What Viva Salud does

Viva Salud is a Belgian non-governmental organization (ASBL/vzw), founded in 1985 as Médecine pour le Tiers Monde (M3M) and headquartered at Chaussée de Haecht 53 in Brussels (Belgian company number BE 0418.282.311). Its mission is to advance the right to health globally by providing financial, political, and capacity-building support to grassroots partner organizations in Palestine, DR Congo, the Philippines, and Belgium, with newer emergency engagement in Lebanon. Core partners include AWDA, Bisan Center, and Health Work Committees in Palestine; Étoile du Sud and Si Jeunesse Savait in DR Congo; and the Council for Health and Development, GABRIELA, KARAPATAN, and IBON Foundation in the Philippines. The organization is a co-founder of the People's Health Movement (PHM), active in over 70 countries.

The business model is donation- and grant-funded rather than commercial. Revenue streams comprise individual one-time donations, recurring monthly standing orders via bank domiciliation, peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns, legacies and bequests, and Belgian Development Cooperation (DGD) programme grants. Distribution channels include a self-serve donation portal (soutien.vivasalud.be), a peer-to-peer action platform (action.vivasalud.be), direct bank transfers, the annual ManiFiesta festival in Ostend, a volunteer network, and a loanable 48-panel photo exhibition. Pricing is voluntary and pay-what-you-can, with paid merchandise (exhibition books at €30, postcards at €10). Marketing is community-led via social media, a multilingual website (FR/NL/EN), email and print newsletters, cultural events, and solidarity trips.

The organization employs approximately 16 permanent staff and is led by Director Fanny Polet, with Marc Botenga as President of the unpaid Board of Directors and Wim De Ceukelaire as Administrateur délégué. Viva Salud holds multiple quality and ethical-fundraising certifications (C2E via ACODEV, AERF, Récolte de Fonds Éthique, Be-cause Health charter) and is recognized by the Belgian Federal Government as a programme NGO authorized to issue fiscal attestations. Annual reports are published from 2017 onward, and the organization is a member of NGO OpenBook and DonorInfo transparency platforms. The technology stack is non-proprietary: standard website, donation platform, and social media; there is no disclosed AI/ML capability, and Viva Salud does not develop or sell commercial products.

Name

Viva Salud

Legal name

Viva Salud

Website

https://vivasalud.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Viva Salud is a Brussels-based Belgian NGO, founded in 1985, that funds and politically supports grassroots partner organizations fighting for the right to health in Palestine, DR Congo, the Philippines, and Belgium through donations, government grants, and solidarity campaigning.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Development and Health Rights Advocacy

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

International & Local Implementing NGOs (HLAJAKAD)

Keywords

• Global health advocacy
• Right to health
• Nonprofit solidarity
• Development cooperation
• Grassroots health support

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individuals supporting the right to health globally. The organization accepts direct bank transfers and manages online donation portals.
2. Monthly Standing Orders (Domiciliation): Monthly recurring donations through bank domiciliation, providing stable financial support for ongoing operations and partner organizations.
3. Fundraising Campaigns: Peer-to-peer fundraising through customized online action pages. Supporters create personal campaigns for birthdays, weddings, retirements, and other events to raise funds.
4. Legacies and Bequests: Inheritance donations through wills and testaments, described as essential for ensuring the continuity of the NGO.
5. Government Grants: Financial support from Belgian development cooperation (DGD) and other international donors for programme activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Viva Salud is a Belgian non-governmental organization that advocates for the right to health globally by supporting grassroots partner organizations in Palestine, the Philippines, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Lebanon. It channels individual donations, monthly standing orders, legacies/bequests, and Belgian government (DGD) grants to local partners, while also running advocacy campaigns (e.g., 'Soigner et résister à Gaza', '#NotATarget'), fundraising initiatives (Run for Palestine, ManiFiesta), solidarity trips, a volunteer program, and a 48-panel photo exhibition.

Product overview

Viva Salud is a Belgian NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) focused on advocating for the right to health globally. Rather than a commercial product company, Viva Salud offers a portfolio of advocacy campaigns, fundraising initiatives, educational resources, and engagement programs. Key offerings include campaigns like 'Soigner et résister à Gaza' and '#NotATarget', the 'Run for Palestine' fundraising initiative, the annual ManiFiesta festival, a 48-panel photo exhibition available for loan, organized solidarity trips to partner countries, an online fundraising platform, and volunteer programs. The organization publishes annual reports documenting its activities and finances.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Online Donation Portal Self-serve web portal (soutien.vivasalud.be) enabling individuals in Belgium to make one-time or recurring donations to Viva Salud, with fiscal attestation provided by the recognized programme NGO.
• Action Platform (Peer-to-Peer Fundraising) Online platform (action.vivasalud.be) that allows supporters to create personalized fundraising campaigns for events such as birthdays, weddings, retirements, or races, with progress tracking and donor mobilization tools.
• ManiFiesta Festival Participation Annual engagement at the ManiFiesta festival in Ostend, Belgium, where Viva Salud hosts partner organizations, operates a fundraising bar, presents exhibitions, and recruits volunteers.
• Solidarity Trips to Partner Countries Organized travel experiences for volunteers and supporters to partner countries (Philippines, Palestine, DR Congo), enabling direct encounters with partner organizations, activists, and field realities.
• Photo Exhibition: Soigner et Résister à Gaza (Loan Service) A 48-panel photo and informational exhibition on healthcare in Gaza, available for loan to supporters, organizations, and venues, accompanied by exhibition books (€30) and postcard reproductions (€10) with QR codes for donations.
• Volunteer Program Program engaging volunteers in events, logistics, translations, research, demonstrations, exhibition organization, and solidarity activities across Belgium.
• Annual Reports (Publication Series) Yearly published annual reports detailing Viva Salud's finances, activities, results, gender policy, environmental footprint, alliances, and memberships, made publicly available for transparency.

Quantifiable outcome

• Trained 10,000+ community health workers in Philippines
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Si Jeunesse Savait (SJS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Congolese feminist youth organization founded in 2001 working primarily in Kinshasa. Promotes and protects human rights of adolescents and youth, especially girls and sexual minorities, through capacity building and financial autonomy in urban and peri-urban areas. Viva Salud has partnered with SJS since 2022.
• Étoile du Sud (EDS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Congolese NGO founded in 2004 defending the right to health. Promotes community participation and empowerment through popular health committees in Kinshasa, Katanga, North-Kivu, South-Kivu, and Maniema provinces. Viva Salud has partnered with EDS since 2008.
• Health Work Committees (HWC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1997Palestinian NGO active since 1985 in West Bank managing network of 10 health centers and mobile clinics. Partnership began around school health programs in East Jerusalem and evolved into long-term support for health rights, youth participation, and citizen mobilization. Viva Salud has partnered with HWC since 1997.
• AWDA (Al Awda Health and Community Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPalestinian health organization based in Gaza founded in the 1980s by health professionals and activists. AWDA provides primary healthcare, specialized treatments, reproductive health, and emergency aid. Despite bombings and chronic shortages, AWDA continues to offer care and save lives. Viva Salud provides ongoing financial and political support.
• Bisan Center for Research and DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch center founded in 1989 in Ramallah strengthening Palestinian civil society through research, training, and collaboration with civil society. Bisan conducts research on Israeli occupation impact, gender inequalities, and economic policies. Supports about 60 local initiatives and works with youth, women's, and trade union organizations.
• Council for Health and Development (CHD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhilippine organization fighting for the right to health by providing alternative and popular healthcare. Organizes free, comprehensive, community-managed healthcare systems and trains community health agents (10,000+ trained). Also campaigns against reduction of national health budget.
• GABRIELAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal women's movement of marginalized Filipino women based in Manila. Provides counseling, medical missions, free healthcare, and women's rights training. Nearly 20,000 members worldwide across 16 regional branches. Campaigns include 'Free our sisters' for political prisoners and ratification of ILO Convention 190.
• KARAPATANcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the largest human rights organizations in Philippines, created in response to Marcos dictatorship. Documents human rights violations meticulously and campaigns against abuse of antiterror laws and shrinking democratic space.
• IBON FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhilippine study center researching social, economic, and political problems. Provides information and education to popular organizations, publishes textbooks and magazines, and supplies partners with socio-economic research on health access including 'Price of privatized healthcare' and 'Fail (Phil) Health' reports.
• People's Health Movement (PHM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal network for the right to health fighting for basic healthcare and improvement of social, economic, and ecological conditions for health. Viva Salud co-founded PHM and remains highly active. PHM is represented in over 70 countries, primarily in low- and middle-income countries.
• intalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSolidarity movement collaborating with Viva Salud in Belgium as part of the broader solidarity movement for international justice.
• Cubanismo.beminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSolidarity organization collaborating with Viva Salud, working together at ManiFiesta festival and promoting Cuban public health model.
• Plateforme d'Action Santé et SolidaritéminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform bringing together social movements, NGOs, and academic personalities that take action for the right to health in Belgium and globally. Viva Salud participated in its creation.
• AMEL AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of People's Health Movement (PHM), key actor in community health in Lebanon. Through network of centers and mobile teams, provides access to primary healthcare, psychosocial support, and protection for most vulnerable populations including displaced persons.
• Secours Populaire LibanaiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner of Médecine pour le Peuple (Belgian organization related to Viva Salud's origins). Intervenes directly with affected populations: welcoming displaced families, distributing aid, and supporting healthcare structures.
• Médecine pour le PeupleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian health organization with origins linked to Viva Salud's founding. Doctors from Médecine pour le Peuple originally went to Lebanon to work in Palestinian refugee camps, establishing the solidarity tradition that led to Viva Salud's creation.
• Health Impact Coalition (HICO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of 8 Belgian health NGOs created to strengthen health systems together in the 16 countries where member organizations are active. Viva Salud joined this coalition.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cordaid: Dutch international development organization supporting partner NGOs in fragile states with a focus on health systems, security, and justice. Comparable to Viva Salud in channeling funds through local partners in conflict-affected countries and advocating for equitable healthcare access.
• Plan International Belgium: Belgian office of a major international development NGO focused on children's rights and community health, with Belgian donor-base fundraising and fiscal attestation. Comparable to Viva Salud in being a Belgian-recognized programme NGO with DGD-co-financed programming.
• Hivos: Dutch international development organization funding civil society partners in the Global South on rights, health, and sustainability. Comparable to Viva Salud in its right-based funding model, grassroots partner network, and donor-country advocacy positioning.
• Broederlijk Delen: Belgian international solidarity NGO that supports partner organizations in the Global South through long-term partnerships, capacity building, and public campaigning. Directly comparable to Viva Salud's model of sustained partnership financing plus Belgian-based public mobilization.
• Handicap International (now Humanity & Inclusion) Belgium: Belgian-headquartered international NGO delivering health and inclusion services in conflict-affected countries through local partner networks. Comparable to Viva Salud in partner-led delivery model and right-based advocacy stance.
• Solidarité Socialiste / Solidaris International: Belgian federation of international solidarity NGOs supporting partner organizations in the Global South with a similar social-justice framing. Comparable to Viva Salud's partnership and advocacy model and overlapping geographic priorities.
• 11.11.11 (CNCD): Belgian umbrella coalition of solidarity NGOs coordinating international development, advocacy, and public campaigns in Belgium. Highly comparable to Viva Salud because it mobilizes Belgian civil society around the same partner-country solidarity themes and channels resources to grassroots movements abroad.
• Médecins du Monde (Belgium): Belgian branch of the international medical-humanitarian network providing healthcare to vulnerable populations and advocating for the right to health. Comparable to Viva Salud in mission (right to health, partner-country delivery) though more clinically oriented.

Broad incumbents

• ActionAid International: International federation working with grassroots partners in the Global South on rights-based development, including the right to health. Comparable to Viva Salud's right-to-health framing and partnership model, but at significantly larger scale and geographic breadth.
• Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Belgium: Much larger global medical-humanitarian organization with a Belgian operational section, active in the same conflict-affected geographies (Gaza, DRC, Philippines-adjacent). Comparable as a Belgian-anchored right-to-health actor, though operating at vastly greater scale with direct medical delivery.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/vivasaludbe
• Instagraminstagram.com/vivasaludbelgie
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vivasaludbe

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Viva Salud