Migrafrica (VJAAD e.V.)

What Migrafrica (VJAAD e.V.) does

Migrafrica gGmbH (formerly Verein für junge afrikanisch und andere Diaspora / VJAAD e.V.) is a Cologne-based charitable non-profit organization (gemeinnützige GmbH, HR 116033 AG Köln) with 14 employees, established in its current legal form in August 2019 with Stammkapital of EUR 25,500. The organization delivers social inclusion, youth empowerment, and development cooperation services for people with refugee and migration backgrounds, primarily across Germany and a 14+ country European partner network plus Ethiopia and Curaçao. Its core offerings fall into three buckets: (1) direct support programs for beneficiaries — including work integration (Migraaktiv PLUS, WorkKompass Plus), the Shine! women's empowerment program, and language/career counseling; (2) Erasmus+-funded international youth exchanges and entrepreneurship training (Building Bridges for Social Inclusion, Welcomeship, Black to the Future 2.0, Entrepreneurship+ in Ethiopia, Empowering Leaders in Curaçao); and (3) the AMARE social enterprise initiative producing vegan premium Berbere-spice sauces launched in January 2026 as both a vocational qualification pathway and revenue-generating activity.

The organization does not develop or sell technology products, software, or APIs; there is no proprietary platform, no developer integrations beyond standard web tools (CleverReach newsletter, Google Analytics, Matomo, YouTube, Vimeo, PayPal, Klarna, Sofortüberweisung), and no AI/ML infrastructure. Its technology footprint is limited to a content/communications website (migrafrica.org), Instagram/Facebook social presence, and standard payment processing for donations and AMARE product sales.

Revenue is generated through three streams: project-based grants from EU institutional funders (Erasmus+, Engagement Global, JUGEND für Europa), donations and sponsorships, and emerging AMARE product sales. Services are provided free of charge to beneficiaries. The organization is managed by two Geschäftsführer (Abraham Nida and Amanuel Amare) and holds the Hidden Movers Award 2018 for its WorkKompass Plus refugee qualification program.

Name

Migrafrica (VJAAD e.V.)

Legal name

Migrafrica gGmbH

Website

https://migrafrica.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Migrafrica gGmbH is a Cologne-based charitable non-profit (14 staff) delivering social inclusion, youth empowerment, and development cooperation services for refugees and migrants across Europe and Africa via EU-funded Erasmus+ projects, work integration programs, and the AMARE vegan sauce social enterprise.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-profit Social Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421), Community Food Services (624210)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAEAI

Refugee & Immigrant Support Services

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

SECONDARYBPAGALAN

Refugee & Migrant Integration Enterprises (Livelihoods, Services)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Enterprises & Impact Organizations

SECONDARYEDAAAOAJ

Immigrant & Refugee Workforce Integration Programs

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Workforce Development Initiatives

SECONDARYEDAAADAI

Refugee & Humanitarian Newcomer Orientation (Resettlement Support)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Citizenship & Immigrant Integration Education

SECONDARYBPAGAAAH

Refugee, IDP & Migration Humanitarian Assistance

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Humanitarian Aid & Disaster Relief

Keywords

• Refugee integration services
• Youth empowerment programs
• Social entrepreneurship support
• Development cooperation projects
• Erasmus+ youth exchanges

Headquarters

HQ city

Cologne

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Project Funding and Grants: Primary funding through project-based grants from EU programs (Erasmus+), government institutions, and foundations supporting integration, youth empowerment, and development cooperation.
2. Donations and Sponsorships: Voluntary contributions from individuals and organizations supporting the organization's mission of inclusion and social entrepreneurship.
3. Social Enterprise - AMARE Product Line: Non-profit product initiative AMARE produces vegan premium sauces with Berbere spice, combining enjoyment, qualification, and future prospects. Revenue supports employment pathways for people with migration backgrounds.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Migrafrica gGmbH provides a portfolio of free, grant-funded social programs for people with refugee and migration backgrounds in Germany and Europe, including direct integration and employment support, youth empowerment and entrepreneurship education, international Erasmus+ youth exchanges, and transnational development cooperation projects. In parallel, the organization runs AMARE, a social-enterprise product line producing vegan premium sauces with Berbere spice that combines culinary production with qualification and employment pathways for migrants and refugees.

Product overview

Migrafrica gGmbH (formerly VJAAD e.V.) is a charitable non-profit organization focused on social inclusion, social entrepreneurship, and development cooperation. The organization does not offer a unified software product or platform, but rather provides a portfolio of social programs and initiatives. Key offerings include: (1) Direct support services for people with refugee/migration backgrounds including work integration programs (Migraaktiv, WorkKompass Plus) and the Shine! empowerment program for young women; (2) The AMARE vegan sauce product initiative - a nonprofit product line producing premium sauces with Berbere spice, combining culinary quality with qualification and employment perspectives; (3) International youth exchange programs under Erasmus+ framework including Building Bridges for Social Inclusion, Plastic Free Green Future, and Developing Life Skills; (4) Entrepreneurship education programs including the Markus Geis Fellowship, Welcomeship community-based entrepreneurship model, and Entrepreneurship+ in Ethiopia; (5) Training resources including the Black to the Future Toolkit for African Diaspora youth workers; (6) Environmental education through GreenUp+. The organization operates as a charitable gGmbH (HR 116033 AG Köln) and does not offer technology products, APIs, or software solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Named customers3 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

Integration8 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and emerging.

• CIM (Centrum für internationale Migration und Entwicklung)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported Entrepreneurship+ project in Ethiopia, providing expertise in international migration and development cooperation.
• AEMFI (Association of Ethiopian Microfinance Institutions)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization providing scientific research on youth and work, contributing to understanding of microfinance and entrepreneurship infrastructure in Ethiopia.
• YEPP EuropemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinating organization for Welcomeship project on community-based entrepreneurship, facilitating transnational partnership network.
• Ubele Initiative (UK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted preparatory meeting for Black to the Future II project, leading strategic partnership for African Diaspora youth work across 4 cities.
• Aktion Neue NachbarncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of 'Open Up+' conference on diversity and co-sponsor of migrant integration events.
• Eine Welt Netz NRWcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in interkulturelle Promotorenstelle supporting development cooperation and civil society engagement.
• EU Erasmus+ Partner NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean network of migrant youth organizations, civil society organizations, public authorities, and stakeholders for youth and migration initiatives. Partners include organizations from Germany, Bulgaria, Romania, Spain, North Macedonia, Türkiye, Serbia, Belgium, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, UK, Finland, and others.
• IDEAL-M Project ConsortiummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU-funded project involving University of the Peloponnese, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Greek Forum of Migrants, African Media Association Malta, and others focusing on diaspora engagement for legal migration awareness.
• One Caribbean Business Network (OCBN)emergingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngaged with 20+ local entrepreneurs in Curaçao during Erasmus+ leadership project, paving way for future partnerships and Community Business Center development.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Engagement Global: Major German development cooperation service agency funded by the BMZ. Comparable as a funder and partner on Fachtag der Entwicklung 2019, with overlapping mission on development cooperation and civil society engagement, though at much larger institutional scale.
• Diakonie Deutschland: Germany's second-largest welfare organization, with extensive refugee and migrant integration programs. Comparable in serving migrants, refugees and asylum seekers with integration, employment and social support services across Germany, though at confederated scale with affiliated regional bodies.
• Aktion Mensch: Major German social welfare funder supporting inclusion of people with disabilities and social integration. Comparable as a significant funder of refugee integration and social inclusion projects across Germany with overlapping beneficiary populations.
• Caritas Germany: Germany's largest welfare organization providing refugee integration, employment support and social services. Comparable in core service delivery (refugee integration, employment pathways, social counseling) though operating at national scale as a confederated faith-based network.
• JUGEND für Europa: German National Agency for EU Erasmus+ Youth Programme. Comparable as a youth mobility and integration program funder/partner, though operating as a much larger institutional agency rather than a grassroots community organization.

Direct peers

• Aktion Neue Nachbarn: German program supporting engagement with refugees and migrants, co-organizer of 'Open Up+' conference with Migrafrica. Directly comparable mission in diversity and integration work in Germany with similar event-driven community engagement.
• CIM (Centrum für internationale Migration und Entwicklung): German center for international migration and development, partner on Entrepreneurship+ project in Ethiopia. Comparable as a German-based organization bridging migration, development cooperation and capacity building with institutional expertise and government ties.
• Eine Welt Netz NRW: North Rhine-Westphalia network for development cooperation and migrant self-organization. Direct peer as interkulturelle Promotorenstelle partner with comparable focus on diaspora engagement, civil society capacity building and development policy in the same German region.
• YEPP Europe: Youth-led community-based entrepreneurship network across Europe. Directly comparable as a transnational youth empowerment and entrepreneurship platform serving migrant and marginalized youth, with Migrafrica serving as coordinating organization for the Welcomeship project within YEPP's framework.

Regional players

• Ubele Initiative: UK-based African Diaspora community organization leading the Black to the Future strategic partnership. Comparable as a diaspora-led social enterprise focused on Black and migrant community empowerment, social entrepreneurship and community development in a UK context.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/migrafrica
• Instagraminstagram.com/migrafrica_koeln
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/migrafrica-ggmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Migrafrica (VJAAD e.V.)