Ingenieure Ohne Grenzen E.v.

What Ingenieure Ohne Grenzen E.v. does

Ingenieure ohne Grenzen e.V. (Engineers Without Borders Germany) is a non-profit charitable association (eingetragener Verein) founded in 2003 and headquartered in Berlin, with its registered seat in Marburg. The organization supports communities in the Global South through technical cooperation alongside local partner organizations, with operational priorities on water supply, sanitation, electricity, and educational infrastructure. Active project geographies span Uganda, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and Rwanda. Core technical offerings include Urine-Diverting Dry Toilets (UDDTs) — which separate urine and feces at source for safe drying and downstream use as natural fertilizer — solar energy systems, rainwater harvesting infrastructure, and vocational training facilities (e.g., the EUR 236,000 Kshek Vocational Skills Center in Kapchorwa, Uganda). A standardization initiative is underway to codify UDDT deployment methodology for reuse across future projects.

Domestically, the organization runs a Bildungs- und Inlandsarbeit (BILA) portfolio covering STEM (MINT) education, Global Learning, and integration programs, including intercultural learning projects such as GAZEBO in Aachen, mathematics tutoring in Freiburg, apprenticeship learning support in Münster, and a Repair Café in Ilmenau. The operational model is community-led: roughly 30 Regionalgruppen across Germany mobilize thousands of volunteer engineers and supporters who contribute to project planning, implementation, and domestic education work.

Revenue comes entirely from individual donations, corporate donations, foundation/grant funding (e.g., Lions Club Lingener Land EUR 20,000 for the Zimbabwe Rising Star School project), and Fördermitglied membership dues. The organization is tax-exempt (Freistellungsbescheid from Finanzamt Marburg, dated 14.11.2025) and was awarded the Wackerbarth-Medaille — one of Germany's highest engineering honors — at the European Engineers' Day 2025. Marketing and supporter engagement run through a multi-channel mix including LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, email newsletters, the organizational website, industry events (IFAT Munich 2026, Europäischer Ingenieurkammertag), and a Spreadshirt merchandise storefront.

Name

Ingenieure Ohne Grenzen E.v.

Legal name

Ingenieure ohne Grenzen e.V.

Website

https://ingenieure-ohne-grenzen.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ingenieure ohne Grenzen e.V. is a German non-profit (founded 2003) that delivers technical development projects — including UDDT sanitation, water, solar, and vocational training infrastructure — across sub-Saharan Africa alongside local partners, and runs domestic STEM, global learning, and integration programs through ~30 regional volunteer groups.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Development Cooperation Services

NAICS

Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310), Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Sanitary Services (4950), Services-Engineering Services (8711), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Program & Project Implementation (TA Delivery) (BPADAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) (BPAGABAC), Water Resources, WASH & Integrated Water Management (BPADALAH), Infrastructure, Energy & Urban Development Aid Programs (BPADABAJ), Technical Cooperation, Capacity Building & Policy Advisory Programs (BPADABAO)

Keywords

• Nonprofit development cooperation
• WASH infrastructure projects
• Engineering volunteer programs
• Vocational skills training
• Global learning education

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from private individuals supporting development projects
2. Corporate Donations: Donations from companies supporting specific projects or general operations
3. Foundation/Grant Funding: Funding from foundations such as Lions Club Lingener Land (EUR 20,000 for Zimbabwe project)
4. Membership Fees: Fördermitglied (supporting member) membership dues providing recurring revenue

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Ingenieure ohne Grenzen e.V. delivers technical development cooperation projects (water supply, sanitation including UDDTs, solar energy) in Global South countries, alongside domestic educational programs in Germany covering STEM, global learning, and integration. Operates as a non-profit association through volunteer-led regional groups and local partner organizations, funded by donations, membership fees, and grants.

Product overview

Ingenieure ohne Grenzen e.V. is a non-profit development cooperation organization that does not operate a traditional software product. Instead, it offers a portfolio of social impact projects focused on infrastructure development in the Global South and educational programs in Germany. The core offerings include: (1) Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) projects including dry separation toilets (UDDTs) and water supply systems, (2) SolarWaDi systems combining solar power with water solutions, (3) vocational skills training centers like the Kshek Vocational Skills Center in Uganda, (4) educational programs in Germany including BILA ( Bildungs- und Inlandsarbeit) workshops and the GAZEBO intercultural learning project, and (5) sustainability initiatives like the Repariertreff repair café.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• UDDT Standardization Project Development project to standardize implementation of Urine-Diverting Dry Toilets (UDDTs) to make them more efficient and sustainable. Aims to optimize processes, materials, and workflows across the organization for future WASH projects. Targets communities in Uganda lacking adequate sanitation infrastructure.
• BILA - Bildungs- und Inlandsarbeit (Educational and Domestic Work) Educational and domestic work program covering STEM (MINT) education, global learning, and integration activities for children and youth in Germany through interactive workshops and project days. Delivered by volunteer-led regional groups.
• GAZEBO - Intercultural Learning Intercultural learning project based in Aachen that promotes integration of refugee children and teaches intercultural competencies and teamwork through sustainable technical solutions in schools.
• Repariertreff Ilmenau (Repair Café Ilmenau) Repair café offering in Ilmenau where volunteers help repair devices of all kinds, promoting ecological sustainability by giving broken items a second chance. Awarded the machen!2025 Engagement Award in the 'Engagement für mehr Lebensqualität' category.
• SoWaDi - Solar-Wasser-Display Combined solar power and water solution deployed in a large-scale field trial in Tanzania with 24 SoWaDi systems, addressing renewable energy and water access for rural communities.
• Kshek Vocational Skills Center Vocational training center in Kapchorwa, Uganda providing practical training in trades such as carpentry, welding, metalworking, plumbing, bicycle mechanics, tailoring, and masonry. Total project budget EUR 236,000. Partnership with Kshek Rural Development Foundation (KRDF) and Suubi.
• Fördermitglied (Supporting Member) Program Recurring supporting membership program inviting individuals to become regular financial supporters of the organization with annual dues providing sustainable operational funding.
• Donation Programs (Private, Corporate, Foundation) One-time and recurring donation channels for private individuals, companies, and foundations (Stiftungen und Fördergeber) supporting general operations or specific projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sanitation facilities constructed at multiple schools serving hundreds of students
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MADAM (Mankind's Activities for Development Accreditation Movement)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner organization in Sierra Leone implementing water and sanitation projects. MADAM collaborates on school toilet construction, household toilet programs, and water supply projects in Tonkolili District. Long-standing partnership with multiple joint projects.
• Kshek Rural Development Foundation (KRDF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity-Based Organization (CBO) in Kapchorwa, Uganda leading the Kshek Vocational Skills Center initiative. Partnership for establishing vocational training, construction of workshop buildings, and WASH infrastructure.
• SuubicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal organization in Uganda with longstanding collaboration on multiple projects. Steven Beingana from Suubi serves as site manager bringing extensive UDDT project experience to the Kshek Vocational Skills Center project.
• Vision and Hope FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for Rising Star Primary School project in Hopley, Zimbabwe. Main donor Lions Club Lingener Land contributed EUR 20,000 for sanitation facilities.
• Nhanga Trust / Days for Girls ZimbabweminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConducted educational workshops on menstrual hygiene and biological reproductive systems for students at Rising Star School. Provided training on making reusable textile pads.
• Hochschule INES (Rwanda)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpanding cooperation for renewable energy projects with this Rwandan university.
• leanlabs Agentur für digitale Medien GmbHminorOthersDigital media agency in Berlin that developed the organization's website.
• Newsletter2Go GmbHminorOthersEmail marketing service provider used for newsletter distribution from Berlin office.
• Ingenieurkammer SachsenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAwarded Wackerbarth-Medaille at Europäischer Ingenieurkammertag 2025. Long-standing collaborative relationship with German engineering chambers.
• BundesingenieurkammerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGerman federal engineering chamber - collaborative partner and co-awarding body for Wackerbarth-Medaille recognition.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• WaterAid: Major international NGO focused exclusively on water, sanitation and hygiene. A broad incumbent in the WASH space where Ingenieure ohne Grenzen operates; significantly larger scale and geographic reach, but overlapping mission and beneficiary base in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Habitat for Humanity Germany: German branch of the international housing-focused nonprofit. Comparable as a peer operating infrastructure-construction development projects in low-income communities with a German donor base, though focused on housing rather than WASH/energy.

Direct peers

• Practical Action: International NGO that uses technology to challenge poverty in developing countries, with strong WASH, energy, and agriculture portfolios. Highly comparable as a technology-and-engineering-focused development organization operating in similar geographies and end-user segments.
• Engineers Without Borders Australia: Australian Engineers Without Borders chapter. Direct peer within the same global federation, focused on engineering-based development cooperation and STEM education, with similar volunteer-driven project delivery in the Asia-Pacific and Africa.
• Ingénieurs Sans Frontières (France): French national chapter of Engineers Without Borders. Direct peer organization delivering technical development cooperation through volunteer engineers across Africa, Asia, and Latin America — operating model and beneficiary communities closely mirror the German chapter.
• Engineers Without Borders USA: U.S. national chapter of the global Engineers Without Borders movement. Directly comparable as a fellow EWB federation member delivering engineering-based development projects; the two organizations already collaborate on the Uganda Kshek Vocational Skills Center project.
• Engineers Without Borders UK: UK chapter of the Engineers Without Borders network. Direct peer as a sister national organization with the same engineering-for-development mission, volunteer-driven model, and similar WASH/infrastructure project portfolio in developing countries.
• German Toilet Organisation: Hamburg-based nonprofit focused on sanitation, toilets, and hygiene in developing countries. Direct peer with overlapping WASH mission, German organizational base, and similar donor/support constituency working on school and community sanitation in Africa and Asia.

Regional players

• Welthungerhilfe: One of Germany's largest private aid organizations, focused on development cooperation and disaster relief. Comparable as a German-registered nonprofit operating development and infrastructure projects in similar geographies, though with much broader scope (food security, agriculture) than the engineering-focused mission of Ingenieure ohne Grenzen.
• Caritas Germany: German Catholic welfare confederation engaged in international development cooperation and domestic social services. Comparable as a large German nonprofit with dual domestic/international programs, though much broader social services scope than the engineering-development focus of Ingenieure ohne Grenzen.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ingenieure-ohne-grenzenorg
• Facebookfacebook.com/ingenieureohnegrenzen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ingenieure-ohne-grenzen-ev
• Instagraminstagram.com/ingenieure_ohne_grenzen_e.v

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Ingenieure Ohne Grenzen E.v.