ISCOS - Istituto Sindacale per la Cooperazione allo Sviluppo

What ISCOS - Istituto Sindacale per la Cooperazione allo Sviluppo does

ISCOS - Istituto Sindacale per la Cooperazione allo Sviluppo is an Italian non-governmental organization (NGO) and third-sector entity founded in 1983 from the trade union experience of CISL (Confederazione Italiana Sindacati Lavoratori). Its mission is to promote international cooperation and solidarity through development projects implemented in partnership with local unions and civil society organizations. The organization operates across Latin America, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe, with long-tenured country presences in Senegal (since approximately 1991, operational office in Ziguinchor), Pakistan (since the early 1990s), El Salvador, and Peru, alongside newer engagements in Eritrea, Mozambique, Brazil, and Syria. Its work spans themes including women's rights and gender-based violence, decent work and global supply chains, indigenous peoples' rights, environmental protection and climate (including mangrove reforestation and marine protected areas in Senegal), food security, social inclusion and disability, and migrant rights.

The organization's product surface consists of project-based interventions rather than commercial products: vocational training programs, microcredit initiatives (e.g., a 24,000 euro microcredit fund targeting women in Senegal), scholarship programs, women's economic empowerment activities, mangrove reforestation, marine protected area management, documentary and podcast content ('Diritti e Rovesci', 'Diritti al Cuore', and 'The Reasons We Leave'), and advocacy campaigns including the 'Dalla Base alla Cima' women's rights campaign and bequest/5x1000 fundraising. ISCOS runs a network of regional structures in Italy (Marche, Emilia-Romagna, Lombardia, Lazio, Abruzzo, and an office in Morocco) coordinated from its Rome headquarters at Via Giovanni Maria Lancisi 25. Outreach occurs through its website (iscoscisl.eu), social media (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, YouTube), email newsletter, podcasts, and conference participation.

Revenue is generated through three streams: institutional project grants from AICS (Italian Agency for Development Cooperation), CEI (Italian Episcopal Conference), the EU, and regional governments such as Regione Veneto; private donations including the Italian 5x1000 tax designation (fiscal code 97028820583), individual giving, bequests, and emergency appeals; and project-based funding tied to specific thematic initiatives. As a non-profit association, ISCOS does not sell products or services, has no publicly traded shares, and does not disclose financial figures. Notable delivery scale includes 17,578 direct beneficiaries (52% women) and 133,046 indirect beneficiaries reached through the AICS-funded BELIEF project in Pakistan, alongside 1,200 people to be trained and over 200 hectares of mangroves to be reforested under A.MAR BLU in Senegal.

Name

ISCOS - Istituto Sindacale per la Cooperazione allo Sviluppo

Legal name

ISCOS - Istituto Sindacale per la Cooperazione allo Sviluppo

Website

https://iscoscisl.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ISCOS is an Italian non-governmental organization founded in 1983 under CISL, implementing international cooperation and development projects in partnership with local unions across Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe, funded by institutional donors (AICS, CEI, EU), private donations, and Italy's 5x1000.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Development Cooperation

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Business Associations (813910), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

International Development & Donor-Funded Education Programs (EDADALAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Labor, Social Protection & Occupational Safety Standards Cooperation (BPADANAM)

Keywords

• International development cooperation
• Humanitarian aid services
• Vocational training programs
• Workers rights advocacy
• Community development projects

Headquarters

HQ city

Rome

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Institutional Funding: Funding from Italian and international institutions including AICS (Italian Agency for Development Cooperation), CEI (Italian Episcopal Conference), EU, and regional governments for implementation of development projects.
2. Private Donations and 5x1000: Individual donations, 5x1000 Italian tax designation, bequests (lasciti testamentari), and emergency fundraising campaigns.
3. Project-Based Funding: Funding tied to specific development projects addressing themes including women's rights, climate, migration, food security, and labor rights.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ISCOS is an Italian non-governmental organization that designs, funds, and implements international development cooperation projects in partnership with local unions and civil society organizations across Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe. Its portfolio includes vocational training, microcredit initiatives for women, environmental and marine protection programs, migration support, workers' rights advocacy, and humanitarian/emergency interventions. Activities are financed primarily through institutional grants (AICS, CEI, EU, regional governments), private donations, and the Italian 5x1000 tax designation.

Product overview

ISCOS is a non-governmental organization (ONG) founded in 1983 from the CISL trade union experience to promote international cooperation actions and projects. Rather than offering a unified technology product or platform, ISCOS operates through diverse development cooperation projects, campaigns, and initiatives across Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe in partnership with local unions and organizations. Its activities focus on themes including women's rights, environmental/climate crisis, decent work and global production chains, social inclusion and disability, indigenous peoples' rights, and migration rights. The organization conducts specific projects such as microcredit funds, professional training programs, environmental protection initiatives (including mangrove reforestation and marine protected areas), documentary production ('The Reasons We Leave'), and awareness campaigns. The portfolio includes country-specific programs in Senegal, Pakistan, El Salvador, Peru, Eritrea, Mozambique, and other nations, as well as thematic campaigns like 'Dalla Base alla Cima' for women's rights and testamentary bequests. ISCOS also produces podcasts on human rights topics through external platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BELIEF Project (Benessere, Empowerment, Lavoro, Istruzione E Formazione)

Quantifiable outcome

• 17,578 direct beneficiaries (52% women) reached through BELIEF project in Pakistan
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 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 minor and core.

• ComPass 071minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBosnian association that produced the documentary 'The Reasons We Leave' within the 'Rotte di Solidarietà tra il Veneto e i Balcani' project, funded by Regione Veneto. The documentary features twelve testimonies of people on the move.
• Atlantis LifecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for carbon credits development in A.MAR BLU project. Contributes technical expertise for measuring CO2 absorption and analyzing environmental impact data collected with local communities and university partners.
• Worldrise, Legacoop Romagna, CESTHAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian partners in the A.MAR BLU project for marine protected areas in Casamance, Senegal. Working on environmental protection and sustainable economic development.
• AGADA, IPSIA, AGIREcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSenegalese partner organizations in the A.MAR BLU project, collaborating on marine protected areas and sustainable development in Casamance.
• University of Assane Seck of ZiguinchorcoreTechnology or IntegrationAcademic partner in A.MAR BLU project, collaborating on scientific data collection and environmental monitoring for marine protected areas.
• We WordminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead organization for the EU-funded project 'Derechos Humanes Ambientales Ya' in Peru, partnering with ISCOS and Centro Bartolomé de las Casas.
• Centro Bartolomé de las CasascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partner in Peru, particularly in Cusco region. Collaborates on environmental human rights projects and worker's rights initiatives.
• ANOLF PiemontecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead organization for SkillNet project on circular migration between Italy and Pakistan, implemented with ISCOS and CISL Piemonte. Addresses labor migration matching and professional training.
• ENGIMminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead organization for GOT project (Générer des Opportunités de Travail) in West Africa, with ISCOS as partner along with Caritas Mali.
• Caritas MaliminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in GOT project for youth social and economic inclusion in West Africa, implemented with ENGIM and ISCOS.
• FOCSIVminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian federation of Christian-inspired volunteer organizations. Organized panel at Codeway Expo 2026 on cooperation and innovation where ISCOS presented A.MAR BLU project.
• ISCOS ER (Emilia-Romagna)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional ISCOS structure participating in Senegal mission and cooperation projects.
• CISLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent trade union organization from which ISCOS originated in 1983. Provides institutional support and connections to global union network.
• ISCOS PakistancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal presence implementing BELIEF project for Christian communities in Punjab province since early 1990s.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CESVI: Italian foundation for international development and humanitarian aid, headquartered in Bergamo. CESVI operates with the same institutional donor mix (AICS, EU, individual donations) and focuses on food security, climate, and rights themes that overlap heavily with ISCOS's portfolio.
• WeWorld: Italian NGO (formerly CESVI partner organizations) implementing donor-funded development and humanitarian projects globally. WeWorld leads a Peru consortium with ISCOS and shares the same AICS/EU grant-funded, multi-country implementation model.
• ENGIM: Italian NGO focused on vocational training and youth employability in developing countries. ENGIM is an active ISCOS consortium partner on the GOT project in West Africa, and is directly comparable in mission, funding model (AICS/CEI grants), and beneficiary profile.
• Oxfam Italia: Italian confederate of Oxfam International, addressing poverty, gender justice, and inequality through donor-funded programs. Oxfam Italia competes for the same institutional tenders and is comparable in scale, geographic breadth, and funding mix.
• ActionAid Italia: Italian affiliate of ActionAid International, implementing rights-based development projects funded by AICS, EU, and individual donors. Comparable in multi-country reach, women's rights focus, and advocacy-driven project portfolio.
• Mani Tese: Italian NGO working on international solidarity, fair trade, and development cooperation in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Mani Tese shares ISCOS's mix of institutional grants and grassroots fundraising, and addresses overlapping themes (food sovereignty, workers' rights).
• FOCSIV: Italian federation of Christian-inspired volunteer and cooperation NGOs. FOCSIV organizes the panels (e.g., Codeway Expo 2026) where ISCOS presents, and both organizations channel institutional and 5x1000 funding for international development projects with shared thematic overlap.
• COOPI: Milan-based Italian NGO running donor-funded development and emergency projects across Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. COOPI competes for the same AICS and EU tenders and operates a comparable project-implementation model with multi-country field offices.
• Terre des Hommes Italia: Italian NGO focused on child rights and development cooperation in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Comparable AICS-funded implementation model and similar 5x1000 / donation-driven domestic fundraising approach.

Broad incumbents

• ACTED: Large France-headquartered international NGO implementing donor-funded development and humanitarian projects across 40+ countries. ACTED competes for the same EU, AICS-equivalent, and UN agency tenders and operates a comparable project-implementation model at greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/iscoscisl
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/iscoscisl
• Facebookfacebook.com/Iscos.Cisl
• Instagraminstagram.com/iscos.nazionale
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iscos-istituto-sindacale-per-la-cooperazione-allo-sviluppo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about ISCOS - Istituto Sindacale per la Cooperazione allo Sviluppo