Solsoc

What Solsoc does

Solsoc is a Belgian non-governmental organization (ASBL) headquartered in Brussels at Rue Coenraets 68, founded in 1936 as the Belgian section of the International Socialist Mutual Aid during the Spanish Civil War. The organisation has operated continuously under successive names — Entraide Socialiste, Solidarit\u00e9 Socialiste (from 1978), and Solsoc (from 2017) — and serves as the international solidarity arm of the Belgian Socialist Party (Parti Socialiste). It is accredited by the Belgian Directorate General for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid (DGD), which co-finances its five-year Decent Work programme alongside sister organisations FOS (the Dutch-speaking equivalent) and IFSI. Solsoc operates across 8 countries — Bolivia, Colombia, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Senegal, DRC, Palestine, and Morocco — through a network of 28 international partner organisations that in turn support 334 local civil society entities.

Solsoc's operational model is partnership-based rather than field-office-based: budgets and strategies are validated jointly with Southern partners, with at least two monitoring missions per year. Its core thematic focus areas are decent work promotion, social protection extension, social and solidarity economy development, and democratic citizenship. In Belgium, the organisation amplifies partner voices to Belgian and European policymakers through 19 advocacy platforms, quarterly Solscoop publications, press releases, and the annual Opération 11.11.11 campaign coordinated by CNCD-11.11.11. The organisation is anchored in the Joint Socialist Action alongside FGTB (Belgian trade union federation) and SOLIDARIS (socialist mutual health insurance), bringing trade union and mutualist expertise into international programmes.

Solsoc's revenue model is a hybrid of donations and government grants. Individual donors, event fundraising, and seasonal product sales (Sylvain Spéculoos €9, Charlotte Chocolat cookies €13, chocolate truffles €9, greeting cards) generate operating funds, with 90% of donations flowing directly to programmes. A distinctive Belgian state co-financing mechanism multiplies each donated euro to €5 deployed in projects (80% state matching, 20% own funds). The organisation operates with 18 permanent staff (16.95 ETP equivalent) as of 2025 across 7 departments, with €4.4 million allocated to international partner programme support in 2025 and a further €414,000 dedicated to Belgian advocacy and mobilisation. There is no proprietary technology layer; the technology footprint consists of a multi-language website (FR/EN/ES), email newsletter, and quarterly publication.

Name

Solsoc

Legal name

Solsoc ASBL

Website

https://solsoc.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

1936

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Solsoc is a Belgian NGO founded in 1936 that supports 28 international partner organisations and 334 local entities across 8 countries on decent work, social protection, and social economy programmes, funded primarily by Belgian DGD co-financing and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Development Cooperation / NGO

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Business Services, Nec (7389)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Cooperation, Capacity Building & Policy Advisory Programs (BPADABAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Development Cooperation & Foreign Aid Administration (BPAIAIAG), Donor Coordination, Monitoring & Evaluation (MEL) Programs (BPADABAN)

Keywords

• International development cooperation
• Civil society partnership
• Decent work programmes
• Social solidarity economy
• Humanitarian fundraising

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and fundraising: Individual donations, event fundraising, and product sales (calendars, greeting cards, chocolates, biscuits) during campaigns such as Opération 11.11.11 generate operating funds. 90% of donations go directly to programs; 10% covers administrative costs. Co-financing model: each euro donated is multiplied by 5 through Belgian state matching (80% state, 20% own funds).
2. Institutional funding (DGD): The primary funding source is the Directorate General for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid (DGD), which co-finances the five-year Decent Work programme jointly with FOS and IFSI. Detailed annual reporting and financial audits are required.
3. Institutional partnerships: Solsoc receives support from regional governments (Wallonie Bruxelles International), public institutions (National Lottery, Region of Brussels-Capital), and corporate partners (P&V insurance, Multipharma) for specific programs and awareness activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Solsoc is a Belgian ASBL non-governmental organisation that co-implements a five-year DGD-funded Decent Work programme alongside FOS and IFSI, channelling financial support, capacity building and accompaniment to 28 international partner organisations and 334 local civil society groups across Bolivia, Colombia, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Senegal, DRC, Palestine and Morocco. In Belgium, it carries out public mobilisation, advocacy towards Belgian and European policymakers, awareness campaigns, and fundraising (notably Opération 11.11.11) including the sale of festive products such as speculoos, chocolate cookies and greeting cards.

Product overview

Solsoc is a Belgian NGO focused on international solidarity and development cooperation, not a technology product company. Its primary offerings consist of fundraising merchandise for the annual Opération 11.11.11 campaign (biscuits, chocolates, greeting cards) and the Solscoop quarterly publication. The organization does not offer a software platform or digital product suite.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Opération 11.11.11 Festive Products Seasonal fundraising merchandise (speculoos biscuits, chocolate cookies, truffles, caramel hearts, greeting cards) sold annually during the Belgian Opération 11.11.11 campaign; 90% of proceeds support international solidarity programmes, with bulk ordering available for companies, institutions and associations.
• Solscoop Quarterly Newsletter Quarterly French-language publication featuring field actions, partner updates and advocacy content from Solsoc's programmes in Latin America, Africa and the Middle East; available online and distributed to subscribers.
• Five-Year Decent Work Country Programmes (Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Colombia, Morocco, Palestine, DRC, Senegal) Multi-year country programmes that channel DGD co-financing, capacity building and accompaniment to local civil society partners, trade unions, mutuals and cooperatives working on decent work, social protection, social and solidarity economy, and democratic citizenship.
• Belgium Advocacy and Public Mobilisation Programme Belgium-based advocacy, policy work and public mobilisation that relays demands from Solsoc's Southern partners to Belgian and European decision-makers and mobilises citizens through events, publications and campaigns.
• Online Donation and Peer-to-Peer Parrainage Fundraising Online donation and peer-to-peer fundraising service enabling individuals to donate directly to Solsoc or sponsor event participants, with each euro multiplied ~5x through Belgian state co-financing.

Quantifiable outcome

• 28 international partners supporting 334 local organisations across 8 countries as of the 2022-2026 programme
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 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

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FOS - Socialistische SolidariteitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Dutch-speaking equivalent of Solsoc within the Joint Socialist Action. FOS and Solsoc jointly implement the five-year Decent Work programme co-financed by DGD. Together they form the two wings of socialist solidarity organisations in Belgium.
• IFSI (Institut für Internationale Gewerkschaftliche Zusammenarbeit / Institute for International Trade Union Cooperation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitute supported by the FGTB, forming the third pillar of the Joint Socialist Action programme. IFSI contributes international trade union cooperation expertise to the Decent Work programme alongside Solsoc and FOS.
• FGTB (Fédération Générale du Travail de Belgique)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian trade union federation providing trade union expertise to the programme through Centrale Générale and Centrale Horval, which directly support trade union partners in Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Colombia, Palestine, and Senegal.
• SOLIDARIScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian socialist mutual health insurance federation. Through its UNMS/NVSM and regional federations (WAPI, Solidaris Charleroi, Solidaris Liège, Mutualité du Brabant), SOLIDARIS supports community health insurance extension programmes in Senegal, Burkina Faso, Burundi, and DRC.
• CNCD-11.11.11coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Centre for Cooperation and Development. Coordinates the Opération 11.11.11, the most important annual fundraising campaign for Solsoc. Solsoc participates in this coordinated national campaign alongside other Belgian development NGOs.
• PGFTU (Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMain Palestinian trade union federation supported by Solsoc and FGTB Centrale Générale. Focus on stone quarry sector: awareness, training on Labour Code and occupational health and safety, and advocacy for workers' rights in Gaza and West Bank.
• Ma'an Development CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent Palestinian development and training NGO working in the poorest and most marginalised regions on agriculture, food security, women and youth empowerment, community development, and environment. One of two main local partners in Palestine.
• Popular Art Center (PAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPalestinian NGO founded in 1987 promoting artistic and cultural dynamism to consolidate Palestinian citizenship and national identity through dance and music groups. One of two main local partners in Palestine.
• FGTB HorvalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFGTB sectoral federation for food, hospitality and services. Strengthens trade union partners in Bolivia (CGTFB, hospitality workers, PIL dairy workers), Burkina Faso (POSAA), Colombia (USTIAM, sugar industry, SINALTRAINAL), and Palestine (PGFTU) through legal, political, and economic union support.
• ASMADE (Burkina Faso)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBurkinabè association working with Solsoc to develop and structure community mutuals and social and solidarity economy initiatives, extending social protection and creating decent jobs.
• UCRB (Union des Chauffeurs Routiers du Burkina)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnion of truck drivers in Burkina Faso, supported in the fight against child trafficking alongside association ATY.
• GREEN-SénégalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSenegalese NGO partner working with Solsoc to extend social protection and improve rights of informal economy and rural workers, particularly youth and women, by promoting social and solidarity economy jobs with sustainable incomes.
• Oyofal Paj (Réseau des mutuelles communautaires)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of community mutuals in Senegal, supported by Solsoc alongside GREEN-Sénégal to extend mutual health insurance and social protection to rural and informal economy families.
• AFAQ (Maroc)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoroccan partner organisation supporting neighbourhood associations in Casablanca and social and solidarity economy initiatives, providing technical, strategic, and political strengthening.
• AJR (Maroc)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoroccan partner organisation, one of three local partners supporting Casablanca neighbourhood associations and social and solidarity economy initiatives.
• IFAAP (Maroc)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoroccan partner organisation, one of three local partners strengthening Casablanca neighbourhood associations and social and solidarity economy initiatives.
• FEBUTRA (Fédération Burundaise des Travailleurs de l'Alimentation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBurundian Federation of Food Workers, supported by Solsoc to defend workers' rights. 11 trade unions established in formal and informal agri-food sector for member and leader training, trade union education, and social dialogue.
• Université Populaire HagurukacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeople's University in Burundi that trains leaders of mutuals and cooperatives, becoming a local reference in this field. Supported by Solsoc as part of the social protection and cooperative strengthening programme.
• P&V InsuranceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian insurance company supporting Solsoc's social and solidarity economy programmes, particularly in Senegal, Burkina Faso, DRC, Burundi, Bolivia, Colombia, and Morocco.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• FOS Social Development Fund: Smaller Belgian development entity focused on social economy and decent work themes. Comparable focus areas to Solsoc's SSE programme with overlapping partner network in some regions.

Direct peers

• SOS Faim: Belgian development NGO historically linked to the same socialist ecosystem (co-founded through FNCD) and focused on food sovereignty, rural producer support, and social economy - overlapping substantially with Solsoc's SSE and food security themes.
• FOS - Socialistische Solidariteit: Dutch-speaking sister organization of Solsoc within Joint Socialist Action; jointly implements the five-year Decent Work programme co-financed by Belgian DGD. Same operational model, same partner countries, same funder relationships.
• Broederlijk Delen: Dutch-speaking Belgian development NGO, parallel to Solsoc in the Flemish NGO ecosystem. Same DGD co-financing model, similar partner-based international development approach and advocacy focus.
• Entraide et Fraternité: Belgian francophone Catholic-rooted development NGO, also DGD-funded and member of CNCD-11.11.11. Operates similar partner-based international solidarity programmes and seasonal fundraising campaigns in francophone Belgium.
• Oxfam-Solidarité: One of the largest Belgian francophone development NGOs, also funded by DGD and member of CNCD-11.11.11. Operates similar partner-based international development programmes with comparable advocacy and fundraising models.
• CNCD-11.11.11: National coordination centre for Belgian development NGOs and organizer of the annual Opération 11.11.11 fundraising campaign in which Solsoc participates. Same Belgian francophone NGO ecosystem and same public donor base.
• IFSI (Institut für Internationale Gewerkschaftliche Zusammenarbeit): Third pillar of the Joint Socialist Action DGD programme alongside Solsoc and FOS; affiliated with the FGTB trade union federation. Implements overlapping international solidarity and trade union capacity-building programmes.

Broad incumbents

• ActionAid International: International federation with presence in many of the same partner countries as Solsoc, focusing on women's rights, decent work, and social protection. Similar thematic priorities but operates at much larger scale with global funding base.
• Solidarités International: Larger French-rooted humanitarian and development NGO operating in many of the same conflict-affected countries as Solsoc (DRC, Sahel, Palestine). Comparable partner-driven and capacity-building approach but with significantly larger scale and emergency response focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Solsoc
• Facebookfacebook.com/SolsocASBL
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/solsoc-asbl

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 Solsoc