ASPEm Associazione Solidarietà Paesi Emergenti

What ASPEm Associazione Solidarietà Paesi Emergenti does

ASPEm (Associazione Solidarietà Paesi Emergenti) is an Italian non-governmental organization founded in 1979 and headquartered in Cantù, Italy. It develops and manages international cooperation projects, youth mobility programs, and global citizenship education initiatives across three continents — with permanent operational offices in Lima (Peru, since 1987), Cochabamba (Bolivia, since 2001), and Addis Ababa (Ethiopia, since 2020). Its portfolio spans roughly ten concurrent projects, including SANAPI (water access and beekeeping in Bolivia), IDeM (gender equality in Bolivia, Colombia, Uruguay, Guatemala), COR (human rights volunteering), ARCO (education in Ethiopia), PUENTES and ACT4PEACE (European Solidarity Corps Humanitarian Aid placements), Ollas Comunes/Proyecto Semilla (food security in Peru), Sumaj Pacha and Ethioplant (agroecology), and DiMMi (migrant storytelling in Italy).

The organization has no proprietary technology product; its "platform" is a program management and volunteer-placement infrastructure that channels European Solidarity Corps, Servizio Civile Universale, and Italian-school education pathways into field operations delivered with local partners (ALBOAN, MPDL, Gregoria Apaza, ASEC-IGER, El Abrojo, Tukuy Pacha, Salesian Sisters). Beneficiary segments are vulnerable women, European youth aged 18-35 seeking international volunteering, Italian schools (kindergarten through secondary), and rural/marginalized urban communities in Latin America and Africa.

Revenue is generated entirely through grants and donations rather than product sales. The three streams are: (1) institutional project funding from AICS, the European Union (European Solidarity Corps, AL Invest Verde), CEI, and Fondazione Cariplo; (2) individual donations and the Italian 5x1000 tax designation; and (3) tax-deductible corporate donations under D.Lgs. 117/2017. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: project origination flows from dialogue with local communities, while stakeholder engagement runs through school workshops, volunteer information sessions, social media, newsletters, and the annual 5x1000 campaign. The organization is governed by a board led by President Anna Colombo and currently operates an internal modernization initiative (ASPEm 2.0, funded by Fondazione Cariplo) targeting digitalization, funding diversification, and generational renewal.

Name

ASPEm Associazione Solidarietà Paesi Emergenti

Legal name

Associazione ASPEm

Website

https://aspem.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ASPEm is an Italian NGO founded in 1979 that runs international cooperation projects, youth mobility programs, and global citizenship education across Italy, South America, and Africa, serving vulnerable women, European youth volunteers, Italian schools, and marginalized communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Development and Humanitarian Aid Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

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

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAIAGAM

In-Country Placement, Homestay & On-Ground Coordination Services

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/International Service Learning, Volunteering & Gap Year Programs

SECONDARYEDADALAG

Refugee, Crisis & Humanitarian Education Partnerships (EiE)

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Education Partnerships, Intergovernmental & NGO Programs

SECONDARYEDAIAKAF

Student Wellbeing & Counseling for International Students (Non-Clinical Support)

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/International Student Support & Cultural Integration Services

Keywords

• International cooperation
• Youth mobility programs
• Global citizenship education
• Community development projects
• Humanitarian aid volunteering

Headquarters

HQ city

Cantù

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and 5x1000: Individual donations and Italian tax designation (5x1000) provide unrestricted funding. Donations are tax-deductible under Italian law (D.Lgs. 117/2017).
2. Institutional Project Funding: Major funders include AICS (Italian Agency for Development Cooperation), European Union (European Solidarity Corps, AL Invest Verde), CEI (Italian Episcopal Conference), Fondazione Cariplo, and various Italian government youth programs.
3. Tax-Deductible Corporate Donations: Businesses can deduct donations up to 10% of declared total income under D.Lgs. 117/2017 Art. 83 comma 2.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ASPEm is an Italian NGO that designs and manages international cooperation projects, youth mobility and volunteer programs, and global citizenship education initiatives across Europe, South America, and Africa. It delivers project-based development interventions (gender equality, environmental sustainability, food security, education, human rights) in partnership with local organizations, while also operating institutional volunteer placement programs (Servizio Civile Universale, European Solidarity Corps) and school-based educational workshops in Italy.

Product overview

ASPEm is an Italian NGO founded in 1979 offering international cooperation projects, youth mobility programs, and global citizenship education. The organization operates a portfolio of development projects including SANAPI (environmental/biodiversity in Bolivia), IDeM (gender equality in Latin America), COR (human rights volunteering), ARCO (education in Ethiopia), and DiMMi (migrant stories competition). ASPEm manages youth mobility programs through Servizio Civile Universale and European Solidarity Corps, offers school educational programs on environment/cooperation/inclusion, and facilitates volunteering opportunities across Europe, South America, and Africa. The portfolio includes both project-based initiatives (funded by AICS, EU, CEI, Fondazione Cariplo) and ongoing programs for youth engagement and civic participation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IDeM - Igualdad y Derechos de las Mujeres en América Latina: A project addressing gender inequality and promoting women's rights in Bolivia, Colombia, Uruguay, and Guatemala, funded by European Solidarity Corps - Humanitarian Aid.
• COR - Care Of Rights
• ASPEm 2.0: Innovazione e Crescita
• SANAPI
• DiMMi - Diari Multimediali Migranti
• ARCO - Arte, Crescita e Opportunità

Products and services

• SANAPI Water access, agroforestry, and beekeeping project in Bolivia (Cochabamba and Chuquisaca departments) promoting environmental sustainability and biodiversity protection, funded by AICS (Italian Agency for Development Cooperation).
• IDeM (Igualdad y Derechos de las Mujeres en América Latina) Gender equality and women's rights project operating in Bolivia, Colombia, Uruguay, and Guatemala, involving 20 European volunteers over 24 months, funded by European Solidarity Corps - Humanitarian Aid.
• COR (Care Of Rights) European Solidarity Corps project enabling 19 young people to volunteer internationally in Bolivia, Guatemala, or Peru for 11 months, focusing on human rights, gender equality, and vulnerable populations.
• ARCO (Arte, Crescita e Opportunità) Education project in Ethiopia (Addis Ababa) expanding Auxilium Catholic School preschool facilities and implementing art workshops for approximately 200 students, funded by the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI).
• DiMMi (Diari Multimediali Migranti) National competition collecting and promoting stories of migrants living in Italy, coordinated by ASPEm since 2019 and part of the Scientific Committee since 2022.
• ACT4PEACE European Solidarity Corps Humanitarian Aid project offering 5 volunteering positions in Peru and Morocco (38 weeks, September 2026 - June 2027).
• ASPEm 2.0: Innovazione e Crescita Organizational strengthening project improving communication, diversifying funding sources, digitizing processes, and promoting generational renewal, funded by Fondazione Cariplo.
• Servizio Civile Universale Italian civilian alternative service program participated in since 2003 via FOCSIV network, offering young people (18-28 years) opportunities in Italy and abroad (Cochabamba and Lima offices).
• European Solidarity Corps EU youth mobility program for 18-35 year olds to volunteer abroad, requiring registration on European Youth Portal and completion of preparatory training.
• Percorsi nelle Scuole (Global Citizenship Education) Educational programs for schools covering environment, cooperation, inclusion, and interculturalism topics, available for kindergarten through high school levels.
• PUENTES European Solidarity Corps Humanitarian Aid project with 6 volunteering positions in Guatemala, Bolivia, and Peru.
• Sumaj Pacha Project in Cochabamba, Bolivia focusing on earth care, seeds, and water for healthy economy and nutrition.
• Ollas Comunes / Proyecto Semilla Food security project in Huaycán, Peru promoting sustainable food security with community kitchens (ollas comunes) and local leadership across 5 community canteens.
• Ethioplant Small-scale agricultural self-production and continuous learning project in Ethiopia.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20% estimated reduction in gender-based violence cases
• +3 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

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ALBOANcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish NGO with experience in social justice and human rights. Contributes expertise in training and supporting civil society organizations, particularly in awareness-raising and advocacy for women's rights within the IDeM project.
• MPDL (Movimiento por la Paz)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish organization coordinating activities in Colombia and Guatemala for IDeM project, providing technical and organizational support for field operations and volunteer training.
• Centro de Promoción de la Mujer Gregoria ApazacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBolivian organization with long history of women's empowerment. Provides direct support to local women through training programs and legal assistance in La Paz, Bolivia.
• ASEC-IGERcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGuatemalan organization working to improve education and access to women's rights. Responsible for support and training activities in the Guatemalan context.
• El AbrojocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUruguayan organization known for education and social promotion initiatives. Coordinates awareness-raising and support activities for women in Uruguay.
• Tukuy PachacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBolivian partner in Cochabamba working on disability inclusion, children's rights, and community support. Collaborates with ASPEm on IDeM project.
• Adelante MujerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner in Bolivia collaborating with ASPEm volunteers in Cochabamba office.
• Yachay ChhalakuminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner in Bolivia collaborating with ASPEm volunteers in Cochabamba office.
• Salesian Sisters of EthiopiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatholic religious organization fundamental in operational and educational management of ARCO project at Auxilium Catholic School in Addis Ababa.
• ISAAF JeradaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoroccan partner hosting ACT4PEACE volunteer positions in Jerada for education and social inclusion activities.
• FOCSIVcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian federation of civil service organizations. ASPEm participates through FOCSIV network for Servizio Civile Universale projects since 2003.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Oxfam Italia: Italian affiliate of Oxfam International, active in inequality, gender justice, and humanitarian response across Latin America and Africa. Comparable institutional donor base and program structure to ASPEm.
• INTERSOS: Italian humanitarian NGO operating in crisis response across Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. Comparable AICS and EU humanitarian aid funding profile and country footprint.
• Fondazione AVSI: Italian foundation implementing development cooperation and educational projects in Latin America, Africa, and Eastern Europe. Similar portfolio of AICS, EU, and CEI-funded programming.
• ActionAid Italia: Italian branch of the international ActionAid federation. Works on women's rights, food security, and community-led development across Latin America and Africa with comparable funding and 5x1000 model.
• CESVI - Cooperazione e Sviluppo: Larger Italian NGO working on international cooperation, humanitarian aid, and environmental sustainability across multiple continents. Comparable project portfolio and donor base to ASPEm.
• CISP - Comitato Internazionale per lo Sviluppo dei Popoli: Italian NGO focused on international cooperation, food security, and community development in Africa and Latin America. Operates with similar FOCSIV-linked Servizio Civile Universale programming.
• WeWorld - Global We Onlus: Italian NGO running cooperation projects in Latin America, Africa, and Asia with focus on women's rights, environmental sustainability, and youth mobility. Overlapping target geographies (Bolivia, Peru) and beneficiary segments.
• CEVI - Cooperazione e Volontariato Internazionale: Italian NGO active in international cooperation, volunteering and global citizenship education, operating through the FOCSIV network. Highly comparable to ASPEm in mission, scale, and Italian/EU funding model.

Broad incumbents

• Save the Children Italia: Larger Italian affiliate of a global NGO with broad programming on children's rights, education, and humanitarian response. Competes for the same 5x1000 and AICS funding pool and operates overlapping educational programs (ARCO-equivalent).

Others

• AOI - Associazione delle Organizzazioni Italiane di Cooperazione e Solidarietà Internazionale: Umbrella organization of Italian NGOs engaged in international cooperation and solidarity. ASPEm operates in a peer ecosystem where AOI coordinates advocacy, training, and donor engagement.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/aspem
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC
• Facebookfacebook.com/aspemitalia
• Instagraminstagram.com/aspem_ong
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aspem-associazione-solidariet-paesi-emergenti

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about ASPEm Associazione Solidarietà Paesi Emergenti