Italian Agency for Development Cooperation - Office in Maputo

What Italian Agency for Development Cooperation - Office in Maputo does

The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation — Office in Maputo (AICS Maputo) is the regional headquarters of Italy's official development cooperation agency (Agenzia Italiana per la Cooperazione allo Sviluppo) for Southern Africa, established under Italian Law 125/2014 in 2016 and headquartered in Maputo, Mozambique. The office coordinates Italian bilateral development assistance and European Union delegated cooperation programmes across six Southern African countries: Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Angola, and Botswana (the last added in 2026), with additional operational offices in Chimoio (rural development, Manica Province) and Lusaka (Zambia/Malawi coordination), and oversight from AICS headquarters in Rome. It employs 49 staff and operates under the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI).

AICS Maputo's portfolio comprises development cooperation programmes rather than technology products. Core programmatic areas include health (notably HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening with the Ministry of Health of Mozambique), agriculture and rural development, environment and conservation, urban development, job creation, emergency preparedness, and gender and social inclusion. Flagship and delegated cooperation programmes include DELPAZ (EUR 13.4M, peace consolidation in Manica and Tete co-implemented with UNCDF and Austria's ADA), VaMozDIGITAL! (EUR 10M, digital transformation tech hubs), LEAF (EUR 13.45M, forest livelihoods in Zambia with the Czech Development Agency), CAAM (EUR 38M Mattei Plan agri-food centre), ECOBLU (EUR 3.5M, marine resources in Cabo Delgado), the Natural History Museum of Maputo rehabilitation (EUR 4.25M), and Ready2ACT (disaster preparedness with Fondazione CIMA). Distribution is direct through AICS field offices plus government partnerships, civil society organizations, and multilateral bodies.

The business model is public-sector development cooperation, not commercial revenue. AICS Maputo is funded by appropriations from the Italian government (via MAECI) and the European Union under delegated cooperation arrangements; the EU granted AICS full accreditation for indirect management of European funds in 2018. The office does not charge fees or sell products; instead, it channels grant funding to government ministries, NGOs, universities (e.g., Eduardo Mondlane University), UN agencies, and civil society partners, reaching more than 80,000 beneficiaries under DELPAZ alone. Customer relationships are with government counterparties and institutional partners rather than paying clients.

Name

Italian Agency for Development Cooperation - Office in Maputo

Legal name

Agenzia Italiana per la Cooperazione allo Sviluppo (AICS)

Website

https://maputo.aics.gov.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation's regional office in Maputo implements Italian bilateral and EU delegated development cooperation programmes across six Southern African countries (Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Angola, Botswana), covering health, agriculture, environment, peace-building, and digital transformation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Development Cooperation

NAICS

International Affairs (92812), National Security and International Affairs (928)

SIC

International Affairs (9721), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Cooperation, Capacity Building & Policy Advisory Programs (BPADABAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Program & Project Implementation (TA Delivery) (BPADAEAA), Donor Coordination, Monitoring & Evaluation (MEL) Programs (BPADABAN), Bilateral Development & Aid Agencies (HLAJAKAB)

Keywords

• International development cooperation
• Bilateral development aid
• Delegated cooperation programs
• Humanitarian assistance programs
• Rural development projects

Headquarters

HQ city

Maputo

HQ country

Mozambique

HQ region

Africa

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Development Aid: AICS receives funding from the Italian government (MAECI - Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation) and the European Union to implement development cooperation programs. The agency manages delegated EU funds and bilateral Italian development assistance.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

AICS Maputo is the Southern Africa regional office of Italy's official development cooperation agency, implementing bilateral and EU-delegated development programs across Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Angola, and Botswana. It designs, funds, and delivers multi-sectoral initiatives covering health, agriculture, environment, urban development, job creation, emergency response, and gender inclusion. Core deliverables are flagship programs such as DELPAZ, VaMozDIGITAL!, LEAF, and CAAM, executed through partnerships with local ministries, civil society organizations, UN agencies, and EU bodies.

Product overview

The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation - Office in Maputo (AICS Maputo) is a government development cooperation agency overseeing initiatives across Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Angola, and Botswana. Rather than a unified tech product, it manages a portfolio of delegated cooperation programs and development projects. Key programs include DELPAZ (peace consolidation), VaMozDIGITAL! (digital transformation), and LEAF (forestry livelihoods in Zambia). The CAAM agri-food centre represents a flagship Mattei Plan investment. Programs span sectors including health, agriculture, environment, urban development, job creation, emergency response, and gender inclusion. The agency also coordinates with Mozambican ministries, international organizations (EU, UN agencies), and civil society partners to implement development initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DELPAZ: Desenvolvimento Local para a Consolidação da Paz em Moçambique - Local Development for Peace Consolidation in Mozambique, a delegated cooperation programme funded by the EU
• VaMozDIGITAL!
• LEAF
• CAAM

Products and services

• DELPAZ (Desenvolvimento Local para a Consolidação da Paz em Moçambique) A delegated cooperation program funded by the European Union, implemented in partnership with UNCDF and ADA, aimed at contributing to peace consolidation at sub-national level in Mozambique through inclusive governance and local economic development. Active in Manica and Tete provinces.
• VaMozDIGITAL! A digital transformation initiative with a total budget of EUR 10 million (EUR 7.5 million for AICS) aimed at developing two tech hubs in Central and Northern Mozambique, promoting micro and small enterprise creation, and inclusion of youth, women, and persons with disabilities.
• LEAF (Improved Livelihoods through Enhanced Access to Forest Products, Services, Finances and Value Chains) A EUR 13.45 million program funded by the European Union under the Green Nexus Programme, implemented with Czech Development Agency, promoting sustainable livelihoods in Zambia through responsible forest resource management and value chain development.
• CAAM (Centro Agro-Alimentare di Manica / Manica Agri-Food Centre) A flagship project of the Mattei Plan for Africa with an estimated investment of EUR 38 million, designed as a regional hub for processing, storage, and distribution of agricultural products in Manica Province.
• RINO (Resources, Innovation and Development for Conservation Areas) Program for conservation areas including rehabilitation of the Natural History Museum of Maputo and the serpentarium at Eduardo Mondlane University.
• ECOBLU Project Sustainable and Integrated Development of Marine and Coastal Resources in Cabo Delgado Province, funded with EUR 3.5 million, promoting economic and social empowerment of coastal communities.
• AIM Zambia Project to strengthen resilience and improve living conditions of rural communities in Zambia, part of a broader EUR 3.5 million regional programme.
• Ready2ACT Disaster preparedness and response program implemented in collaboration with Fondazione CIMA to strengthen national coordination and disaster response capacities in Mozambique.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 80,000 beneficiaries in DELPAZ peace-building program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

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

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Televisão de Moçambique (TVM)majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024MoU renewal for communication and visibility of Italian cooperation initiatives across all 11 provinces of Mozambique and diaspora in Portugal.
• United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Implements DELPAZ programme in partnership with UNCDF for local development and peace building in Mozambique.
• Austrian Development Agency (ADA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-implements DELPAZ programme - ADA handles Sofala Province while AICS handles Manica and Tete provinces.
• Czech Development Agency (CzDA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-implements the LEAF programme with AICS for sustainable forest livelihoods in Zambia (EUR 13.45 million, 60 months).
• Fondazione CIMAmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner in Ready2ACT project for disaster preparedness and response capacity in Mozambique.
• Chimoio Agricultural Institute (IAC)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership for agricultural mechanization support under DELPAZ, including tractor provision to Green Point associations.
• Eduardo Mondlane UniversitymajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner in multiple initiatives including serpentarium rehabilitation and digital transformation programs.
• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerImplementing cross-border projects between Mozambique and Zimbabwe funded by Italian cooperation.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC): SDC is Switzerland's federal office for international cooperation, directly comparable to AICS in running multi-country, multi-sector bilateral aid programs with strong civil society and multilateral co-implementation models across Africa. Both agencies also fund through and participate in UN system partnerships.
• Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA): JICA is Japan's government agency for bilateral development cooperation, the largest non-DAC bilateral aid agency by disbursement, operating in the same multi-sector, multi-geography development cooperation model that AICS Maputo follows in Southern Africa.
• Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA): KOICA is South Korea's official bilateral development agency, with active programs in Mozambique and other AICS Maputo countries, sharing the model of a state-owned agency implementing multi-sector grants and technical cooperation in Southern Africa.
• Austrian Development Agency (ADA): ADA is Austria's operational unit for bilateral development cooperation and a current co-implementing partner of AICS on the DELPAZ programme. The two agencies share funding sources (Austrian and EU), target geographies in Africa, and the same EU pillar-assessment accreditation framework.
• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ): GIZ is Germany's federal agency for international development cooperation, directly comparable to AICS as a state-owned implementing agency that delivers bilateral and EU-delegated programs across multiple sectors and partner countries. Both agencies share the European bilateral aid model, EU accreditation for indirect fund management, and multi-country regional office footprints.
• Embassy of Sweden / Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida): Sida is Sweden's government agency for international development cooperation, comparable to AICS in mandate, funding mix, and operating model as a state-owned implementer of bilateral and multi-donor programs across multiple African and developing-country portfolios.
• Agence Française de Développement (AFD): AFD is France's bilateral development finance institution, structurally analogous to AICS as a public agency implementing French and EU-delegated cooperation programs in Africa, with comparable instruments including grants, concessional loans, and delegated EU cooperation mandates. Both operate under their respective foreign affairs ministries and serve as primary channels for European bilateral aid.
• Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad): Norad is Norway's specialist directorate for international development, comparable to AICS in mandate, scale, and multi-country portfolio management approach for bilateral Norwegian aid across Africa and other developing regions.
• Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID): AECID is Spain's state agency for international development, structurally analogous to AICS under the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with a similar multi-country, multi-sector bilateral program model including active engagement in Mozambique and Lusophone Africa.

Broad incumbents

• United States Agency for International Development (USAID): USAID is the largest bilateral development agency globally and operates broadly across the same Southern African geographies that AICS Maputo covers, with overlapping portfolios in health, agriculture, and governance. It is a much larger, broader incumbent and competes indirectly for donor visibility and partner government attention.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AICS_Ue
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCuV6I2h3V9X5xO9Z6F
• Facebookfacebook.com/AICSMaputo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/italian-agency-for-development-cooperation-office-in-maputo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Italian Agency for Development Cooperation - Office in Maputo