suspension until further notice.
• Consultorías (Consulting Services) Consulting services including research, diagnostics, work systematizations, communicational product development, and training. Designs social responsibility project alternatives for companies, NGOs, and public institutions for rural and urban development. Targets government institutions, NGOs, and private companies.
• Pasantías Especializadas (Specialized Internships) Specialized internship services on successful work alternatives in the field, including genetic improvement of camelids and natural resource management. Attended by producer groups, university students, and national and international researchers.
• Programa de Especialización MAEZAM (Specialization Program on Water and High Mountain Ecosystem Monitoring) Specialized training program in monitoring water and ecosystems in high mountain zones. Combines virtual and in-person sessions, applied activities, spatial information tools, ecohydrological monitoring, and field trips to the Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve. Semi-presencial format with 72 academic hours. Targets professionals, graduates, researchers, specialists and technicians linked to water resources and high mountain ecosystem management.
• Portal de recursos educativos para la acción climática (Educational Portal for Climate Action) Digital learning platform offering educational content created for teachers to integrate climate action into pedagogical practices. Contains resources in three sections: water culture, climate change, and protected natural areas, including educational sessions, projects, and teaching resources. Targets educators and teachers.
• Hilos de Altura (High Altitude Threads Artisan Network) Network of associations of Andean women artisans creating textiles with traditional techniques and natural alpaca fiber. Promotes visibility and fair trade of artisanal work, strengthens capacities, opens new sales channels, and promotes economic empowerment of women artisans. Targets Andean women artisan associations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5,515 families accompanied in 2024 across 4 departments, 11 provinces, and 23 districts
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• SERNANP (Servicio Nacional de Áreas Protegidas por el Estado)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Descosur holds the Partial Administration Contract for the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve (RNSAB), signed between INRENA (now SERNANP) and Descosur in December 2006. The contract was extended to 2026. Through this contract, Descosur manages natural resources in the reserve and its buffer zone, ensuring conservation and protection while integrating the settled population through productive-social development.
• MinsurcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinsur, a Peruvian mining company, funds family agricultural development projects implemented by Descosur in districts around the San Rafael Mining Unit in Puno. Projects include technological innovation in productive infrastructure, irrigation systems, forage floor expansion, and animal health targeting prevention and mitigation of climatological effects.
• AurubiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAurubis, a copper producer, funds the recovery project for ecosystem services for water regulation in the upper Quilca-Chili basin. Descosur implements this project, which focuses on watershed restoration and hydrological ecosystem service management.
• SEDAPARmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEDAPAR (Empresa Prestadora de Servicios de Saneamiento de Arequipa) is the water and sanitation service provider that serves as a retribuyente (payer) in the MERESE Hídrico mechanism. It collects funds from Arequipa citizens and transfers them to Descosur for implementation of water ecosystem service projects in the RNSAB.
• Coca-Cola PerumajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoca-Cola Peru funds the project on conservation of high mountain ecosystems for water security in Arequipa (January 2024 – December 2026), implemented by Descosur in coordination with the MERESE Hídrico mechanism.
• Inkaber (INKABOR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInkaber is an Peruvian company that has partnered with Descosur on natural resource conservation projects in the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve, and in water management initiatives.
• Loro PianaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLoro Piana funds the project 'Improving learning, developing lives in the Sol de los Andes Community, Aucará – Ayacucho' (July 2024 – December 2026), focused on educational improvements in a rural Ayacucho community.
• PROFONANPE (Fondo de Promoción de las Áreas Naturales Protegidas del Perú)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPROFONANPE serves as the financial fund administrator for the MERESE Hídrico mechanism. It manages the monetary contributions from Arequipa's population that are channeled to Descosur for implementing conservation interventions in the RNSAB.
• CONDESAN (Consorcio para el Desarrollo Sostenible de la Ecorregión Andina)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCONDESAN is a consortium for the sustainable development of the Andean ecoregion. Descosur is listed as a linked organization, indicating institutional alignment and potential collaboration on Andean development.
• Grupo Propuesta CiudadanaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrupo Propuesta Ciudadana is a Peruvian civil society organization focused on citizen oversight of extractive industries. Descosur is linked to this organization, indicating shared interests in governance and civil society strengthening.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• descoCiudadano: Sibling legal entity within the DESCO network alongside Descosur. Engages in similar civil society strengthening, governance, and citizen participation work in other Peruvian regions.
• CEDINCO: Peruvian development NGO active in Andean regions working on natural resource management and rural producer organization. Comparable in scale and Andean highland focus.
• DESCO (Centro de Estudios y Promoción del Desarrollo): Parent NGO of Descosur and part of the same legal restructuring into three regional entities. Operates in Peru with similar sustainable development, governance, and civil society programs across other macro-regions.
• Alternativa (Centro de Investigación Social y Educación Popular): Peruvian civil society NGO focused on sustainable rural development, education, and citizen participation in southern and highland Peru. Closely comparable mission and beneficiary population.
• CONDESAN (Consorcio para el Desarrollo Sostenible de la Ecorregión Andina): Andean sustainable development consortium directly linked to Descosur. Works on natural resource management, Andean ecosystems, and rural livelihoods across similar highland geographies.
• Grupo Propuesta Ciudadana: Peruvian civil society organization focused on citizen oversight of extractive industries. Listed as a linked organization with shared interests in governance and accountability in southern Peru.

Broad incumbents

• Ayuda en Acción: Spanish international cooperation NGO with active operations in Peru. Funds Descosur projects and runs parallel rural development, gender, and economic inclusion programs across Latin America.
• Practical Action (formerly ITDG): International NGO implementing technology-and-development projects in rural Andean and highland contexts. Comparable in focus areas (sustainable agriculture, water, climate adaptation) and donor profile.
• CARE Peru: International humanitarian NGO with rural livelihoods, gender, and climate programs across Peru. Operates at materially larger scale than Descosur but pursues overlapping small-producer and women-empowerment objectives.
• SERNANP (Servicio Nacional de Áreas Protegidas por el Estado): Peruvian government agency that contracts Descosur for RNSAB administration. Oversees all protected natural areas nationally and is the regulatory counterpart for any protected-area work Descosur does.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/descosur
• Facebookfacebook.com/descosur
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/descosur
• Instagraminstagram.com/ong.descosur

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Descosur