What Fundación Pachamama does

Fundación Pachamama is an Ecuadorian non-profit foundation founded in 1996 and headquartered in Quito, with approximately 39 employees and field operations across the Ecuadorian and Peruvian Amazon. Its mission centers on the Sumak Kawsay (Buen Vivir) philosophy, defending indigenous self-determination and protecting Amazonian ecosystems from extractive industries including oil, mining, and hydroelectric projects. The foundation serves as a direct support organization for five indigenous nationalities (Achuar, Shuar, Sapara, Waorani, and Kichwa), providing legal accompaniment, territorial monitoring, intercultural maternal health services, and capacity building.

The organization operates an integrated portfolio of eight interconnected programs rather than discrete products: Ikiama Nukuri (cross-cultural maternal health launched in 2006), Bosques y Territorio (forest and territorial defense), Economías del Bosque (bioentrepreneurship), Producción Sostenible y Bio-emprendimientos (sustainable production value chains), Ecoturismo y Turismo Comunitario (community-based tourism), Derechos Humanos y Derechos de la Naturaleza (legal advocacy and strategic litigation), Género (intersectional gender programming), and the Observatorio del Acuerdo de Escazú (a digital citizen-monitoring platform). Underlying capabilities are social rather than technological: community organizing, legal advocacy at national and Inter-American Human Rights System levels, and field-based program delivery supported by a network of 87 trained community health promoters. The Sapara Nationality's 23 communities protect 375,000 hectares under foundation support.

The foundation's business model is donation- and grant-driven, with no commercial product revenue. Funding sources include individual global donors, bilateral agencies (Agence Française de Développement, Expertise France), multilateral bodies (UNDP, PROAmazonía), corporate partners (Eileen Fisher), and local government co-financing. Distribution occurs through direct field engagement with indigenous communities and a pan-Amazon indigenous network (CONAIE, CONFENAIE, COICA). The organization was forcibly dissolved by the Ecuadorian government in December 2013 via Executive Decree No. 16, restored in 2017 after an Inter-American Human Rights System petition, and has since rebuilt and expanded its program portfolio.

Name

Fundación Pachamama

Legal name

Fundación Pachamama

Website

https://pachamama.org.ec

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fundación Pachamama is an Ecuadorian non-profit founded in 1996 that defends Amazonian indigenous rights and biodiversity through legal advocacy, intercultural health programs, sustainable bioeconomy, and territorial protection, serving Achuar, Shuar, Sapara, Waorani, and Kichwa nationalities in Ecuador and Peru.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-profit environmental and indigenous rights services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Support Activities for Forestry (115310), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Forestry & Indigenous Land Stewardship Services (IMAMAJAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ecosystem Services & Natural Capital Programs (Water, Biodiversity Credits, PES) (IMAMAJAK), Ecosystem Services & Natural Capital Assessment / Valuation (EUAHAHAI), Community-Based & Indigenous-Led Ecotourism (THAAAEAH), Fair Trade & Ethical Supply Chains (Certification, Traceability, Producer Support) (BPAGALAL), Maternal, Newborn, Child & Adolescent Health (MNCAH) NGOs (HLAJAKAG)

Keywords

• Indigenous rights advocacy
• Amazon conservation services
• Intercultural maternal health
• Community-based ecotourism
• Environmental legal advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Quito

HQ country

Ecuador

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The foundation raises funds from individuals and organizations globally who support Amazon protection and indigenous rights. The website features a prominent 'Donar ahora' (Donate now) call-to-action.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Fundación Pachamama is a non-profit foundation that operates an integrated portfolio of Amazon conservation, indigenous rights, intercultural health, and sustainable development programs serving the Achuar, Shuar, Sapara, Waorani and Kichwa nationalities of the Ecuadorian and Peruvian Amazon. Its core offerings include the Ikiama Nukuri intercultural maternal and child health program, Bosques y Territorio forest and territorial protection, Economías del Bosque bioentrepreneurship, Producción Sostenible fair-trade value chains, Ecoturismo y Turismo Comunitario community-based tourism, Derechos Humanos y Derechos de la Naturaleza advocacy and strategic litigation, and the Observatorio del Acuerdo de Escazú - Pastaza digital monitoring platform.

Product overview

Fundación Pachamama is a non-profit organization that operates as an integrated platform of conservation and indigenous rights programs rather than a unified software product. The organization offers multiple interconnected programs: Ikiama Nukuri (cross-cultural maternal health), Bosques y Territorio (forest protection), Economías del Bosque (sustainable bioentrepreneurship), Producción Sostenible y Bio-emprendimientos (sustainable production), Ecoturismo y Turismo Comunitario (community-based tourism), Derechos Humanos y Derechos de la Naturaleza (human rights advocacy), Género (gender equality), and the digital platform Observatorio del Acuerdo de Escazú (legal monitoring). These programs collectively support Amazonian indigenous communities in conservation, territorial defense, sustainable development, and human rights protection.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ikiama Nukuri: An intercultural health program launched in 2006 focused on maternal and infant health in Achuar and Shuar territories.
• Observatorio del Acuerdo de Escazú - Pastaza
• Pacha Emprende

Products and services

• Ikiama Nukuri Intercultural maternal and child health program that trains indigenous women as community health promoters to provide culturally appropriate prenatal care, safe birth assistance, and postpartum support in Achuar and Shuar territories of the Ecuadorian Amazon.
• Bosques y Territorio Forest protection and territorial management program that participates in national and international platforms on forests and climate change, supporting indigenous peoples in land titling and territorial defense against extractive industries.
• Economías del Bosque Program that supports and promotes bioentrepreneurship in the Amazon region through sustainable use of Amazonian biodiversity, including production chains and community-based economic alternatives.
• Derechos Humanos y Derechos de la Naturaleza Program focused on human rights and rights of nature advocacy, implementing political, judicial, and educational strategies to promote and guarantee rights at national and international levels, including strategic litigation before the Inter-American Human Rights System.
• Ecoturismo y Turismo Comunitario Program promoting ecological and community-based tourism focused on conservation of tropical Amazonian forests, supporting indigenous community enterprises that generate local income while preserving ancestral cultures. Network spans 50,000+ hectares across 10+ Achuar communities.
• Observatorio del Acuerdo de Escazú - Pastaza Citizen digital platform created to monitor the implementation of the Escazú Agreement in the Ecuadorian Amazon, ensuring territorial, environmental, cultural and social relevance through information collection, case documentation, and news dissemination. Jointly operated with Fundación Ciudadanía y Desarrollo and the Defensoría del Pueblo del Ecuador - Pastaza, with support from Expertise France.
• Producción Sostenible y Bio-emprendimientos Program focused on developing and commercializing Amazonian products within fair trade schemes that avoid deforestation, integrating innovation with profitability while strengthening economic rights and good living conditions.
• Género Gender equality and equity program that works with an intersectional approach across all foundation programs, recognizing the cultural-ethnic diversity of the Amazonian region and promoting equality in project participation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 37.5% coverage in Achuar territory and 77% in Macuma parish for maternal health services
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

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.

• CONAIE (Confederación de Nacionalidades Indígenas del Ecuador)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor indigenous confederation representing indigenous nationalities in Ecuador. Works together on indigenous rights advocacy, territory defense, and joint legal actions.
• CONFENAIE (Confederación de Nacionalidades Indígenas de la Amazonía Ecuatoriana)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmazonian indigenous confederation. Supports the political formation school for young defenders and coordinates on Amazon protection initiatives.
• COICA (Coordinadora de las Organizaciones Indígenas de la Cuenca Amazónica)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPan-Amazon indigenous organization coordinating defense of indigenous rights across the Amazon basin.
• Centro de Derechos Humanos de la PUCEmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCatholic University of Ecuador's human rights center providing legal support in strategic litigation cases.
• INREDH (Instituto de Derechos Humanos)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHuman Rights Institute providing legal accompaniment in cases of rights violations.
• CEDHU (Comisión Ecuménica de Derechos Humanos)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEcumenical Human Rights Commission providing legal support in indigenous rights cases.
• Acción EcológicamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental organization allied in cases related to extractive industries and environmental rights.
• CASCOMImajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerShuar community organization in the Mirador mining case, representing affected communities.
• Fundación Ciudadanía y DesarrollocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCivil society organization jointly creating the Escazú Agreement Observatory in Pastaza.
• Defensoría del Pueblo del Ecuador - PastazacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOmbudsman office delegation for Pastaza, jointly operating the Escazú Agreement Observatory.
• GADMIPA de ArajunominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMunicipal government partner in the Proyecto Chakra for local implementation.
• Universidad Regional Amazónica IkiamminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRegional Amazon university providing Field School methodology and capacity building in the Chakra project.
• GAD Provincial de PastazaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvincial government partner supporting Chakra project and Cuenca Baja initiatives.
• Asociación WiñakminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProducer association partner in the Chakra project value chains.
• Asociación KallariminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChocolate producer association partner in the Chakra project.
• Kapawi EcolodgeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcotourism lodge operated by Achuar community, partner in the Resiliencia project.
• GAD Parroquial TuutinentzaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorParish government partner in the Aja Shuar Tuutinentza project.
• FICSHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerShuar federation partner in the Aja Shuar projects.
• GAD Cantón ArajunominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMunicipal government partner in the Chakra Arajuno project.
• Nacionalidad Achuar del EcuadorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Achuar Nationality organization, primary partner for Ikiama Nukuri program and tourism initiatives.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• AIDESEP: Interethnic Association for the Development of the Peruvian Amazon, representing indigenous organizations in Peru. Regionally adjacent indigenous Amazon confederation, also partnered with international donors, but operates primarily in Peru rather than Ecuador.

Direct peers

• Amazon Watch: US-based nonprofit that partners with indigenous peoples to protect the Amazon and defend rights against extractive industries. Highly comparable mission, indigenous-led governance approach, and focus on Ecuador and Peru mirror Fundación Pachamama's work.
• Forest Peoples Programme: UK-registered organization supporting forest peoples' rights to land and resources, with substantive Amazon and Inter-American Human Rights System engagement. Operates a similar advocacy-plus-grantmaking model.
• Survival International: Global indigenous rights advocacy organization running campaigns on tribal land defense, particularly in the Amazon. Overlaps on territory protection, indigenous legal defense, and donor-driven advocacy model.
• Cultural Survival: Indigenous rights nonprofit supporting community-led governance, land titling, and cultural preservation in the Americas. Comparably relies on grants and individual donors to back indigenous governance initiatives in Amazonian countries.
• Rainforest Foundation US: Funds indigenous-led land defense and sustainable enterprises in Amazon and Congo basins. Directly comparable model of channeling international donor funds to indigenous forest stewards across South America.
• Acción Ecológica: Ecuadorian environmental organization allied with Fundación Pachamama on extractive-industry resistance campaigns. Same country, same political and legal environment, overlapping leadership networks, and shared donor base.

Broad incumbents

• Wildlife Conservation Society: Field-based conservation organization with Amazon programs focused on protected areas and wildlife corridors. Broader portfolio than the foundation but comparable in operating geographies and conservation outcomes.
• Conservation International: Large global conservation NGO operating across the Amazon. Less indigenous-led than Fundación Pachamama, but overlapping on ecosystem services, climate finance, and corporate partnerships in the region.

Emerging players

• Sociedad Ecuatoriana de Derechos Humanos y Naturaleza: Smaller Ecuadorian advocacy organization engaged on rights of nature legal cases. Directly comparable niche but with substantially fewer resources and a narrower programmatic scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/pachamama.org.ec
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fundacionpachamama

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 Fundación Pachamama