Monte - Desenvolvimento Alentejo Central, ACE

What Monte - Desenvolvimento Alentejo Central, ACE does

Monte - Desenvolvimento Alentejo Central, ACE is a Portuguese non-profit business grouping (ACE - Agrupamento de Empresas ou Entidades) founded in 1996 and headquartered in Arraiolos, in the Central Alentejo region. It serves as the official managing entity for the GAL (Grupo de Ação Local) Alentejo Central, administering EU rural development and social-inclusion funding under the DLBC/LEADER framework across nine municipalities: Alandroal, Arraiolos, Borba, Estremoz, Redondo, Reguengos de Monsaraz, Vendas Novas, and Vila Viçosa. The organization operates with a small team of approximately 14 employees focused on territorial animation, social innovation, and development cooperation.

The organization's core portfolio consists of four program lines: EDL2030, the overarching Local Development Strategy 2030; Gerar Identidades and its successor Gerar Identidades 2.0, both CLDS contracts (4G and 5G respectively) delivering active-aging programs to elderly residents of Arraiolos; and O Local+Global, a development-education project targeting 3rd-cycle students in Arraiolos and Mora. These programs are complemented by bioeconomy and circular-economy funding allocations to local farmers and by transnational cooperation projects such as the AGROVOLTEP agrovoltaic initiative (Interreg VI España-Portugal) and a seven-GAL carbon-sequestration LEADER project coordinated with French partners.

Monte-ACE generates no commercial revenue; its financial inflows come almost entirely from EU and Portuguese public funding streams (Portugal 2020, European Social Fund, POSEI, PEPAC). The go-to-market is community-led: the organization reaches beneficiaries by animating the territory, convening local stakeholders, and implementing grant-funded projects with municipalities, school clusters, and social-service networks. Customer concentration on public funders is therefore structurally high, and the organization's growth depends on continued access to successive EU programming periods and on its ability to renew institutional protocols such as those with Federação Minha Terra and ANMP.

Name

Monte - Desenvolvimento Alentejo Central, ACE

Legal name

Monte - Desenvolvimento Alentejo Central, ACE

Website

https://monte-ace.pt

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Monte - Desenvolvimento Alentejo Central, ACE is a Portuguese non-profit Local Action Group managing EU rural-development and social-inclusion programs (DLBC/LEADER) across nine municipalities in Central Alentejo, serving elderly residents, students, and rural entrepreneurs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rural Development Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPADABAO

Technical Cooperation, Capacity Building & Policy Advisory Programs

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Bilateral Development Agencies & Aid Programs

SECONDARYBPADABAN

Donor Coordination, Monitoring & Evaluation (MEL) Programs

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Bilateral Development Agencies & Aid Programs

SECONDARYBPADAEAE

Economic Growth, Livelihoods & Private Sector Development

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/International Development & Technical Assistance

SECONDARYBPAGABAL

Infrastructure, Housing & Community Development

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/International Development & Poverty Alleviation

SECONDARYBPADALAM

Circular Economy & Resource Efficiency

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Climate, Environment & Sustainable Development Programs

Keywords

• Rural development services
• Community-led development
• Local action group
• EU funding programs
• Regional development

Headquarters

HQ city

Arraiolos

HQ country

Portugal

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

Revenue model

1. EU Development Funding: Monte-ACE is funded primarily through European Union programs including Portugal 2020, POSEI, European Social Fund (FSE), and other co-financing mechanisms for rural development and social inclusion programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Monte - Desenvolvimento Alentejo Central, ACE is a public-interest business grouping (ACE) and Local Action Group (GAL) founded in 1996 in Arraiolos, Portugal, with approximately 14 employees. It designs and implements community-led local development (DLBC/LEADER) programs to foster sustainable economic and social development across 9 municipalities in Central Alentejo. Its core activity is coordinating and channelling EU structural funds (Portugal 2020, POSEI, FSE) to local beneficiaries through strategies such as EDL2030 and projects including Gerar Identidades, Gerar Identidades 2.0, and O Local+Global.

Product overview

Monte – ACE operates as a Local Action Group (GAL) managing rural development initiatives in the Alentejo Central region of Portugal. The organization functions as a coordination and project management entity rather than a technology company, overseeing a portfolio of social development programs. The core offerings include EDL2030 (territorial animation and rural development strategy), Gerar Identidades 2.0 (active aging support under CLDS-5G), the predecessor Gerar Identidades (CLDS-4G social development contract), and O Local+Global (global citizenship education). These programs work across municipalities including Arraiolos, Mora, and the broader Alentejo Central territory to promote sustainable economic development, social inclusion, and rural governance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• EDL2030 (Local Development Strategy towards 2030) Strategic framework defining the priorities, actions, and resource allocation for community-led local development (DLBC/LEADER) across the 9 municipalities of Central Alentejo towards 2030. It is the strategic instrument guiding the ACE's programming of EU funds and local development interventions.
• Gerar Identidades Named project under the ACE's community-led local development programming aimed at generating and strengthening local identities in the Central Alentejo territory. Targeted at local communities, municipalities, and rural development beneficiaries.
• Gerar Identidades 2.0 Second edition of the Gerar Identidades project, continuing and extending the identity-generation and community-development work in Central Alentejo under DLBC/LEADER programming.
• O Local+Global Named initiative that connects the local development work of the ACE with global perspectives, supporting the positioning of Central Alentejo's territory, products, and communities in wider networks.

Quantifiable outcome

• 343,200€ invested in Gerar Identidades social project (2020-2023)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Município de ArraioloscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipality of Arraiolos acts as project promoter for the Gerar Identidades social programs and provides co-financing through Portugal 2020 and European Social Fund. The municipality works with Monte-ACE on active aging initiatives and social development of the municipality.
• CLASA - Rede Social de ArraioloscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLASA (Rede Social) is a local partnership network for social intervention in Arraiolos, collaborating with Monte-ACE on the Gerar Identidades CLDS project as a local partnership entity.
• Agrupamento de Escolas de ArraioloscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool cluster of Arraiolos partners with Monte-ACE on the O Local+Global project, hosting educational activities, workshops, and inter-school encounters focused on global citizenship and SDGs.
• Agrupamento de Escolas de MoracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool cluster of Mora partners with Monte-ACE on the O Local+Global project, hosting educational activities, workshops, and inter-school encounters focused on global citizenship and SDGs.
• CIMAC - Comunidade Intermunicipal do Alentejo CentralcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntermunicipal Community of Central Alentejo is part of the AGROVOLTEP consortium, working with Monte-ACE on agrovoltaic initiatives and agricultural energy transition projects.
• Universidade de ÉvoramajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Évora is a technical partner in the AGROVOLTEP project, providing research and scientific support for agrovoltaic development in Central Alentejo.
• Make it BettermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMake it Better is a partner in the AGROVOLTEP transboundary project (Interreg VI España-Portugal), contributing to agrovoltaic development and sustainable agriculture initiatives.
• Fundação MUSOLminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMUSOL Foundation is a partner in the AGROVOLTEP consortium, contributing to development cooperation and sustainable practices.
• Município de Arroyo de la LuzminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipality of Arroyo de la Luz (Spain) is a partner in the AGROVOLTEP transboundary project, contributing to cross-border cooperation on agrovoltaics.
• Associação ObjetivosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociação Objetivos is a partner in the AGROVOLTEP consortium, contributing to sustainable development initiatives.
• GAL Pays du Chinonais (France)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench Local Action Group promoting the European cooperation project on carbon sequestration and sustainable agricultural practices. Coordinates the transnational LEADER cooperation initiative with 7 GAL partners including Alentejo Central.
• GAL Pays Vallée du Loir (France)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench Local Action Group participating in the European LEADER cooperation project on sustainable agriculture and carbon practices.
• GAL Pays de Gâtine (France)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench Local Action Group participating in the European LEADER cooperation project on sustainable agriculture and carbon practices.
• GAL Centre Ouest Bretagne (France)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench Local Action Group participating in the European LEADER cooperation project on sustainable agriculture and carbon practices.
• GAL Pays Pyrénées Méditerranée (France)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench Local Action Group participating in the European LEADER cooperation project on sustainable agriculture and carbon practices.
• GAL Pro-Raia (Portugal)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortuguese Local Action Group Pro-Raia partners in the European LEADER cooperation project on sustainable agricultural practices and carbon sequestration.
• Federação Minha TerracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational federation of Portuguese Local Action Groups. Monte-ACE participates in LEADER meetings and General Assemblies. Signed institutional collaboration protocol with ANMP for rural development and GAL sustainability.
• Associação Nacional de Municípios Portugueses (ANMP)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Association of Portuguese Municipalities signed institutional collaboration protocol with Federação Minha Terra to strengthen rural development, establish Rural Development Council, and promote multi-level cooperation.
• Associação Terras de SicóminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Action Group Association Terras de Sicó collaborated with ANMP and Federação Minha Terra on the LEADER/General Assembly meeting in Pombal.
• Instituto da Segurança Social (ISS)minorOthersSocial Security Institute co-finances the Gerar Identidades CLDS-4G project through Portugal 2020 and European Social Fund.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Universidade de Évora: Public university partner in Monte-ACE's AGROVOLTEP project, providing research and scientific support for agrovoltaic development. An enabling institutional partner rather than a direct competitor, but a relevant anchor in the same territorial innovation ecosystem.
• CIMAC - Comunidade Intermunicipal do Alentejo Central: Intermunicipal community governing the same nine municipalities as Monte-ACE's territory. A direct partner in the AGROVOLTEP consortium and a key public-sector counterpart for territorial development in Central Alentejo.

Regional players

• ADER-SOUSA - Associação de Desenvolvimento Rural das Terras do Sousa: GAL and LEADER managing entity in northern Portugal's Tâmega e Sousa region. Directly comparable in LEADER program scope, EU funding dependency, and rural development mandate, though operating in a different territorial context.
• ADL - Associação de Desenvolvimento do Litoral Alentejano: Portuguese GAL operating in the Alentejo Litoral region, also funded under LEADER/DLBC with similar community development and rural entrepreneurship mandates. Comparable in legal form, funding model, and scope, but distinct in geographic territory.

Emerging players

• MUSOL - Fundación Municipalistas por la Solidaridad y el Fortalecimiento Institucional: Spanish NGO partner in Monte-ACE's AGROVOLTEP Interreg project. Operates in similar municipal development and cooperation domains, particularly around sustainable agriculture and local governance support, making it a thematic peer in the Iberian cooperation ecosystem.
• INLOCO - Associação para a Animação e Desenvolvimento Local: Portuguese non-profit association working in rural southern Portugal, active in social inclusion, community animation, and territorial development. Comparable scope and mission to Monte-ACE's social projects (Gerar Identidades, active aging programming).

Direct peers

• TERRAS DE SICÓ - Associação de Desenvolvimento: Portuguese GAL and LEADER managing entity in the Sicó region. Operates the same EU funding programs (DLBC, LEADER) for rural development as Monte-ACE and is a sister association within Federação Minha Terra.
• Federação Minha Terra: Portuguese national federation of Local Action Groups (GALs), of which Monte-ACE is a member. Operates LEADER/DLBC programs across Portuguese rural territories and is the most direct institutional comparator in terms of mission, funding streams, and territorial development focus.
• GAL Pays du Chinonais: French Local Action Group leading the transnational LEADER cooperation project that Monte-ACE participates in. Operates the same LEADER methodology under France's EU rural development policy and is a direct strategic partner for cross-border programming.

Broad incumbents

• ANMP - Associação Nacional de Municípios Portugueses: National association of Portuguese municipalities that signed an institutional collaboration protocol with Federação Minha Terra (Monte-ACE's federation). Operates at a broader national scale on rural development policy, overshadowing individual GALs in policy influence.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/MonteArraiolos/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/monteace
• Instagraminstagram.com/olocamaislglobal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/monte-ace

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Monte - Desenvolvimento Alentejo Central, ACE