FOSIT

What FOSIT does

FOSIT (Federazione delle ONG della Svizzera Italiana) is a non-profit association founded in 1999 and headquartered in Lugano, Switzerland, that serves as the recognized federation of NGOs operating in Italian-speaking Switzerland (Ticino and Italian-speaking Grisons). It functions as a coordinating body and competence center for international cooperation and humanitarian aid organizations, currently aggregating 11 member NGOs and coordinating 12 projects co-financed by federal Swiss Development Cooperation (DSC) funds across 9 countries, primarily in Africa with some presence in the Middle East. From 2025, FOSIT no longer channels new federal funds to Latin America.

FOSIT's core service portfolio centers on annual coordinated funding calls (bandi) that aggregate contributions from ten Ticinese funders — Cantone Ticino, Città di Lugano, AIL SA, AIM, AMB, the comuni of Sorengo and Collina d'Oro, Fondazione Adiuvare, Fondazione Araldi Guinetti, and Fondo IBSA — totaling CHF 740,400 for the 2027 cycle. Beyond grantmaking, FOSIT operates a continuing-education portfolio led by the Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Cooperation and Development delivered jointly with SUPSI, supplemented by short workshops, the ContaCaffè training series, and a WASH working group producing technical documentation. Annual convening events include the SDG-themed Simposio FOSIT and the community-facing Mondo al Parco in Lugano, and the organization advocates for the UN Agenda 2030 (with SDG 15 — Life on Land selected as the 2026 thematic focus).

FOSIT's business model is non-commercial. It does not sell products or services at market prices; rather, it operates as an intermediary that distributes public and private donor funds to member NGOs, recovers limited overhead through administrative allocation, and runs training programs where member NGOs access reserved scholarships. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. Governance is provided by a Committee, Technical Commission, and a secretariat led by a Secretary General; in 2026, both the presidency (Daria Lepori) and the Secretary General role (Monica Tabet-Gugolz) transitioned to new incumbents. FOSIT is affiliated with FEDERESO, the coordinating body of Swiss cantonal NGO federations, and participates in the Piattaforma Agenda 2030 coalition of approximately 50 Swiss civil society actors.

Name

FOSIT

Legal name

FOSIT - Federazione delle ONG della Svizzera Italiana

Website

https://fosit.ch

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

FOSIT is a non-profit federation coordinating 11 member NGOs in Italian-speaking Switzerland, channeling federal and cantonal/municipal funding (CHF 740,400 in 2027 calls) for international cooperation projects in 9 countries, primarily Africa.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

NGO Federation and International Development Coordination Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGABAL

Infrastructure, Housing & Community Development

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

SECONDARYFSABAKAB

National/Regional Development Finance Institutions (DFIs)

Financial & Insurance/Banking (Commerical, Retail & Consumer)/Development & Public Sector Banking (DFIs, Postal/Savings Banks)

SECONDARYEDADALAA

Intergovernmental Education Cooperation & Bilateral/Multilateral Programs

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Education Partnerships, Intergovernmental & NGO Programs

Keywords

• NGO federation services
• International cooperation coordination
• Development project funding
• Humanitarian aid coordination
• NGO training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Lugano

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Cantonal and municipal funding: FOSIT coordinates and distributes funding from cantonal and municipal sources including Cantone Ticino, Città di Lugano, AIL SA, AIM, AMB, Comune di Sorengo, Comune di Collina d'Oro, Fondazione Adiuvare, Fondazione Araldi Guinetti, and Fondo IBSA. Total Ticinese funding for 2027 calls amounts to CHF 740,400.
2. Federal development cooperation funding (DSC): FOSIT manages federal funding from the Swiss Development Cooperation (DSC) for international cooperation projects. Currently co-finances 12 projects with federal funds from 11 member NGOs in 9 countries, primarily in Africa with some in the Middle East. From 2025, no new projects are financed in Latin America.
3. Training and education services: FOSIT organizes professional development courses including the CAS (Certificate of Advanced Studies) in Cooperation and Development with SUPSI, and various workshops and training sessions. Members receive scholarship opportunities for training programs.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

FOSIT is a non-profit federation (umbrella organization) that coordinates international cooperation NGOs in Italian-speaking Switzerland. It manages annual funding calls (bandi) distributing cantonal, municipal, federal (DSC), and foundation funds to member NGOs for development projects in Africa, the Middle East, and other regions. It also delivers professional development programs, including a Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Cooperation and Development in partnership with SUPSI, and operates as a competence center and networking body for quality NGOs.

Product overview

FOSIT (Federazione delle ONG della Svizzera Italiana) is a federation/umbrella organization that coordinates international cooperation NGOs in Italian-speaking Switzerland. It does not offer a unified software product but provides a portfolio of services including: the CAS in Cooperazione e Sviluppo (university continuing education program in partnership with SUPSI), training courses and workshops, annual funding call coordination for projects (both Ticinese and federal funds), and advocacy for the UN Agenda 2030. The organization also hosts events like the annual Simposio FOSIT and Mondo al Parco, and maintains a WASH working group producing technical resources and documentation for member NGOs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CAS in Cooperazione e Sviluppo (Certificate of Advanced Studies in Cooperation and Development)

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Direzione dello Sviluppo e della Cooperazione (DSC/SDC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025The Swiss Development Cooperation provides federal funding that FOSIT coordinates and distributes to member NGOs for international cooperation projects. FOSIT manages the application process, project monitoring, and reporting for DSC-funded projects.
• SUPSI (Scuola universitaria professionale della Svizzera italiana)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Joint Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Cooperation and Development. FOSIT partners with SUPSI to provide university-level professional development for NGO staff, including scholarships for member organizations and opportunities for international exchange and field internships.
• FEDERESOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025FEDERESO is the coordinating body of Swiss cantonal NGO federations. FOSIT participates in FEDERESO's common strategic program and coordinates with other cantonal federations on shared initiatives, policy positions (e.g., Federal Message for CI 2025-2028), and annual activities.
• CINFO (Centro d'Informazione, Consulenza e Formazione Professioni della Cooperazione Internazionale)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCINFO provides job database, training programs, and career orientation services for international cooperation professionals. Located in Biel/Bienne.
• ComundosecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerComundo provides preparation programs for international volunteering experiences, including reflection on motivations, development concepts, power relations, conflict management in cultural contexts, and participatory methodologies.
• ETH Zürich (NADEL)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerNADEL (Centre for Development and Environment) at ETH Zurich offers a CAS in Development and Cooperation, a part-time program for development professionals from bi- and multilateral organizations, NGOs, foundations, and private sector.
• Graduate Institute GenevasecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerGraduate Institute of International and Development Studies conducts research and higher education on international affairs with emphasis on development cooperation. Located in Geneva, engages with international organizations, NGOs, governments, and multinational companies.
• CDE Centre for Development and Environment (Universität Bern)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDE offers a CAS in Sustainable Development aligned with Agenda 2030, providing participants with solid knowledge foundations for sustainable development and reflection spaces for implementing solutions.
• Piattaforma Agenda 2030secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn association of approximately 50 civil society actors from development cooperation, environmental protection, gender equality, peace, sustainable business, and trade unions. FOSIT participates in this platform which promotes Agenda 2030 implementation in Switzerland.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Bond (British Overseas NGOs for Development): UK-based network of international development NGOs. Operates as a federation providing training, policy advocacy, and member services across a national NGO ecosystem, comparable to FOSIT's role in Italian-speaking Switzerland.
• Alliance Sud: Swiss alliance of six large development and humanitarian aid organizations. While operating at a national scale and working with larger NGOs, Alliance Sud is comparable as a Swiss development-coordination body that engages with federal policy and funding mechanisms similar to FOSIT's role.
• InterAction: Largest alliance of U.S.-based international NGOs. Comparable as a federation that coordinates NGO representation, advocacy, and funding access for member organizations in international development cooperation.
• Concord (European NGO Confederation for Relief and Development): European confederation of national NGO platforms and networks. Comparable to FOSIT as a higher-level federation that aggregates NGO voices and engages with EU/international development policy frameworks.

Regional players

• Helvetas: One of the largest Swiss development NGOs, headquartered in Zurich with significant Ticino presence. Comparable as a Swiss NGO that receives/coordinates international cooperation funding and operates projects in many of the same countries (e.g., Africa) as FOSIT-supported member NGOs.

Emerging players

• CINFO: Swiss center for information, consulting, and training for international cooperation professionals. Already a FOSIT partner, CINFO operates overlapping training and career services for the same Swiss NGO ecosystem, making it a comparable, partially overlapping player.

Others

• SUPSI (Scuola universitaria professionale della Svizzera italiana): Partner institution co-delivering the CAS in Cooperation and Development. SUPSI is comparable as an actor in the same education/professional development ecosystem serving international cooperation practitioners in Italian-speaking Switzerland.
• NADEL (ETH Zürich): Centre for Development and Environment at ETH Zurich offering a CAS in Development and Cooperation. Comparable as a peer provider of credentialed development professional training in the Swiss market.
• Piattaforma Agenda 2030: Swiss civil society platform promoting Agenda 2030 implementation. FOSIT is a member, and the platform is comparable as a thematic coordination body aligning civil society actors (NGOs, environment, gender, peace) around shared sustainability objectives.

Direct peers

• FEDERESO: National coordination body of Swiss cantonal NGO federations. FOSIT is itself a member of FEDERESO, and the two operate as peers in the Swiss NGO federation landscape, coordinating policy positions and joint initiatives across cantonal federations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/fositong
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fosit

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 FOSIT