TCHENDUKUA ICI ET AILLEURS
Tchendukua – Ici et Ailleurs is a French non-profit association (founded 1997) that supports land restitution, biodiversity regeneration, and cultural preservation for the indigenous Kogi and Wiwa peoples of Colombia's Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, funded by donations, membership fees, and institutional grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersVincennes, France
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What TCHENDUKUA ICI ET AILLEURS does
Tchendukua – Ici et Ailleurs is a French non-profit association (association loi 1901) founded in October 1997 and headquartered in Vincennes, Île-de-France. The organisation supports the restitution of ancestral lands to the indigenous Kogi, Wiwa, and Arhuaco peoples of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in northern Colombia, and has facilitated the repurchase and return of more than 2,500 hectares between 1997 and 2023, with nearly 60 families resettled and approximately 1,200 hectares of forest regenerated. Beyond land restitution, Tchendukua runs biodiversity monitoring via camera traps (now largely Kogi-led), cultural preservation programmes (ISUN TUTU weaving, ZIGONESHI gold artifact repatriation in 2016), and the Shikwakala cross-diagnosis methodology that pairs Kogi spiritual authorities with Western scientists to assess territorial health — expanded by 2026 to six pilot sites across France and Switzerland.
The association operates an 8-person team supplemented by a volunteer network across France and Switzerland, with Marie-Hélène Straus serving as legal representative, Michel Podolak as President, and founder Eric Julien as primary spokesperson since the 1997 inception. Core programmes include: the Shikwakala cross-diagnosis initiative; the Tandem Solidaire educational partnership linking French schools (Lasséran, Gers) with Kogi teachers; the membership and Carré Vert land-sponsorship programmes; and documentary production (KOGIS, Together to Heal the Earth, narrated by Pierre Richard).
Tchendukua's revenue model is donation-driven: individual donations and annual membership fees (eligible for 66% French tax deduction for individuals and 60% for companies) processed via HelloAsso since 2021, supplemented by a small online boutique selling books and DVDs (€15–€40), project-specific land sponsorships (€1,500–€2,500 per hectare), and episodic institutional grants from AFD, the French Ministry of Ecological Transition, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and foundation partners including Goodplanet, Fondation Roi Baudouin, Fondation Léa Nature, Fondation Denis Guichard, and Fondation Emergences. The association is a UICN member and runs a multi-channel awareness apparatus (10,000+ newsletter subscribers, Facebook/Twitter/LinkedIn, recurring coverage in France 2, France 3, Le Monde, and Le Figaro Magazine, plus cinema distribution through Next Film Distribution).
TCHENDUKUA ICI ET AILLEURS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- TCHENDUKUA ICI ET AILLEURS
- Legal name
- Association loi 1901 Tchendukua – Ici et Ailleurs
- Website
- https://tchendukua.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Tchendukua – Ici et Ailleurs is a French non-profit association (founded 1997) that supports land restitution, biodiversity regeneration, and cultural preservation for the indigenous Kogi and Wiwa peoples of Colombia's Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, funded by donations, membership fees, and institutional grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
TCHENDUKUA ICI ET AILLEURS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Indigenous Land Rights Advocacy and Biodiversity Conservation (Non-profit)
- NAICS
- American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal Governments (92115)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Tribal Research Universities & Research Centers (Research-Active TCUs) (EDAHANAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Tribal/Indigenous Public Health Authorities (HLAJAAAD), Tribal Technical & Workforce Development Colleges (Trades/Applied Programs) (EDAHANAE)
Keywords
Where TCHENDUKUA ICI ET AILLEURS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Vincennes
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
TCHENDUKUA ICI ET AILLEURS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Membership Fees: The primary revenue stream consists of individual donations and annual membership fees collected via the HelloAsso platform, cheques, and bank transfers. Donations are eligible for 66% tax reduction for individuals in France and 60% for companies (up to 0.5% of annual turnover). Membership fees support the association's ongoing operations and governance.
- E-commerce (Boutique): The association operates an online boutique selling books, DVDs, postcards, and other items related to Kogi culture and the association's activities. Revenue from these sales contributes to funding projects.
- Project-Specific Fundraising: Targeted fundraising campaigns for specific projects such as the 'Carré Vert' (Green Square) initiative, where donors can sponsor approximately 500 m² of land in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta for restitution to the Kogi, tree sponsorship programs, and the Traditional Agricultural School (École de la Nature et des Savoirs).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | One time | Green Square (Carré Vert) land purchase sponsorship |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Online boutique items (books, DVDs, postcards) |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual membership (adhérent) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
TCHENDUKUA ICI ET AILLEURS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
TCHENDUKUA ICI ET AILLEURS is a French non-profit association founded in October 1997 that purchases and restitutes ancestral lands in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (Colombia) to the Kogi, Wiwa, Arhuaco, and Kankuamo indigenous peoples, while regenerating biodiversity, preserving traditional culture, and facilitating dialogue between indigenous knowledge and Western science through programs such as Shikwakala, Tandem Solidaire, ISUN TUTU, and Zigoneshi.
Product overview
Tchendukua – Ici et Ailleurs is a French non-profit association (loi 1901, founded October 1997) that does not operate a technology product. Its core activities center on land restitution for indigenous Kogi and Wiwa peoples in Colombia's Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, biodiversity regeneration, and facilitating dialogue between ancestral indigenous knowledge and modern science. The association offers a merchandise shop (selling books and DVDs), membership and donation programs (processed via HelloAsso), documentary film screenings, educational programs like the Tandem Solidaire school partnership, ecological monitoring services using automatic cameras, and cultural initiatives including the Zigoneshi gold artifact restitution and ISUN TUTU weaving preservation project.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Shikwakalab: Cross-diagnostic initiative bringing together Kogi shamans and scientists to assess and heal territorial health
- Zigoneshi
- Tchendukua Ici
- Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta
Products and services
- La Boutique Tchendukua
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 2,500 hectares repurchased and returned to Kogi and Wiwa peoples between 1997 and 2023; nearly 60 families resettled; ~1,200 hectares of forest regenerated.
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use TCHENDUKUA ICI ET AILLEURS
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
TCHENDUKUA ICI ET AILLEURS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
TCHENDUKUA ICI ET AILLEURS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- HelloAssocoreHelloAsso is Tchendukua's primary donation and membership payment platform since 2021, enabling automated processing of credit card donations, membership fees, and payments. HelloAsso operates on a 'free for associations' model with voluntary contributions from donors.
- Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature (UICN)coreTchendukua is a member of UICN, the global environmental organisation. The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is described as the most irreplaceable biodiversity hotspot in the world according to IUCN studies, concentrating 35% of Colombia's bird species on just 1.48% of the country's surface area.
- École Normale Supérieure (ENS) de LyonmajorENS Lyon was a key academic partner for the 2018 and 2023 cross-diagnosis (Shikwakala) programs, collaborating on the dialogue between Kogi traditional knowledge and Western science for territorial health assessment.
- Tairona Heritage TrustmajorTairona Heritage Trust co-sponsored the 2018 cross-diagnosis in the Drôme alongside the French Ministry of Ecological Transition, the Agence Française de Développement, and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Founded by Alan Ereira.
- Université du Magdalena (Colombia)minorStudents from the Universidad del Magdalena previously supported ecological monitoring using automatic cameras in restored territories of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. This support is now transitioning to Kogi community members themselves.
- Next Film DistributionminorPatrick Hernandez of Next Film Distribution handles the cinema distribution of the documentary 'KOGIS, Together to Heal the Earth' across France.
- Réseau Occitanie CoopérationminorSupported the Tandem Solidaire educational program between Tchendukua, the school of Lasséran (Gers), and CPIE du Gers, facilitating intercultural exchange between French students and Kogi communities.
- CPIE du GersminorCentre Permanent d'Initiatives pour l'Environnement du Gers partnered with Tchendukua and the Lasséran school for the Tandem Solidaire program, delivering 8 pedagogical interventions on biodiversity and intercultural exchange.
- ASOWAKAMUminorArhuaco women's association ASOWAKAMU partners with Tchendukua on the ISUN TUTU weaving project, supporting the practice of traditional mochila weaving as a cultural preservation initiative since 2018.
- Académie d'Architecture (Aressy Brand Business)minorListed as a partner organisation supporting Tchendukua's mission.
- Tayrona Life YogaminorListed as a partner organisation supporting Tchendukua's mission and connected to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta region.
- Université de LausanneminorAcademic partner listed as collaborating on the 2018 cross-diagnosis dialogue program alongside ENS de Lyon and other international universities.
- Université de Lampeter (Pays de Galles)minorAcademic partner listed as collaborating on the 2018 cross-diagnosis dialogue program alongside ENS de Lyon and other international universities.
- Université de ColombieminorAcademic partner listed as collaborating on the 2018 cross-diagnosis dialogue program alongside ENS de Lyon and other international universities.
- Université du BrésilminorAcademic partner listed as collaborating on the 2018 cross-diagnosis dialogue program alongside ENS de Lyon and other international universities.
- Université de MalaisieminorAcademic partner listed as collaborating on the 2018 cross-diagnosis dialogue program alongside ENS de Lyon and other international universities.
- Université d'Oregon (USA)minorAcademic partner listed as collaborating on the 2018 cross-diagnosis dialogue program alongside ENS de Lyon and other international universities.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
TCHENDUKUA ICI ET AILLEURS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Fondation Nicolas Hulot: Major French environmental foundation supporting biodiversity, climate, and educational initiatives. Comparable as a French-registered environmental foundation with CSR partnership and donor engagement models.
- IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature): Global environmental organization of which Tchendukua is a member. Operates across the full biodiversity and conservation agenda, while Tchendukua focuses specifically on indigenous land rights as a conservation strategy.
- GoodPlanet Foundation: French environmental foundation (founded by Yann Arthus-Bertrand) supporting ecological and humanist projects. Listed Tchendukua partner; broader in scope but overlaps on environmental awareness and CSR alignment.
Direct peers
- Rainforest Foundation Norway: Norwegian NGO that supports indigenous and traditional peoples' rights to their rainforests. Directly comparable in combining indigenous land rights advocacy with forest protection outcomes.
- Amazon Watch: US-based NGO working to protect the Amazon rainforest and advance indigenous rights in South America. Highly comparable in mission geography (South American indigenous territories) and biodiversity/land rights integration.
- Cultural Survival: US-based indigenous rights organization supporting indigenous communities' land rights, cultural preservation, and political representation. Directly comparable in mission around indigenous land restitution and cultural preservation.
- Survival International: Global indigenous rights NGO that supports tribal peoples' land rights and self-determination worldwide. Comparable to Tchendukua in advocating for indigenous territorial sovereignty, though operates at a much larger global scale.
- ProAves: Colombian foundation dedicated to bird and biodiversity conservation in Colombia, including work in Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Comparable in Colombian conservation focus and biodiversity monitoring methodology.
- Tairona Heritage Trust: UK-based trust founded by Alan Ereira that works directly with Kogi people on cultural preservation and territorial protection. Ereira's BBC documentary 'From the Heart of the World' inspired Tchendukua's founding, and the two organizations co-sponsored the 2018 cross-diagnosis program in the Drôme.
Regional players
- COICA (Coordinadora de las Organizaciones Indígenas de la Cuenca Amazónica): Amazon basin indigenous coalition representing nine Amazonian countries. Operates in a different region (Amazon basin vs. Sierra Nevada) but shares defense of indigenous territorial rights across South America.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
TCHENDUKUA ICI ET AILLEURS social profiles
Digital presenceTCHENDUKUA ICI ET AILLEURS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
TCHENDUKUA ICI ET AILLEURS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
TCHENDUKUA ICI ET AILLEURS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
TCHENDUKUA ICI ET AILLEURS M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about TCHENDUKUA ICI ET AILLEURS
What does TCHENDUKUA ICI ET AILLEURS do?
TCHENDUKUA ICI ET AILLEURS is a French non-profit association founded in October 1997 that purchases and restitutes ancestral lands in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (Colombia) to the Kogi, Wiwa, Arhuaco, and Kankuamo indigenous peoples, while regenerating biodiversity, preserving traditional culture, and facilitating dialogue between indigenous knowledge and Western science through programs such as Shikwakala, Tandem Solidaire, ISUN TUTU, and Zigoneshi.
Is TCHENDUKUA ICI ET AILLEURS a public or private company?
TCHENDUKUA ICI ET AILLEURS is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was TCHENDUKUA ICI ET AILLEURS founded?
TCHENDUKUA ICI ET AILLEURS was founded in 1997. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is TCHENDUKUA ICI ET AILLEURS based?
TCHENDUKUA ICI ET AILLEURS is headquartered in Vincennes, France, in the Europe region.
How does TCHENDUKUA ICI ET AILLEURS make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are E-commerce (Boutique) and project-Specific Fundraising.
Who are TCHENDUKUA ICI ET AILLEURS's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Fondation Nicolas Hulot, IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) and GoodPlanet Foundation. Direct peers are Rainforest Foundation Norway, Amazon Watch, Cultural Survival, Survival International, ProAves and Tairona Heritage Trust. COICA (Coordinadora de las Organizaciones Indígenas de la Cuenca Amazónica) is listed as a regional player.
Does TCHENDUKUA ICI ET AILLEURS have an API?
No public API is recorded for TCHENDUKUA ICI ET AILLEURS.
What industry is TCHENDUKUA ICI ET AILLEURS in?
TCHENDUKUA ICI ET AILLEURS's product category is Indigenous Land Rights Advocacy and Biodiversity Conservation (Non-profit). Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHANAD, Tribal Research Universities & Research Centers (Research-Active TCUs), with a secondary code of HLAJAAAD, Tribal/Indigenous Public Health Authorities. Its NAICS code is 92115 and its SIC code is 8600.