emp'ACT

What emp'ACT does

emp'ACT is a Geneva-based Swiss non-governmental organization founded in 1983 (formerly known as Genève Tiers-Monde / GeTM, rebranded around 2022–2023) that supports sustainable development initiatives in West Africa and South America. It finances and oversees approximately ten active projects implemented through long-standing local partners in Togo, Peru, and Colombia, reaching roughly 70,000 beneficiaries annually across three thematic pillars: women's rights and empowerment, environmental justice and water access, and food and energy sovereignty. Representative project-level budgets of CHF 252,760 (Femmes qui tissent des routes, 2023–2024), CHF 388,535 (Empowerment des filles, 2018–2021), CHF 409,385 (Mujeres del Agua, 2021–2024), and CHF 386,403 (Voix et droits, 2025–2028) indicate gross annual project throughput in the CHF 1–1.5M range.

The organization operates a multi-source revenue model combining individual donations and membership fees (CHF 25 students / CHF 50 individual, annually), public funding channelled through the Fédération Genevoise de Coopération (FGC) and the Direction de la Coopération au Développement (DDC) plus individual Geneva municipalities, foundation grants (Fondation Bernard, Fondation Famille Sandoz, Fondation Karl Popper, etc.), and corporate partnerships structured as payroll giving, match giving, product-sharing, and event co-organization. It claims 85% of donations flow directly to projects under Swiss GAAP RPC 21 accounting standards with annual external audits.

Delivery is field-partner led: DESCOSUR (Peru, since 2008), CESIP (Peru, since 2002), Vamos Mujer and ENDACOL (Colombia, 25+ years), and ETD and MVCP (Togo, since 2009) implement projects while emp'ACT provides funding, monitoring, and strategic guidance from a small Secretariat (~8 employees). The governance layer is a six-person Committee operating collegially; awareness and fundraising are amplified through Geneva cultural-event partnerships (Black Movie Festival, FILMAR, Race for Gift) and Swiss public-affairs advocacy via Alliance Sud and Le Courrier media coverage.

Name

emp'ACT

Legal name

emp'ACT

Website

https://emp-act.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

emp'ACT is a Geneva-based Swiss NGO (founded 1983) that funds and oversees roughly ten sustainable development projects across Togo, Peru, and Colombia via long-term local NGO partners, reaching around 70,000 beneficiaries in women's empowerment, environmental justice, and food sovereignty.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Development Cooperation

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Consumer Rights & Public Interest Advocacy (BPAGAFAK)

Keywords

• International development cooperation
• Community water management
• Women's empowerment programs
• Food sovereignty projects
• Sustainable agriculture support

Headquarters

HQ city

Geneva

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations and Memberships: Annual membership fees (25 CHF students/AVS/AI, 50 CHF individual), one-time donations via bulletin de versement, donations on occasion of events (birthdays, marriages, retirements), and memorial donations. 85% of donations allocated directly to projects.
2. Public Funding (Collectivités publiques): Major funding from public entities via the Fédération Genevoise de Coopération (FGC), Direction de la Coopération au Développement (DDC), État de Genève, and numerous Geneva municipalities (Ville de Carouge, Genève, Grand-Saconnex, Lancy, Meyrin, Onex, etc.).
3. Foundation and Association Funding: Funding from foundations including Association Akchiq Pacha, Fondation Bernard, Fondation FreiAide, Fondation Karl Popper, Fondation Maya Behn, and Fondation Philanthropique Famille Sandoz.
4. Corporate Partnerships: Companies support through annual financial contributions, payroll giving, match giving, product-sharing arrangements, communication financing, material donations, skills-based volunteering, and event organizing in support of specific projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

emp'ACT is a Swiss NGO that supports approximately 10 sustainable development initiatives in Togo, Peru, and Colombia, reaching an average of 70,000 beneficiaries annually. Its work focuses on three interconnected themes: women's rights and empowerment, environmental justice and water access, and food and energy sovereignty. Programs are implemented in partnership with trusted local civil society organizations, complemented by Swiss public awareness-raising and advocacy on international cooperation issues.

Product overview

emp'ACT is a Swiss NGO (non-governmental organization) focused on international development cooperation, not a technology product company. The organization supports approximately 10 development initiatives across three countries (Togo, Peru, Colombia), reaching approximately 70,000 beneficiaries. Their portfolio includes active projects in sustainable agricultural entrepreneurship, community-based water management, women's empowerment and girls' rights, and food sovereignty. These are development programs and projects, not technology products or software offerings. The organization was founded in 1983 as Genève Tiers-Monde (GeTM) and operates as a membership-based civil society organization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mujeres del Agua II: Recognition of the Role of High-Andean Indigenous Women in Water Management and Preservation (Mujeres del Agua II : Pour la reconnaissance du rôle des femmes des communautés autochtones hauts-andines dans la gestion et la préservation de l'eau) Second-phase project in Peru's Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve recognizing high-Andean indigenous women's role in water management and environmental conservation. Implemented in partnership with DESCOSUR, the project addresses conditions where only 8% of rural families in Peru's high Andes have water and sanitation access, and supports women living at approximately 4,300m altitude.
• Voix et droits: Girls' and Adolescents' Empowerment for Greater Equality (Voix et droits : empowerment des filles et adolescentes pour plus d'égalité) Project in Peru focused on empowering girls and adolescents aged 12-17 to know, defend, and exercise their rights, addressing gender-based violence (over 60,000 cases on minors reported in Peru in 2024), school dropout, child labor, and early pregnancy. Implemented in San Juan de Lurigancho (Lima), San Sebastián, and Caicay (Cusco) in partnership with CESIP.
• Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment for the Right to the City (Egalité de genre et empowerment des femmes pour le droit à la ville) Gender equality and women's empowerment project in Peru supporting women's participation in urban development and decision-making processes, framed around the right-to-the-city concept.
• Defense of the Human Right to Water, Community Water Management, and Preservation of Hydric Sovereignty in Colombia (Défense du droit humain à l'eau, à la gestion communautaire de l'eau et à la préservation de la souveraineté hydrique en Colombie) Project in Colombia defending the human right to water and supporting community-based water management, working with rural communities to preserve community aqueducts and ensure sustainable water access. Implemented in partnership with ENDACOL, addressing post-conflict challenges and promoting community management of public goods as an alternative for democratizing the state.
• Community Management as Guarantor of the Human Right to Water (Gestion communautaire, garante du droit humain à l'eau) Community-based water management project ensuring sustainable access to water as a human right, supporting rural communities in water governance through capacity-building for community-led aqueduct management and watershed protection.
• Sustainable Agricultural Entrepreneurship: Promoter of Agroecological Transition and Sustainable Land Management (Entrepreneuriat agricole durable, promoteur de la transition agroécologique et de la gestion durable des territoires) Sustainable agricultural entrepreneurship project in Togo promoting agroecological transition and sustainable land management, implemented in partnership with MVCP to support local farming communities in adapting to climate change and improving food security.
• Sustainable Water Access, a Step Toward Food Sovereignty in Togo (Accès durable à l'eau, un pas vers la souveraineté alimentaire au Togo) Project in Togo linking sustainable water access to food sovereignty, helping communities develop agricultural practices that ensure long-term food security. Implemented with partner ETD, which has been active in Togo since 2009 on local democracy and sustainable economic development.
• Food Security Strengthening in the Central and Kara Regions (Renforcement de la Sécurité Alimentaire dans les Régions Centrale et Kara) Food security strengthening project in Togo's Central and Kara regions, supporting local agricultural development, household resilience, and community-based food production systems.
• Support for Governance and Sustainable Local Economic Development (Appui à la gouvernance et au développement économique local durable) Support project for local governance and sustainable economic development in Togo, working with local authorities, civil society organizations, and community groups to strengthen local democracy and economic development processes.

Quantifiable outcome

• 70,000 beneficiaries reached annually through approximately 10 initiatives in Togo, Peru, and Colombia
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered secondary and core.

• L'Effet Papillon - SwitzerlandsecondaryGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Geneva-based event caterer with philanthropic mission combining local/seasonal products, environmental respect, and funding of high-impact social initiatives. In 2026, supporting emp'ACT's community water management project. Reverses a portion of event profits to solidarity projects.
• ETD - Entreprise Territoire Développement - TogocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009ETD is a partner in Togo since 2009, working on local democracy and sustainable economic development. Implements governance and local development projects, including agricultural entrepreneurship and food security programs in the Central and Kara regions.
• DESCOSUR (Centro de Estudios y Promoción del Desarrollo del Sur) - PerucoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008DESCOSUR is based in Peru and belongs to the DESCO organization. Since 2008, they have partnered on 'Mujeres del Agua' projects in the Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve, focusing on recognizing high-Andean women's role in water management and environmental conservation. Located in Arequipa region.
• CESIP - Centro de Estudios Sociales y Publicaciones - PerucoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2002CESIP is an NGO based in Lima, founded in 1976, dedicated to defending children's rights and promoting gender equality. Partner since 2002, co-constructing projects to promote and protect rights of children and adolescents in Peru, particularly the 'Voix et droits' and 'Empowerment des filles' programs.
• Vamos Mujer - ColombiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVamos Mujer provides psychosocial support to women who have experienced violence and supports their economic and productive initiatives in Colombia's Antioquia region. Implements projects including 'Vamos Mujer' gender equality and 'Femmes qui tissent des routes de dignité et de paix'.
• ENDACOL - ColombiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerENDACOL has been a partner since 1996 (over 25 years), working on community water management and environmental justice in Colombia. They promote community management as a viable alternative for managing public goods (water, air, soil) and democratizing the state, particularly in the post-conflict context.
• MVCP - TogosecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerMVCP is the local partner for the sustainable agricultural entrepreneurship project in Togo, featured in Tribune de Genève's climate special edition. Project promotes agroecological transition and sustainable territory management.
• Secodev - AfricasecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerSecodev implements projects in Mali, DRC, and Rwanda featured alongside emp'ACT's Togo project in the Léman Bleu 'Esprit Solidaire' program on climate adaptation, agroforestry, and agroecology.
• FGC - Fédération Genevoise de CoopérationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partneremp'ACT is a member of the Fédération Genevoise de Coopération (FGC), which distributes public funding to member NGOs and coordinates joint advocacy campaigns (e.g., #SoyonsSolidairesMaintenant). emp'ACT co-finances the Prix du Public FOCUS SUD with FGC and Solidar Suisse Genève.
• APRES-GE - Chambre de l'Economie SocialesecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partneremp'ACT is a member of APRES-GE (Chambre de l'Economie Sociale), contributing to the social economy ecosystem in Geneva.
• Plateforme Souveraineté Alimentaire (PSA) - FGCsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partneremp'ACT participates in the Plateforme Souveraineté Alimentaire of the FGC, contributing to food sovereignty advocacy and coordination.
• Black Movie Festival - SwitzerlandsecondaryGTM or Marketing Partneremp'ACT is a partner of the Black Movie Festival in Geneva, contributing to the organization of three tables rondes per year on themes related to the programming (resilience, sustainability, cultural impact, citizen engagement). Annual partnership since at least 2023.
• FILMAR Festival - SwitzerlandcoreGTM or Marketing Partneremp'ACT partners with the FILMAR festival for Latin American cinema, organizing film screenings, debates, and co-financing the Prix du Public FOCUS SUD (4,000 CHF) with FGC and Solidar Suisse Genève. Active partnership since at least 2016.
• Kallpa Genève - SwitzerlandsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerKallpa Genève co-organizes events with emp'ACT, including the table ronde 'Grandir et apprendre au Pérou' on education challenges in Peru, along with MCI and Ecohumanita.
• Alliance Sud - SwitzerlandsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partneremp'ACT supports Alliance Sud's campaign #SoyonsSolidairesMaintenant to strengthen international development cooperation and contest budget cuts. Joint advocacy on Swiss development policy.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Terre des Hommes Suisse: Terre des Hommes Suisse is a Swiss children's rights and development NGO supporting child protection, education, and adolescent empowerment programs. Directly comparable to emp'ACT's 'Voix et droits' girls' empowerment project in Peru, with similar advocacy-driven approach.
• Solidar Suisse: Solidar Suisse is a Swiss NGO active in international cooperation across Latin America, Africa, and Europe. emp'ACT co-finances the Prix du Public FOCUS SUD with Solidar Suisse, both are Geneva-based development organizations operating in similar geographies and themes.
• Swissaid: Swissaid is a Swiss development NGO focused on food sovereignty, women's rights, and climate justice in partner countries of the Global South. Highly comparable to emp'ACT's thematic focus on food sovereignty and women's empowerment, though operating across more countries and at larger scale.
• Swisscontact: Swisscontact is a Swiss foundation for international cooperation focused on economic development, vocational training, and sustainable agriculture in partner countries. Comparable to emp'ACT's Togo-based agricultural entrepreneurship and food sovereignty projects, though operating at much greater scale globally.
• Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation: Helvetas is one of Switzerland's largest development NGOs, working on water, agriculture, governance, and gender in partner countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Comparable to emp'ACT in Swiss-anchored international cooperation with water and rural livelihoods themes, though at significantly larger scale.
• Caritas Switzerland: Caritas Switzerland is a large Swiss humanitarian and development organization active in poverty reduction, social justice, and international cooperation. Comparable in mission (advocacy for vulnerable populations) but far larger in scale and scope than emp'ACT.
• HEKS / Hilfswerk der Evangelischen Kirchen Schweiz: HEKS is the relief and development organization of the Swiss Protestant Churches, running international cooperation projects in agriculture, water, and gender. Comparable to emp'ACT's project portfolio across rural livelihoods, water access, and women's empowerment themes.
• Comundo: Comundo is a smaller Swiss NGO for development cooperation sending expert volunteers to partner organizations in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Comparable in size and Swiss-anchored partnership-based delivery model, with similar thematic overlap in gender equality and rural livelihoods.

Others

• Fédération Genevoise de Coopération (FGC): FGC is the Geneva federation of NGOs that channels public development funding to member organizations including emp'ACT. Functions as a coordinating network rather than a direct competitor; emp'ACT is a member and routes substantial funding through this body.
• Alliance Sud: Alliance Sud is the Swiss coalition of development NGOs advocating for coherent Swiss development policy. emp'ACT actively supports Alliance Sud's #SoyonsSolidairesMaintenant campaign, making it an adjacent advocacy counterpart rather than a direct service-delivery peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/GeneveTiersMonde
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/empact-geneve

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 emp'ACT