GRAINE Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

What GRAINE Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes does

GRAINE Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (GRAINE ARA) is a French regional non-profit association (loi 1901) headquartered in Lyon that functions as the coordinating head network for environmental education and sustainable development (EEDD) actors across the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Founded in 1997 from the merger of GRAINE Rhône-Loire and GRAINE Ain, and renamed in 2017 to reflect the merged Auvergne and Rhône-Alpes regions, the organization aggregates approximately 152 member structures and individuals, maps them on a public directory, and coordinates 9+ departmental and thematic sub-networks including Educ'Alpes, REE Auvergne, RACINES 74, and Réseau Grappe 73. Its core delivery vehicle is a four-website digital ecosystem - the institutional portal (graine-ara.org), an events and jobs board (actu.graine-ara.org), a curated resource library (ressources.graine-ara.org), and an editorial blog (blog.graine-ara.org) - supported by an interactive Leaflet-based member map and cross-regional site agir-ese.org co-edited with GRAINE Occitanie and IREPS ARA.

The organization's revenue model rests on three pillars: annual membership dues from structures and individual adherents (bank-transfer, renewable through December 31); sustained multi-agency public funding from DREAL, DRAJES, ARS, OFB, DRAAF, DREETS, Métropole de Lyon, and the Office Français de la Biodiversité; and Qualiopi-certified training revenue financed through OPCO (Uniformation, AKTO, AFDAS, OCAPIAT), FAF for independents, and France Travail for job seekers. Services are delivered in-person across the region and through contributor-mediated digital publishing by members. The staff of approximately 5-7 includes a Directrice (Marion Niclot), project managers for network animation and pedagogy (Noémie Huby), financial and associative life management (Chloé Bazus), the ESE and outdoor education pole (Odessa Marmorat), and communications (Adèle Petit), overseen by a board of 12-32 elected members including Co-Presidents Claire Fauvet and Jean-Paul Biessy.

GRAINE ARA's strategic positioning is built on institutional convening authority: it co-leads the Instance de Dialogue pour l'EEDD (IDEEDD) with DREAL, DRAJES, DRAAF, and three regional academies, and is a member of FRENE, CFEEDD, and Mouvement associatif AURA. Its competitive position rests on network effects across 152 members, a 28-year content archive including the Dossier du GRAINE publication series, designated regulatory standing in regional EEDD policy, and Qualiopi-certified training infrastructure that enables OPCO-funded professionalization of EEDD practitioners.

Name

GRAINE Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Legal name

GRAINE Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Website

https://graine-ara.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

GRAINE Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is a Lyon-based French non-profit regional network coordinating approximately 152 environmental education organizations across the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region through a four-website digital ecosystem, Qualiopi-certified training, and multi-agency public funding partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lyon

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership contributions: Annual membership fees collected from 152 structures and individual adherents. Fees are payable by bank transfer. Structures with two years of unpaid dues are no longer considered members and must reapply.
2. Public institutional funding: Sustained financial support from DREAL Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, DRAJES Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, ARS Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Office Français de la Biodiversité, DREETS Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, DRAAF Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Métropole de Lyon, and the 'Grandir en lien avec la nature' Appel à Communs program.
3. Training fees and OPCO financing: Training sessions funded through OPCO (Uniformation, AKTO, AFDAS, OCAPIAT), FAF for independents (FIF-PL, Vivéa, Afdas), and France Travail for job seekers. The organization is Qualiopi certified for its training actions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

GRAINE Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is a regional non-profit association that coordinates, federates, and represents approximately 152 member organizations working in Environmental Education for Sustainable Development (EEDD) across the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France. It sells primarily membership subscriptions, Qualiopi-certified professional training, access to a documentation/resource centre, and project-engineering support services aimed at member associations, local authorities, and educational institutions.

Product overview

GRAINE Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes operates a multi-site digital ecosystem rather than a single software product. The core offering consists of four interconnected websites: the institutional network portal (graine-ara.org), a contributive events and jobs board (actu.graine-ara.org), a curated resource library (ressources.graine-ara.org), and an editorial blog (blog.graine-ara.org). These are complemented by a map-based member directory, advanced search tools, collaborative member tools (mailing lists, sharing), and a co-edited cross-regional ESE resource site (agir-ese.org). Beyond the digital platform, GRAINE delivers structured training programmes under Qualiopi certification, coordinates the regional Instance de Dialogue for EEDD (IDEEDD), publishes a Dossier series and newsletter, and organises the annual member day and peer-exchange sessions ('Graines de Pratiques'). The ecosystem collectively supports networking, professional development, and resource-sharing for environmental education actors across the region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Membership to GRAINE Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes network Annual paid subscription granting EEDD associations, NGOs, and related structures access to network representation, training, resource centre, and project engineering support in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
• Qualiopi-certified professional training in EEDD Qualiopi-certified training programs for professionals, volunteers, and territorial agents covering EEDD pedagogy, project engineering, and sustainable-development facilitation.
• Educational resource centre (centre de ressources) Curated documentation and pedagogical resource library accessible to members and partners, providing EEDD tools, dossiers, and project references.
• Project-engineering support (ingénierie de projets) Support service helping member structures and local authorities design, fund, and implement EEDD projects, including consortia building and response to calls for projects.
• Annual regional gathering (Assises régionales de l'EEDD) Annual in-person event convening EEDD actors across Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes for peer exchange, training, and strategic dialogue with institutional partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• 148+ member structures mapped and profiled with activities, themes, and target audiences accessible via an online searchable directory.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• DREAL Auvergne-Rhône-AlpescoreOthersPrimary institutional partner providing sustained financial support. DREAL coordinates regional environmental policy and is part of the IDEEDD coordination team.
• DRAJES Auvergne-Rhône-AlpescoreOthersInstitutional partner providing financial support. DRAJES is part of the IDEEDD coordination team for regional EEDD strategy.
• ARS Auvergne-Rhône-AlpescoreOthersRegional health agency providing financial support. Co-financer of GRAINE ARA's activities alongside environmental institutional partners.
• Office Français de la Biodiversité (OFB)coreOthersFrench Biodiversity Agency providing financial support and co-developing projects such as the biodiversity animation tool with REEA.
• Métropole de LyoncoreOthersMetropolitan authority providing financial support and partnering on projects such as the adult ecocitizenship accompaniment toolkit developed in 2016.
• Rectorat de l'Académie de LyonmajorOthersAcademic authority for Lyon. Part of the IDEEDD coordination team. Co-organizer of the 3rd Assises de l'EEDD in 2013.
• Rectorat de l'Académie de GrenoblemajorOthersAcademic authority for Grenoble. Member of the IDEEDD coordination team and regional EEDD dialogue instance.
• Rectorat de l'Académie de Clermont-FerrandmajorOthersAcademic authority for Clermont-Ferrand. Part of the IDEEDD coordination team and regional EEDD policy dialogue.
• Promotion Santé AURAmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional health promotion body. Co-animates the ESE (Education and Health Environment) Pole with GRAINE ARA. Co-editor of the agir-ese.org resource site.
• Maison de l'Environnement de la Métropole de LyonsupportingOthersHost venue for IDEEDD meetings and regional EEDD events. Technical project partner.
• Veolia EausupportingOthersWater services company partnering on the 'J'agis pour l'eau' educational malle project developed jointly with GRAINE Bourgogne-Franche-Comté.
• FRENE (Réseau Français d'Education à la Nature et à l'Environnement)majorOthersGRAINE ARA is a member of FRENE, the French national network for environmental education, providing cross-regional coordination and advocacy.
• CFEEDD (Collectif Français pour l'EEDD)majorOthersGRAINE ARA is a member of CFEEDD, the French collective for environmental education, which coordinates national advocacy and the Assises de l'EEDD process.
• Mouvement associatif Auvergne-Rhône-AlpessupportingOthersGRAINE ARA participates in the regional associative movement, contributing to inter-associative dynamics and collective advocacy.
• IREPS ARAmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional health education promotion institute. Partner in inter-associative dynamics since 2020 and co-editor of the agir-ese.org site alongside GRAINE ARA and GRAINE Occitanie.
• Labo citéssupportingOthersPartner in inter-associative dynamics since 2020, contributing to cross-sectoral collaboration on environmental and social challenges.
• AURACS ARAsupportingOthersPartner in inter-associative dynamics since 2020, part of the five-association collaborative initiative addressing environmental and social crises.
• UniformationcoreOthersMajor OPCO (skills operator) in the social economy sector, providing financing for GRAINE ARA's training sessions. The primary funding body for EEDD sector training.
• DRAAF Auvergne-Rhône-AlpessupportingOthersRegional agricultural and food authority. Provides financial support and co-funds the 'Alimentation et EEDD' project through DRAAF.
• DREETS Auvergne-Rhône-AlpessupportingOthersRegional economic affairs, labor, and employment authority providing financial support to GRAINE ARA's operations.
• GRAINE Bourgogne-Franche-ComtésupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional network partner from neighboring region. Jointly developed the 'J'agis pour l'eau' educational malle project with Veolia for micropolluant awareness.
• GRAINE OccitaniesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional network partner. Co-editor of the agir-ese.org resource site alongside GRAINE ARA and IREPS ARA and Occitanie.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• GRAINE Pays de la Loire: Regional EEDD network in Pays de la Loire, a sister network to GRAINE ARA. Comparable membership model, regional convener role, and environmental-education training programs.
• GRAINE Nouvelle-Aquitaine: Regional EEDD network for Nouvelle-Aquitaine, part of the national GRAINE family of regional environmental education networks. Comparable governance, membership, training, and policy-dialogue activities.
• Réseau CPIE: National network of Centres Permanents d'Initiatives pour l'Environnement; many CPIEs (e.g., CPIE Haute-Auvergne) are GRAINE ARA member structures. Closely comparable local/regional environmental education delivery model.
• LPO Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes: Regional branch of the Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux and a GRAINE ARA member. Comparable regional non-profit structure and EEDD delivery, with a stronger biodiversity specialization.
• GRAINE Occitanie: Regional EEDD network serving Occitanie, the French sister network most directly comparable to GRAINE ARA in mission, structure, and activities. Co-edits the agir-ese.org platform with GRAINE ARA and IREPS ARA.
• GRAINE Bourgogne-Franche-Comté: Regional EEDD network covering Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, jointly developing educational tools (e.g., 'J'agis pour l'eau') with GRAINE ARA. Same association loi 1901 model, member-funded, and regionally anchored.
• IREPS Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes: Regional health-education promotion institute co-animating the ESE (Éducation Santé Environnement) pole with GRAINE ARA and co-editor of agir-ese.org. Comparable regional network structure, member-funded model, and policy-dialogue role, but with a health focus.

Regional players

• Mouvement associatif Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes: Regional umbrella body for non-profit associations in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, of which GRAINE ARA is a member. Comparable regional coordination scope, but broader than environmental education specifically.

Broad incumbents

• CFEEDD (Collectif Français pour l'EEDD): National collective for environmental education that convenes GRAINE ARA, FNE, CPIE, and other federations. Comparable convening role at national level; GRAINE ARA is a member.
• FRENE (Réseau Français d'Éducation à la Nature et à l'Environnement): National federation that GRAINE ARA belongs to, uniting regional EEDD networks across France. Operates one level above GRAINE ARA and coordinates national advocacy, including the Assises de l'EEDD.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GRAINE_ARA
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC3z4kFjz101A05y4DIWdlYQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/graine.ara
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/graine-ara

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 GRAINE Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes