ULB-Coopération

What ULB-Coopération does

Ucoopia (formerly ULB-Coopération, prior to its July 2025 merger with Eclosio) is a Belgian non-profit association (ASBL) headquartered in Ixelles, Brussels, recognized as Europe's first inter-university NGO. It is governed by three parent universities — Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Université de Liège (ULiège), and Université de Mons (UMONS) — and implements international development cooperation projects spanning agroecology, food systems, public health, natural resource management, and global citizenship education. Its activities reach vulnerable populations in nine countries across Western and Central Africa (Benin, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea), South America (Peru, Bolivia), and Southeast Asia (Cambodia), with a network of 70+ partner organizations including multilateral bodies, bilateral agencies, and local implementing NGOs.

Ucoopia does not develop or sell proprietary technology products; its underlying methodology is the integration of academic research from its three parent universities with on-the-ground development project implementation through local partner organizations. Field activities include agroecology and agroforestry programs, beekeeping sector strengthening in DRC, mangrove ecosystem management, healthcare access improvements in Kinshasa and North-Kivu, and water/market/food systems work in Peru's Andean region (e.g., the SAMA project reaching 200 smallholder families and the impulSAS program reaching thousands of beneficiaries).

Its revenue model is non-commercial and entirely grant- and donation-based. Primary funding comes from institutional grants — notably the Belgian Development Cooperation (DGD), the European Union, ARES, Enabel, GIZ, the French Development Agency (AFD), Luxdev, and the Wallonia-Brussels Federation — supplemented by private foundation grants (McKnight, Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation), corporate sponsorship (tax-deductible up to €500,000 annually), core funding from the parent universities, and individual donations at suggested tiers of €45, €85, or €100 (tax-deductible from €40 with a 30% Belgian tax credit). The organization reports that 85% of donations are allocated directly to projects. Beneficiary populations do not pay for services; the go-to-market motion is community-led through university partnerships, academic collaborations, field coordinators, interns, and volunteers rather than commercial sales.

Name

ULB-Coopération

Legal name

Ucoopia ASBL

Website

https://ulb-cooperation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2025

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Ucoopia is Belgium's first inter-university NGO, created from the merger of ULB-Coopération and Eclosio in July 2025, implementing development cooperation projects in agroecology, public health, and natural resource management across nine countries under three parent universities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Development Cooperation Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

International Development & Donor-Funded Education Programs (EDADALAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Research, Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) Partnerships (EDADALAK)

Keywords

• International development cooperation
• Sustainable agriculture programs
• NGO project funding
• Health systems strengthening
• Academic development partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute directly to Ucoopia's projects. Donations are tax-deductible in Belgium (from €40, with 30% tax credit). The organization reports that 85% of donations received are directly allocated to projects.
2. Institutional Funding: Major funding from Belgian and European government agencies including DGD (Belgian Cooperation), EU, ARES, regional governments (Wallonia, Brussels), and municipalities. These grants fund multi-year development projects.
3. Corporate Sponsorship and Patronage: Companies provide financial sponsorship, skills sponsorship (pro-bono expertise), in-kind donations, or project co-financing. Tax-deductible up to €500,000 annually.
4. University Core Funding: Core operational support from parent universities (ULB, ULiège, UMONS) following the merger that formed Ucoopia.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ucoopia (formerly ULB-Coopération) is Europe's first inter-university non-governmental organization, delivering international development cooperation projects in agroecology, food security, health systems strengthening, natural resource management, and professional training across Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. Funded by institutional grants (Belgian DGD, EU, ARES), individual donations, and corporate sponsorship, the organization implements multi-year programs (impulSAS, SAMA, WASOP) with local partners in eight or more countries.

Product overview

ULB-Coopération was an NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) focused on international development cooperation, not a technology products company. Following its merger with Eclosio in July 2025 to form Ucoopia, the organization's activities centered on development projects in agriculture (agroecology, sustainable farming), health (quality and access to healthcare), environmental conservation (mangrove ecosystems, natural resource management), and education (professional training, civic education). The entity did not offer technology products or software services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SAMA Project (Food Systems, Market and Water)
• impulSAS Programme (Peru)
• impulSAS Programme (Bolivia)
• WASOP (West Africa Sustainable Ocean Programme)
• Continuing Education and Training Services
• Ucoopia Donation Programme

Quantifiable outcome

• 85% of donations directly allocated to projects
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, major and minor.

• ULB-CoopérationflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025ULB-Coopération (the NGO of Université libre de Bruxelles) merged with Eclosio and with the active participation of UMONS to form Ucoopia. This merger created Europe's first inter-university NGO, combining academic expertise with development action.
• EclosioflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025Eclosio (the NGO of University of Liège) merged with ULB-Coopération and with the active participation of UMONS to form Ucoopia. This merger combined two established NGO networks and methodologies.
• UMONSflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025The University of Mons actively participated in the merger that formed Ucoopia, contributing academic support and expertise to the new inter-university NGO.
• University of Liège (ULiège)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent university providing academic expertise and hosting the Gembloux AgroBioTech campus for agricultural research.
• Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent university and origin of ULB-Coopération which merged to form Ucoopia.
• University of Mons (UMONS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent university that actively participated in the merger creating Ucoopia.
• DiaconiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeruvian implementing partner for the SAMA project, focusing on community development.
• Slow Food PerucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for the SAMA project, promoting sustainable food systems and agroecology.
• Louvain CooperationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner within the Uni4Coop consortium for the impulSAS program in Peru and Bolivia.
• IUCNcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManaging the WASOP (West Africa Sustainable Ocean Programme) with Ucoopia coordinating research fellowships.
• Uni4CoopcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium of Belgian university NGOs including Ucoopia and Louvain Cooperation for coordinated development action.
• Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian university partner within the Uni4Coop consortium.
• University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDRC university partner for projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
• UCADmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar, Senegal, academic partner.
• ISRAmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSenegalese Institute for Agricultural Research, operational partner.
• National University of Battambang (NUBB)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCambodian university partner for agricultural projects.
• Royal University of Agriculture (Cambodia)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCambodian university partner for agroecology projects.
• CIVIS - European Civic University AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean university alliance for civic engagement.
• IUCNcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Union for Conservation of Nature, partner for WASOP program.
• WeForestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit organization focused on forest restoration and sustainable landscape management.
• Global Mangrove AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance for mangrove conservation and restoration.
• ACODEVmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian umbrella organization for development NGOs.
• AliseaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork for agroecology in Southeast Asia.
• 3AO - Alliance for Agroecology in West AfricaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional alliance promoting agroecology in West Africa.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Enabel: Belgian federal development agency implementing large-scale bilateral projects. Comparable as a funder/implementer in the same geographies, but a state agency rather than a university-affiliated NGO.
• IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature): Global conservation organization managing the WASOP program in partnership with Ucoopia. Overlaps on mangrove and natural resource management themes.
• Catholic Relief Services (CRS): Large international humanitarian and development NGO active in similar agroecology, health, and resilience themes. Explicit partner of Ucoopia and a much larger-scale peer.

Others

• ACODEV: Belgian umbrella federation of francophone development NGOs. Ucoopia is a member; comparable as an ecosystem peer in policy advocacy and DGD coordination.

Direct peers

• Louvain Coopération au Développement: Belgian university NGO of UCLouvain and a fellow Uni4Coop consortium member. Direct peer in mission, structure, and Belgian DGD-funded development programs across similar geographies.
• SOS Faim: Belgian NGO supporting family farming and food sovereignty in Africa and Latin America. Similar scale, donor profile, and thematic overlap with Ucoopia.
• Autre Terre: Belgian development NGO with DGD funding and similar smallholder farming / agroecology focus in West Africa and Latin America. Comparable size and operating model.
• Iles de Paix: Belgian NGO working on agroecology, food systems, and water in West Africa and Latin America. Closely comparable in scale, Belgian origin, and donor mix.
• Triodos Foundation / Trias: Belgian-rooted international NGO focused on farmer organization strengthening and agroecology. Comparable mission, scale, and DGD co-financing exposure.
• ULiège - Eclosio (predecessor): The university NGO of ULiège that merged with ULB-Coopération to form Ucoopia. Most direct precedent entity in scope, structure, and operating model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Ucoopia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ulbcooperation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 ULB-Coopération