What CODESPA does

CODESPA, legally Fundación CODESPA, is a Spanish nonprofit development cooperation foundation founded in 1985 and headquartered at C/ Rafael Bergamín 12, Madrid. The organization designs and implements economic-inclusion projects targeting vulnerable rural populations living below the $2.15/day poverty line across Iberoamerica, Africa, and Asia. Its service offering rests on a proprietary framework branded Método CODE (Community-based, Opportunities, Development, Empowerment), which combines vocational training, access to microfinance and credit, and market linkages for small producers, alongside consulting engagements for other entities implementing development programs. Since inception, CODESPA has executed more than 1,400 projects across 34 countries and reports improving the lives of 5.9 million people and their families.

The operating model blends field program delivery with knowledge products. Field work is staffed by more than 100 professionals and experts, of whom approximately 90% originate from the countries where projects run, supporting a locally embedded implementation model. Alongside project execution, CODESPA publishes technical notes, guides, and case studies on microfinance, corporate volunteering, agricultural productivity, and inclusive business, and runs fee-bearing training courses (for example, a €550 impact-assessment course at CEU San Pablo University). It also organizes the annual Premios CODESPA awards (2026 edition referenced) to recognize social-impact excellence. The portfolio is supported by two affiliated entities, CODESPA America and Fundació CODESPA Catalunya, which act as regional operating arms.

CODESPA is funded through a diversified mix of recurring individual donations (suggested contributions of approximately €12 per month), corporate partnerships, and public/institutional grants from bodies including AECID, PNUD, and EU programs, supplemented by course fees. The organization states that 84.10% of total funds received are channeled directly into project activity, and it is audited by KPMG and certified by Fundación Lealtad for transparency and governance. Distribution channels include a website donation platform supporting card, PayPal, and direct debit, BIZUM, and bank transfer at Banco Santander, alongside corporate partnership and inclusive supply-chain programs with firms such as El Corte Inglés.

Name

CODESPA

Legal name

FUNDACIÓN CODESPA

Website

https://codespa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CODESPA is a Spanish nonprofit foundation founded in 1985 that designs and implements economic-inclusion projects for vulnerable rural communities across 34 countries in Iberoamerica, Africa, and Asia. It delivers vocational training, microfinance access, and market linkages using its Método CODE framework, funded by donations, corporate partners, and public grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Development Consulting

NAICS

Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Growth, Trade & Private Sector Development Programs (BPADABAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Education, Skills & Workforce Development Aid Programs (BPADABAE)

Keywords

• Development consulting
• Poverty alleviation
• Economic inclusion
• Microfinance services
• Vocational training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Madrid

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Regular donations from individuals who become members or make one-time contributions. Average monthly contribution from members is €12.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Support from companies through donations, strategic partnerships, and corporate volunteering programs.
3. Public Funding and Grants: Funding from public administrations, international organisms, and development agencies such as AECID, PNUD, and EU programs.
4. Course Fees: Some educational courses and workshops have registration fees (e.g., €550 for Impact Assessment course), though many are free.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CODESPA designs and implements development projects and consulting services that promote economic inclusion and reduce poverty. Its core work delivers vocational training, access to microfinance and credit, and market connections to vulnerable rural communities in Iberoamerica, Africa, and Asia, supported by individual donations, corporate partnerships, and public grants.

Product overview

CODESPA is a development NGO (non-profit organization), not a technology product company. Its offerings consist of donation/membership programs enabling public participation in poverty alleviation projects, educational services (courses, publications, technical notes) on development topics, consulting services for other organizations, and the proprietary Método CODE development methodology. The organization operates donation and membership platforms for individual and corporate supporters, and hosts annual awards recognizing social impact excellence. The portfolio is focused on development cooperation rather than software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Website Donation Platform Online donation platform enabling individuals and companies to make one-time or recurring donations supporting CODESPA's development projects in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
• Membership Program (Hazte Socio) Recurring donation program allowing individuals to become members with preset or custom contributions on monthly, quarterly, biannual, or annual cadences.
• Development Consulting Services (Consultorías) Consulting services provided to other entities to implement development projects, leveraging CODESPA's 40 years of field experience and the Método CODE framework.
• Training Courses (Cursos) Educational courses and training programs covering inclusive business, corporate volunteering, impact assessment, and European financing opportunities, delivered with academic partners.
• Publications (Publicaciones) Guides, case studies, and research publications on topics such as corporate volunteering, microfinance, rural market development, and CSR strategies.
• Technical Notes (Notas Técnicas) Technical documents covering private sector involvement in development, agricultural productivity, microfinance, and corporate social responsibility.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5.9 million people improved their lives through CODESPA projects
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• CODESPA AmericaminorOthersSister organization operating separately, dedicated to CODESPA's work in the Americas.
• Fundació CODESPA CatalunyaminorOthersAffiliated foundation based in Catalonia supporting CODESPA's mission.
• KPMGcoreOthersExternal auditor providing annual financial audits to ensure transparency and accountability.
• Fundación LealtadcoreOthersEvaluates and certifies NGO transparency and good governance practices.
• The Boston Consulting Group (BCG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on events regarding SDGs and inclusive supply chains. Hosted at BCG offices in Madrid for the XII Ciclo Empresa y ODS event.
• Obra Social La CaixaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial work foundation collaborating as a supporter of CODESPA courses and events.
• AECID (Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish Agency for International Development Cooperation providing funding and support for development projects and courses.
• ICEX España Exportaciones e InversionesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish entity supporting internationalization and development initiatives, co-supported international conferences.
• IESE Business SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner collaborating on inclusive business conferences and knowledge development.
• CEV (European Volunteer Center)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on corporate volunteering studies and EU AID Volunteers initiative for humanitarian aid.
• Business Fights PovertyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in the Business Observatory against Poverty, collaborating on conferences.
• CEU San Pablo UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution hosting courses on impact assessment and European financing.
• CECOD (Centre for Development Cooperation Studies)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch center for development cooperation studies, co-organizing training courses.
• ForéticaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainability and CSR organization, collaborated on technologies for base of pyramid conference.
• El Corte InglésminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner represented at events discussing inclusive supply chains and CSR practices.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Kiva: Nonprofit microfinance platform enabling individual lenders to fund small entrepreneurs in developing countries. Overlapping microcredit and financial inclusion model with CODESPA's field projects.
• TechnoServe: International NGO focused on economic development and entrepreneurship in developing countries. Directly comparable approach of working with entrepreneurs and small producers to build inclusive markets.
• Heifer International: U.S.-based nonprofit operating in similar rural economic development and smallholder agriculture value chains. Directly comparable mission of lifting rural families out of poverty through training and market access.
• Acumen: Nonprofit impact investor tackling poverty through entrepreneurship in developing countries. Comparable focus on enterprise-based solutions and combining capital with technical assistance.

Broad incumbents

• CARE International: Major international development NGO working on poverty and social justice across more than 100 countries. Comparable focus on economic empowerment and women's economic inclusion in rural areas.
• Habitat for Humanity: Large international nonprofit working on poverty alleviation through community development. Comparable reliance on corporate partnerships, individual donors, and multi-country field operations.
• BRAC: One of the world's largest development NGOs operating microfinance, education, and enterprise development programs. Comparable methodology combining credit, training, and market access for poor communities.
• Mercy Corps: Large global humanitarian and development NGO with operations across many of the same geographies as CODESPA. Operates at significantly greater scale with broader programmatic scope including emergency response.

Regional players

• Fundación Codespa Catalunya: Affiliated foundation in Catalonia supporting CODESPA's mission. Operates in an overlapping Spanish regional fundraising market with comparable cause positioning.
• ProMujer: Latin America-focused nonprofit providing financial services, training, and market access to low-income women. Comparable economic inclusion model concentrated in Iberoamerica.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fundacion-codespa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 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 CODESPA