Acs is an Ngo founded in 1991 by a group of people engaged in the protection of workers' rights. In 1998 Acs was officially recognized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to the Law 49/87, as Ngo specialized in international cooperation for the development. Since 2000, following an internal reflection, Acs has reformulated methodologies and objectives of the association: Acs, in fact, promote participatory planning involving as many local and international social actors possible, placed in a logical network that best corresponds to the individual needs' support and strengthening of civil society and its organizations. The preferred tools of intervention in the countries excluded from the economic and social development are the training, support and accompaniment to start small businesses in agriculture or commerce - including through microcredit programs - and the strengthening of local institutions, civil society and collective enterprises (cooperatives).