cies onlus

What cies onlus does

CIES ETS (Centro Informazione e Educazione allo Sviluppo), also known as CIES Onlus, is an Italian nonprofit organization founded in 1983 in Rome and registered as an Ente del Terzo Settore (ETS) under Italian third-sector law. Its mission is to combat discrimination in all its forms — economic, social, racial, gender, cultural, political, environmental, health, physical, and digital — through three operating pillars: International Cooperation, Intercultural Mediation, and Education and Training. The organization serves migrants, asylum seekers, refugees (including unaccompanied foreign minors), women, youth, and institutional clients across 17 Italian regions and at least nine countries worldwide (Italy, Albania, Tunisia, Mozambique, Senegal, Angola, Cuba, Uruguay, Peru), supported by a wholly-owned subsidiary in Tunisia (CIES Section Tunisie).

CIES's service portfolio is delivered through several branded programs. MaTeMù – Spazio Giovani e Scuola d'Arte is a free youth space and art school in Rome's Esquilino district for ages 10–25 offering music, theater, dance, rap, comics, and Italian-language support. SOFEL is a free orientation service for training and employment. Centro DOC is an intercultural documentation center and library holding 12,000 titles. The core operating engine is the Intercultural Mediation service line, which deployed 1,232 mediators covering 75 languages across 129 service locations in 2025, delivering 487,000+ service hours to 659,000+ beneficiaries and reaching 640,169 people through SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) programs.

The underlying technology is essentially human-services delivery rather than software: the platform is a network of trained mediators, educators, art-educators, cooperanti, and social project designers, with no proprietary technology, APIs, or AI capabilities disclosed. Revenue is generated entirely from grants and donations — not from fees to beneficiaries, since all services are free. Funding sources are EU programs (AMIF, ISF, development cooperation funds), Italian ministries (Ministry of Interior, AICS), Italian private foundations (Fondazione San Zeno, Costa Crociere Foundation, Con i Bambini, Fondazione Alta Mane, Intesa Sanpaolo Fondo di Beneficenza), and individual donations including the 5x1000 Italian tax designation. The go-to-market motion is direct-to-beneficiary service delivery combined with institutional partnership for grant procurement; the organization has been recognized with the UNHCR "Welcome – Working for refugee integration" award for six consecutive years through 2025.

Name

cies onlus

Legal name

CIES ETS - Centro Informazione Educazione allo Sviluppo

Website

https://cies.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CIES ETS is an Italian nonprofit founded in 1983 that delivers international cooperation, intercultural mediation, and education programs to migrants, refugees, youth, and women across Italy and nine-plus countries, operating a 1,232-mediator network covering 75 languages and funded by EU, Italian government, and foundation grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Social Services

NAICS

Social Assistance (624), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Integration & Inclusion Services (Housing, Education, Employment) (BPADAHAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Immigrant/Integration Language Programs (ESL/ESOL, Civics-Integrated) (EDAMAFAK), Education Partnerships for Equity, Inclusion & Gender (EDADALAF)

Keywords

• Intercultural mediation services
• International cooperation projects
• Refugee integration support
• Youth education programs
• Migrant employment orientation

Headquarters

HQ city

Roma

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, 5x1000 tax designation (Italian tax mechanism allowing taxpayers to direct 0.5% of income tax to non-profits), and general fundraising activities
2. Project-Based Funding: Funding from European Union programs, Italian government ministries (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior), and international organizations for specific development, migration, and social inclusion projects
3. Foundation Grants: Funding from private foundations including Fondazione San Zeno, Costa Crociere Foundation, Fondazione Alta Mane, Intesa Sanpaolo Fondo di Beneficenza, and others for specific project implementation

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CIES ETS is a nonprofit third-sector organization that delivers free social-inclusion services through three pillars: (1) International Cooperation projects in countries including Albania, Tunisia, Mozambique, Uruguay, Peru, Angola, Cuba, and Senegal focused on equity and social inclusion; (2) Intercultural Mediation services across 17 Italian regions in 75 languages with 1,232+ mediators deployed at hospitals, schools, immigration offices, and public administration; and (3) Education and Training, including the free MaTeMù youth art school and the SOFEL employment orientation service. All services to individual beneficiaries are provided free of charge, funded by EU grants, Italian government contracts, private foundations, and individual donations.

Product overview

CIES Onlus (Centro Informazione e Educazione allo Sviluppo) is a non-profit organization (ETS - Ente del Terzo Settore) established in 1983, providing social services through three main sectors: International Cooperation, Intercultural Mediation, and Education and Training. The organization operates through several branded programs and services including MaTeMù (free youth space and art school), SOFEL (training and employment orientation service), Centro DOC (intercultural documentation center and library), and various international cooperation projects. MaTeMù offers free artistic and educational activities for youth aged 10-25, while SOFEL provides orientation services for training and employment. The organization works with hundreds of intercultural mediators, educators, and social operators across Italy and internationally, addressing discrimination and social inclusion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MaTeMù: Spazio Giovani e Scuola d'Arte - Free youth space and art school for young people aged 10-25, offering courses in music, theater, dance, rap, breakdance, piano, guitar, drums, and singing. Also provides Italian language courses for foreigners and educational support.
• SOFEL
• Centro Doc

Products and services

• MaTeMù - Spazio Giovani e Scuola d'Arte Free youth center and art school in Rome's Esquilino district offering artistic training (music, theater, dance, rap, breakdance, piano, guitar, drums, singing, comics), Italian language courses for foreigners, educational support, and psychological support to young people aged 10-25.
• SOFEL - Sportello Orientamento Formazione e Lavoro Free orientation service for training and employment that provides guidance to young people, migrants, refugees, and women on educational pathways and professional development, supporting labor market integration.
• Centro DOC - Centro Documentazione e Biblioteca Interculturale Intercultural documentation center and library with 12,000 titles available for free consultation.
• Mediazione Interculturale (Intercultural Mediation Services) Intercultural mediation services delivered across 17 Italian regions and 68 localities, with over 1,232 mediators offering services in 75 different languages, reaching over 659,000 beneficiaries annually at healthcare facilities, schools, immigration offices, employment centers, and public administration offices.
• Cooperazione Internazionale (International Cooperation Projects) International cooperation projects promoting social, economic, and cultural inclusion implemented across multiple countries including Albania, Mozambique, Tunisia, Uruguay, Peru, Angola, Cuba, and Senegal. Funded by EU programs (AMIF, ISF), Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs/AICS, and private foundations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 659,000 beneficiaries reached in 2025 through intercultural mediation
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UTSS - Union Tunisienne de Solidarité SocialecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner in Tunisia for PRISMI project implementing microenterprise and employment support for vulnerable populations.
• FACE Tunisia - Fondation Agir Contre l'ExclusioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTunisian foundation partner for PRISMI providing training on new trades and professional integration for youth and women.
• Gruaja tek GruajacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlbanian women's organization leading Donne Scutari project for economic empowerment and violence prevention in Shkodra region.
• FBSH - Fondazione Banca dei PascoliminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation supporting KISS project for Roma community integration in Albania.
• FNAS - Fondazione Nazionale Assistenti SocialicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational foundation of social workers partnering on PUERI project for unaccompanied minors in Sicily and Puglia.
• ASL RM1 RomecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal health authority partnership for cultural mediation services at healthcare facilities in Rome.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Italian Red Cross (CRI): Italian humanitarian organization providing migration reception, healthcare mediation, and emergency response. Comparable to CIES on intercultural mediation in healthcare settings and migration services, but with much larger institutional footprint and volunteer network.
• Oxfam Italia: Italian affiliate of Oxfam global confederation, addressing inequality, migration, and social inclusion through advocacy and projects. Comparable to CIES in advocacy on discrimination, international cooperation footprint, and engagement with EU and Italian institutional funders.
• Save the Children Italy: Italy branch of a major international NGO focused on children's rights, including unaccompanied foreign minors and educational poverty programs. Comparable to CIES on the minors and youth segment, but operates at significantly greater scale and brand recognition with broader program portfolio.

Direct peers

• INTERSOS: Italian humanitarian NGO assisting victims of war, migration crises, and social exclusion through protection, education, and psychosocial support. Comparable to CIES in migrant/refugee service delivery, international project portfolio, and EU institutional funding base.
• Caritas Italiana: Italian Catholic charity providing migrant reception, integration, anti-poverty, and social services nationwide. Comparable to CIES in target beneficiaries (migrants, refugees, vulnerable families), service types (mediation, education, social support), and primary funding sources (Italian government, EU, Catholic foundations).
• COOPI - Cooperazione Internazionale: Italian NGO implementing international cooperation and humanitarian projects with a strong focus on migration, protection of minors, and women's empowerment. Comparable to CIES in international cooperation footprint, project-based EU funding, and target populations (migrants, refugees, women, minors).
• CEFA - Comitato Europeo per la Formazione e l'Agricoltura: Italian NGO focused on international cooperation, rural development, and education in Africa and Latin America. Comparable to CIES in international development project model, MAECI/AICS funding relationships, and education/training service lines.
• AVSI Foundation: Italian NGO running international cooperation and education projects in dozens of countries, including migration-related programs in Italy and abroad. Comparable to CIES in the international cooperation + education integration model and EU/Italian government funding dependency.

Emerging players

• Refugees Welcome Italia: Italian nonprofit facilitating refugee integration through hosting programs and labor market inclusion initiatives. Comparable to CIES in refugee labor market integration mission (overlapping with SOFEL and UNHCR Welcome Award work) and target beneficiary population.
• Fondazione L'Albero della Vita: Italian NGO focused on children's rights, protection of unaccompanied minors, and family inclusion. Comparable to CIES on the unaccompanied minors and educational poverty segments, with overlapping MAECI and private foundation funding sources.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ciesonlus
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ciesetsyt
• Facebookfacebook.com/cies.ets
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ciesets
• Instagraminstagram.com/ciesets

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about cies onlus