The CISP – Sviluppo dei Popoli (formerly the International Committee for the Development of Peoples) is a civil society organization that has been active since 1983 in international cooperation and in the fight against social exclusion.
Founded as an association in 1983, in June 2025 CISP adopted the legal form of a Foundation of Participation, strengthening its vocation to promote broad and inclusive partnerships for sustainable development. Its new name is CISP – Sviluppo dei Popoli Ets, or simply CISP Ets.
CISP is a legal entity registered in the Italian National Third Sector Register (RUNTS) since March 18, 2026 (Lazio Region Determination No. G03598, Rep. No. 160551).
Over more than 40 years of activity, we have been present in every region of the world. Today, CISP operates in more than 30 countries, implementing initiatives aimed at promoting fundamental rights and social inclusion, combating inequalities and social injustice, creating economic and social opportunities, and protecting marginalized and excluded people.

Throughout our history, we have achieved important milestones. The most significant is having stood alongside millions of people in their path toward self-determination and the realization of their aspirations: women, children, elderly people, men, and entire communities who refuse to accept marginalization, violence, food insecurity, or the lack of rights.

Together with these individuals, their communities, local associations, and public institutions, we have built schools and trained teachers, innovated education systems, strengthened food security through income diversification and access to microcredit, and supported small-scale farmers in improving their productive capacities. We have also contributed to the design and implementation of more inclusive public policies, ensuring they address the needs and rights of the most vulnerable groups; promoted legislation to protect the most disadvantaged; and provided essential services and access to safe drinking water in areas where these were previously unavailable.

Our Statement of Intent, “Rights, Change, Sustainability,” was updated in 2018, fully incorporating the strategic guidelines of the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals. Two key principles of the 2030 Agenda guide our action: the need to consider sustainability in all its dimensions, environmental, social, economic, and institutional,and the recognition that combating poverty and social exclusion are deeply interconnected objectives.