Quinoa

What Quinoa does

Quinoa is a Belgian non-profit association (asbl) headquartered in Brussels that operates in the global citizenship and international solidarity education sector. Founded in 1991 with its first international partnership established in 1993, the organization runs a portfolio of international immersion projects (4-week summer immersions) with 8+ partner NGOs across Latin America, Africa, and Asia — including long-standing partners such as Peace & Development Group (PDG) in the Philippines and Child Workers in Nepal Concerned Center (CWIN), each in continuous partnership for over 30 years. Its core service model is a multi-phase collective process: info evenings, group formation (6-12 participants per group), preparatory training weekends, a solidarity fundraising campaign, the 4-week immersion abroad, and a post-project debrief.

The organization does not develop proprietary software technology; its core 'products' are pedagogical tools and facilitation frameworks — six named educational tools (Juego del Cordel, Potentia, Dezobeyi, Minga, El Tribunal del Abominable Calabacín Encubierto, El Juego de las sillas), a published book on Philippine land struggles, structured training programs, and school-based educational animations (ECMS approach) for Belgian secondary schools and higher education institutions. Quinoa also organizes public film screenings, debates, and advocacy mobilizations on climate, anti-racism, feminism, and globalization. Operational technology is limited to Stripe for payments, TRIODOS Bank for donations, a Facebook page, and a monthly newsletter.

Quinoa's business model is non-commercial: it is financed through tax-deductible individual donations (€40+ in Belgium), a €100 participant registration fee per international project, solidarity fundraising (passed through to partner NGOs), and institutional public funding via its DGD recognition by the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and AERF membership. Participants additionally self-finance €350-€550 in-country costs and individual travel, with total per-person project cost ranging €1,350-€2,000. A separate pre-constituted group tier (8-25 people, €10/person registration) targets organizational buyers such as youth movements and student groups. The organization operates with 11-50 employees and is not publicly traded; no revenue or funding figures are disclosed.

Name

Quinoa

Legal name

Quinoa asbl

Website

https://quinoa.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Quinoa is a Belgian non-profit NGO that delivers global citizenship education through international solidarity immersion projects, pedagogical tools, trainings, and school-based educational animations, serving Belgian adult participants, pre-constituted groups, families, and educational institutions in partnership with 8+ Southern NGOs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Global Citizenship Education and International Solidarity Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

In-Country Placement, Homestay & On-Ground Coordination Services (EDAIAGAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Intergovernmental Education Cooperation & Bilateral/Multilateral Programs (EDADALAA)

Keywords

• Global citizenship education
• International solidarity projects
• Pedagogical tools development
• Intercultural training programs
• NGO educational services

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tax-deductible donations from individuals: Quinoa receives donations from individuals, with donations of 40 EUR or more being tax-deductible in Belgium. Donors receive an annual fiscal attestation in March for tax purposes.
2. Participant registration and immersion fees: Participants pay a 100 EUR registration fee to Quinoa covering administrative costs and training (accommodation and meals during training weekends). Participants also pay their own travel costs (flights, passport, visa, insurance, vaccines) and in-country living costs of 350-550 EUR depending on destination. Total project cost ranges from 1,350 to 2,000 EUR per person, which is financed by participants themselves.
3. Solidarity fundraising for partner organizations: Quinoa organizes collective fundraising campaigns where participants raise funds for partner NGOs' operational costs, pedagogical materials, and community support activities. All raised funds are passed through to partner organizations.
4. AERF membership dues and public funding: Quinoa is a member of AERF (Association des Organisations de Solidarité Internationale). The organization is recognized by the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DGD) for its global citizenship education activities, suggesting some level of institutional public funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Quinoa is a Belgian non-profit association (asbl) that delivers global citizenship and solidarity education through a portfolio of pedagogical tools, school-based educational animations, capacity-building trainings, and 4-week international immersion projects with partner NGOs in Latin America, West Africa, and South/Southeast Asia. Its core model is a collective journey for groups of 6–12 participants: info sessions, preparatory training weekends in Belgium, solidarity fundraising, in-country immersion, and post-project debriefing, anchored in long-term partnerships (some exceeding 30 years) with Southern civil society organizations.

Product overview

Quinoa is a Belgian NGO focused on global and solidarity citizenship education. The organization offers a portfolio of educational tools (Dezobeyi, Potentia, Juego del Cordel, Minga, El Tribunal del Abominable Calabacín Encubierto, El Juego de las sillas), international immersion projects with partner organizations in Asia, Africa and Latin America, educational animations for schools, and training programs. The tools and services aim to deconstruct stereotypes, promote intercultural understanding, and foster engagement for social change.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• International Projects (International Immersion Programs) Structured 4-week international immersion programs that place groups of 6–12 participants alongside local NGO partners (PDG Philippines, CWIN Nepal, Enda Pro Nat Senegal, Grufides Peru, CADD Benin, Compagnie Marbayassa Burkina Faso, Acte Sept Mali, ADED Benin, Bharathi Trust India), with mandatory pre-departure training and post-project debriefing in Belgium.
• Educational Animations (ECMS for Schools)

Quantifiable outcome

• 13 peasant federations created by PDG (partner in Philippines) as a result of people empowerment programs
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Peace & Development Group (PDG) / Paghida-et sa KauswagancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1993PDG is Quinoa's longest-standing and most prominent partner, with collaboration beginning in 1993. Based on Negros Island, Philippines, PDG supports rural communities in sustainable agriculture, land reform, environmental protection, and human rights. PDG has created 13 peasant federations and become a model in sustainable rice cultivation. The collaboration involves annual international projects bringing Belgian volunteers to work alongside PDG communities, as well as advocacy and solidarity campaigns (including the 'Justice for Ben' campaign following the 2018 assassination of PDG's director).
• GrufidescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrufides is a Peruvian NGO based in Cajamarca, working since 2001 to defend the rights of communities affected by extractive projects. Quinoa organizes annual international projects in Cajamarca where volunteers support community capacity building, environmental monitoring, and participate in artistic/journalistic micro-projects defined by the community.
• Enda Pro NatcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnda Pro Nat is a Senegalese NGO founded in 1982, focused on agro-ecology, sustainable farming, and fighting land grabbing. The partnership involves international projects where volunteers work alongside farming communities on seed selection, environmental education, and agricultural activities.
• Compagnie MarbayassacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBased in Burkina Faso, the theater company founded in 1995 uses interactive theater to raise social awareness. Quinoa volunteers participate in collective theater creation, with performances staged in village communities around Ouagadougou.
• Cercle d'Autopromotion pour le Développement Durable (CADD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCADD is a Beninese network of women's organizations founded in 2000, working on microcredit, women's economic empowerment, and global citizenship education. Quinoa volunteers support women's groups and participate in microcommunity projects chosen by the women themselves.
• Child Workers in Nepal Concerned Center (CWIN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCWIN is a Nepalese organization founded in 1987 working on child rights and against child labor exploitation. Recognized by UNICEF as one of 52 exemplary organizations worldwide. Quinoa has collaborated with CWIN for over 30 years on projects involving children's rights, community integration, and rural life experiences in Dolakha.
• Acte SeptminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMalian cultural association created in 1994, promoting theater and freedom of expression. Quinoa volunteers participate in musical instrument construction workshops and theatrical productions with children from SOS villages.
• Actions for Sustainable Development (ADED)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeninese NGO established in 1999 working on food sovereignty, environmental protection, and sustainable farming. Organizes intercultural meetings on food autonomy challenges shared by Global North and South communities.
• Bharathi TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndian partner organization working on human rights, including partnerships with Irula communities. Home to Quinoa's family-friendly international project (open to children 3+ with parents) involving agroecological farm immersion and community rights education.
• AERF (Association des Organisations de Solidarité Internationale)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerQuinoa is a member of AERF and signatory of its ethical fundraising code. This membership obliges Quinoa to inform donors, collaborators, and employees annually about the use of raised funds and provides institutional credibility.
• Viva SaludcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian NGO with which Quinoa collaborates on advocacy campaigns, notably on Philippines human rights issues. Jointly organized the September 2024 webinar 'Solidarity with the Philippines' with ICHRP.
• ICHRP (International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational coalition working on human rights in the Philippines. Co-organized a September 2024 webinar with Quinoa and Viva Salud on solidarity with Philippine human rights defenders.
• ASTM (Autre Terre, INTAL, Groupe Terre)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of Belgian NGOs (Autre Terre, INTAL, Groupe Terre) that work closely with PDG Philippines and collaborate with Quinoa on advocacy, publications (e.g., 'Histoires de lutte aux Philippines'), and solidarity campaigns including the 2018 Justice for Ben campaign.
• FRAYBA (Fondo Regional de Defensa de los Derechos Humanos)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMexican human rights organization (Chiapas) coordinating Civil Observation Brigades (BRICO) that Quinoa facilitates for volunteers wanting to engage with indigenous Zapatista communities.
• DonorinfominorOthersPublic platform where Quinoa publishes its independently audited financial accounts for full transparency to donors and the public.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Groupe Terre: Belgian NGO in the ASTM coalition working on peasant agriculture and partner-NGO support, co-publishing materials and co-running solidarity campaigns with Quinoa. Comparable as a sister Belgian solidarity organization sharing overlapping partner networks and advocacy themes.
• INTAL: Belgian NGO within the ASTM coalition supporting Indigenous and peasant communities in Latin America. Comparable to Quinoa as a partner of the same coalition, sharing advocacy, fundraising, and solidarity-campaign infrastructure.
• Service Civil International: International voluntary service network coordinating short- and long-term placements with partner organizations worldwide. Highly comparable to Quinoa's solidarity-immersion model, structured pre-departure preparation, and values-based (peace, social justice) framing.
• Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO): International development volunteering organization placing participants with Southern partner NGOs for structured assignments. Comparable in long-term partner-NGO relationships, pre-departure training, and ethical-engagement positioning versus Quinoa.
• Autres Terres: Belgian NGO member of the ASTM coalition alongside Quinoa, focused on peasant agriculture and partner-NGO support in the Global South. Comparable as a sibling organization with overlapping partner ecosystem (notably PDG Philippines) and solidarity-fundraising model.
• VIA Don Bosco: International youth volunteering network sending European participants to partner NGOs in the Global South for solidarity-focused placements. Comparable cohort size, destination countries, and pre/post training cycle to Quinoa's international projects.
• AFS Intercultural Programs: Global intercultural exchange organization running hosted immersion programs across multiple countries with structured preparation and re-entry training. Comparable to Quinoa in delivery mechanism (homestay-style placements, cohort-based programs) and emphasis on intercultural learning outcomes.
• Alliance of European Voluntary Service Organisations: European network coordinating short-term voluntary service placements across member organizations, with a strong emphasis on non-formal intercultural learning. Comparable as a peer platform for solidarity project coordination, training standards, and participant mobility within Europe.
• Global Citizen Year: Structured gap-year program sending cohorts of young adults into hosted immersions with local partners, with pre-departure training and re-entry support. Directly comparable to Quinoa's collective cohort model and decolonial framing of participants as learners rather than helpers.

Regional players

• CNCD-11.11.11: Belgian coalition of solidarity NGOs and Quinoa's broader advocacy ecosystem, active in global citizenship education and policy lobbying. Comparable mission scope in Belgium but operates as an umbrella body rather than running its own immersion programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Quinoa.asbl
• Xx.com/QuinoaAsbl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/quinoa

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Quinoa