IPDRS

What IPDRS does

IPDRS (Instituto para el Desarrollo Rural de Sudamérica) is a non-profit research and development institute headquartered in La Paz, Bolivia, with regional offices in Santa Cruz, Riberalta, and Cochabamba. Founded around 2012, the organization focuses on rural development, land access, indigenous territorial rights, and collective economies across 12 South American countries. It serves indigenous peoples (Guaraní, Amazonian, highland communities), rural producers, rural and indigenous women and youth, and educational institutions.

The organization operates four core activity areas — research (Investigación), inter-learning (Interaprendizaje), territorial development (Desarrollo Territorial), and communication. Its products and platforms include a digital repository of 578+ publications, a multimedia library of 360+ items (short films, interviews, podcasts, virtual events), the Interaprendizaje virtual learning platform, and two interactive tools: the Efectos de Plaguicidas Database (1,759 pesticides, 245 active ingredients, launched 2022) and the Guía Agroecológica directory (launched 2026). It also runs the long-standing annual South American Competition for Youth and supports the Sistema Plurinacional de Certificación de Competencias (SPCC) for artisan competencies.

IPDRS is funded through grants and donations rather than commercial revenue, with support from international development partners including Manos Unidas, We Effect, Global Greengrants, Humundi, Oxfam Bolivia, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, and others. With 17 staff and a 13+ year operating history, it sustains a position as a regional knowledge broker between indigenous communities, civil society, and policy institutions across South America.

Name

IPDRS

Legal name

IPDRS - Instituto para el Desarrollo Rural de Sudamérica

Website

https://ipdrs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IPDRS is a Bolivian non-profit research institute that supports rural development across 12 South American countries through research, publications, multimedia, virtual learning (Interaprendizaje), and interactive tools serving indigenous peoples, rural producers, women, and youth.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

La Paz

HQ country

Bolivia

HQ region

Latin America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

IPDRS conducts research and produces open-access publications, multimedia content, and virtual courses on rural development, land access, and indigenous territorial rights across South America. It operates virtual learning platforms (Interaprendizaje), interactive agroecology and pesticide databases, an annual youth competition, and a plurinational competency certification service for rural artisans.

Product overview

IPDRS (Instituto para el Desarrollo Rural de Sudamérica) is a non-profit institute focused on rural development across South America. Its product portfolio consists of content and educational platforms rather than commercial software products. Core offerings include: (1) Publicaciones — a digital repository of 578+ publications on land access, indigenous territories, and rural development across South America; (2) Multimedia — a library of 360+ video/audio materials documenting rural experiences; (3) Interaprendizaje — a virtual learning platform offering courses and forums for capacity building; (4) two interactive tools: the Guía Agroecológica directory and the Efectos de Plaguicidas database on pesticide effects; and (5) annual Competitions for youth. IPDRS also supports the Sistema Plurinacional de Certificación de Competencias (SPCC) for artisan competency certification. These offerings serve researchers, rural communities, NGOs, and policy advocates rather than enterprise technology buyers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Publicaciones (Publications Repository) Digital open-access repository of 578+ publications covering rural development, land access, indigenous territories, and gender topics across South America. Items include articles (diálogos), essays (exploraciones), books, working documents, educational materials, catalogs and guides, life stories, memorias, dípticos, and reviews. Targeted at researchers, NGOs, policy advocates, and rural communities.
• Multimedia Library Video and audio content library featuring 101 short films, 108 interviews, 101 virtual events, 16 podcasts, 12 life stories, 4 musical pieces, 18 additional multimedia items, and 4 IPDRS presentation videos documenting rural development experiences. Targets researchers, communities, and the general public.
• Interaprendizaje Virtual Learning Platform

Quantifiable outcome

• 10 educational forests implemented in north Amazon region
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Manos UnidascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Supports textile preservation and cultural heritage projects with Guaraní communities in the Chaco region. Contributes to the House of Weavers construction and textile training programs.
• We EffectcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Supports textile preservation and cultural heritage projects, particularly Guaraní weaving techniques and women's economic empowerment.
• Gondwana - Cooperazione e Diplomazia PopolaresecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Supports indigenous textile projects and cultural exchange programs in the Chaco region.
• CIPCAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Joint implementation of citrus processing workshop in Macharetí with IPDRS and AAPIMMACH.
• HumundisecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Supports agricultural development projects including citrus processing and citrus production value chain.
• Coalición Nacional por la Tierra (CNT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Convened the National Encounter of Collective Territories and Plural Economies, bringing together indigenous authorities from highland and lowland territories.
• Centro Cultural de España en La Paz (CCELP-AECID)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Hosted the round table 'Women and Climate Justice' as part of Environment Month activities.
• Sistema Plurinacional de Certificación de Competencias (SPCC)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Certifies competencies of Guaraní artisans in pottery and crafts in Macharetí communities.
• Centro Bartolomé de las Casas (CBC)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnered for artisan exchange between Guaraní weavers from Bolivia and Quechua weavers from Cusco, Peru.
• Konrad Adenauer StiftungsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Organized Regional Program of Indigenous Political Participation with 22 representatives from 11 countries.
• UNIBOL GuaranísecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Joint research exchange with HEGOA and IPDRS researchers at UNIBOL Guaraní facilities.
• HEGOA (Universidad País Vasco)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Collaborative research exchange on development and international cooperation studies.
• Oxfam BoliviasecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Coordinated presentation of publication on land access and territory in Bolivia with CESU.
• International Land Coalition (ILC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024IPDRS participates through Regional Coordination for Latin America and the Caribbean, contributing to savanna and grassland discussions.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Oxfam (Latin America / Oxfam Bolivia): Large international humanitarian and development confederation with active programs on rural livelihoods, land rights, and indigenous rights in Bolivia. Overlaps substantively with IPDRS's rural and indigenous agenda but operates as a broad incumbent rather than a regional specialist.

Direct peers

• CIPCA (Centro de Investigación y Promoción del Campesinado): Bolivian NGO focused on rural/peasant development and indigenous economies, and an explicit IPDRS implementation partner (e.g., Macharetí citrus processing workshop). Operates with comparable methodology (research + territorial action + community strengthening) targeting overlapping beneficiary segments.
• HEGOA (Universidad del País Vasco): Academic research institute on international development studies and a confirmed IPDRS research-exchange partner (UNIBOL Guaraní joint research). Comparable in producing development-focused analysis, training, and publications aimed at solidarity and policy audiences.
• CEJIS (Centro de Estudios Jurídicos e Investigación Social): Bolivian NGO combining legal research, social investigation, and indigenous rights advocacy. Comparable to IPDRS in combining research output with strategic litigation (akin to IPDRS's Kereimba Iyaambae constitutional work) for vulnerable rural and indigenous communities in Bolivia.
• Fundación Tierra: Bolivian research foundation focused on land access, agrarian reform, and rural development policy — the same core subject matter as IPDRS's annual 'Acceso a la Tierra y Territorio en Sudamérica' reports. Comparable in mission, geographic focus, and research-driven advocacy model.
• RIMISP (Centro Latinoamericano para el Desarrollo Rural): Latin American research center producing applied knowledge on rural development, territorial dynamics, and food systems. Closely comparable to IPDRS in research-publication output, regional scope, and policy-engagement model, though with greater academic and donor footprint.
• AVSF (Agronomes et Vétérinaires Sans Frontières): International NGO providing agronomy and rural development support to peasant and indigenous farming communities across Latin America. Comparable to IPDRS in serving smallholder agriculture, agroecology, and territorial development, with overlapping donor base (e.g., AFD, EU programs).
• Centro Bartolomé de las Casas (CBC): Peruvian NGO working on indigenous rights, cultural heritage, and Andean/Amazonian development, and an explicit IPDRS partner (artisan exchange between Guaraní and Quechua weavers). Comparable mission, methodology, and target communities, with complementary territorial footprint.

Regional players

• COICA (Coordinadora de las Organizaciones Indígenas de la Cuenca Amazónica): Regional coordination body for Amazon Basin Indigenous organizations across nine countries. Adjacent to IPDRS's Amazonía programs (Riberalta office, XII FOSPA participation) but focused on indigenous political representation rather than research and education.

Others

• International Land Coalition (ILC): Global multi-stakeholder platform on land rights, of which IPDRS is the Regional Coordination member for Latin America and the Caribbean. Functions as an ecosystem/network participant enabling IPDRS's land access reporting rather than a direct service provider.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ipdrs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about IPDRS