Media Matters for Women

What Media Matters for Women does

Media Matters for Women (MMW) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2013 that delivers podcast-based programming on sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence prevention, women's rights, and economic empowerment to rural women and girls in Sierra Leone, with secondary operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The organization operates through three legal entities (MMW Sierra Leone as primary operating subsidiary, plus MMW USA and a UK board) and reaches more than 60,000 listeners monthly across over 300 rural communities. MMW's staff comprises 11–50 core employees plus 75 field staff hired directly from the communities served and trained as women's rights activists.

MMW's core technical platform combines Mobile Production Units (solar-powered assemblies of small consumer electronics that produce professional-quality audio without studio infrastructure) with a multi-channel offline-first distribution system. Content is distributed through 15 community Listening Centers staffed by trained Focal Points, broadcasts on 40+ partner radio stations (with free airtime provided by Africell and others), Youth Advocates who travel door-to-door to remote areas, traditional Town Criers, and innovative Bluetooth peer-to-peer podcast transfers that propagate content beyond network and Wi-Fi coverage. Programming is produced in six languages (Krio, Mende, Limba, French, Lingala, Swahili) and archived as 160+ original programs on SoundCloud; flagship series include Mamie & Omo (a five-minute radio drama) and Wamama Tujenge (a DRC women's leadership podcast). Adjacent programs include Period Power (menstrual health), Digitruck Salone (digital skills training), and an AI literacy initiative for rural girls.

Revenue is generated almost entirely through grants from international foundations and NGOs — including Oak Foundation, AmplifyChange (€89,000 Strengthening grant, 2019), Internet Society Foundation, Urgent Action Funds, Millicom Foundation, Internews, and Madre — supplemented by individual donations and in-kind corporate support from telecommunications provider Africell. All services are provided free to end users; the go-to-market motion is community-led rather than commercial, with no pricing or paid customer acquisition. MMW has earned external recognition including the Athena40 "Advocate for the Rights of Women" Award (2024) and second-round selection for the TED Audacious Prize (2019).

Name

Media Matters for Women

Legal name

Media Matters for Women

Website

https://mediamattersforwomen.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Media Matters for Women is a nonprofit that produces and distributes multilingual podcasts on health, rights, and economic empowerment to rural women and girls in Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo via community Listening Centers, partner radio stations, and Bluetooth peer-to-peer sharing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Media and Advocacy

NAICS

Other Sound Recording Industries (512290), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621), Broadcasting and Content Providers (516)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Media Digital Platforms & Streaming (Apps, On-demand, Podcasts) (MPABADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Audio Learning Content (Podcasts, Audiobooks, Listening Programs) (EDAGALAM), Enterprise Audio Publishing & Private Podcast Platforms (MPAIADAI)

Keywords

• Women's rights advocacy
• Community podcast production
• Rural health education
• Nonprofit media programs
• Gender equality outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Foundation and NGO Grants: Primary revenue source from international foundations and NGOs including Oak Foundation, AmplifyChange, Internet Society Foundation, Urgent Action Funds, and others that provide grant funding for program activities
2. Donations: Individual and organizational donations through the organization's Donate Now platform on its website
3. Corporate Partnerships: Partnerships with companies like Africell that provide free airtime and support for program distribution

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Media Matters for Women produces original audio podcasts and radio dramas covering women's rights, sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence prevention, and economic empowerment. Content is distributed to rural women and girls in Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo through community Listening Centers, peer-to-peer Bluetooth sharing on mobile phones, broadcasts on partner radio stations, and Youth Advocate outreach. The organization also runs training programs on digital literacy and artificial intelligence.

Product overview

Media Matters for Women operates a podcast-based public service broadcasting platform focused on empowering rural women and girls in Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The core offering consists of original audio content distributed through a multi-channel model: community Listening Centers staffed by trained Focal Points and Youth Advocates, peer-to-peer Bluetooth sharing via mobile phones, and broadcasts on partner radio stations. The flagship products include the Mamie & Omo radio drama (covering women's rights, health, and economic topics), the Wamama Tujenge podcast for DRC audiences, and specialized programs on sexual and reproductive health rights, gender-based violence prevention, and economic empowerment. Supporting programs include the Digitruck digital skills training, Period Power menstrual health education, and Youth Advocates who extend reach to remote communities. The organization archived 160+ programs on SoundCloud and reaches over 60,000 listeners monthly across 300+ rural communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Wamama Tujenge: Podcast series ('Women Building Peace') featuring women's rights content, originally created for DRC and available in French, Lingala and Swahili
• Mamie & Omo
• Period Power Project
• Digitruck Salone Project

Products and services

• Mamie & Omo Podcast A radio drama series featuring two fictional characters (Mamie, a rural market woman, and Omo, an urban teacher) engaging in informative conversations about women's rights, health, economic possibilities, and available services for rural women and girls in Sierra Leone.
• Wamama Tujenge Podcast A podcast program ('Women Building Peace') hosted by Julienne Lusenge featuring stories of Congolese women leaders, exploring personal journeys of women leaders throughout DRC and the Great Lakes Region and addressing women's participation in local government and peace-building. Available in French, Lingala, and Swahili.
• Listening Centers Community-based gathering locations at health clinics, training centers, and support groups where women listen to podcasts, participate in facilitated discussions, and share content via Bluetooth. Staffed by trained Focal Points and Youth Advocates who extend programming to remote areas.
• Youth Advocates Program Network of young women and men (ages 18-24) trained to extend programming to 'last mile' women and girls by traveling door-to-door and to remote areas, playing podcasts for women unable to travel to Listening Centers.
• Digitruck Salone Project Digital skills training program using a mobile Digitruck to reach women and girls in Sierra Leone with essential digital literacy skills, certifying participants with skills for today's digital world.
• Period Power Project A 12-week initiative focused on menstrual health education and dignity for girls and boys, aiming to break taboos and change lives through comprehensive menstrual health programming in Sierra Leone.
• Rural Girls AI Learning Initiative Artificial intelligence learning program for rural girls in Sierra Leone designed to eliminate technology and information gaps, launched in Makeni in partnership with the Oxford Internet Institute.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60,000+ listeners reached monthly across 300+ rural communities
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• AfricellcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor telecommunications provider in Sierra Leone with 16+ million subscribers; Provides mobile network coverage and technology services; Supports broadcasting of Mamie & Omo program on radio stations
• InternewscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational media development organization that trains journalists and tackles disinformation; Selected MMW as local media partner and provided COVID-19 Rapid Response Grant
• Close the Gap InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides high-quality pre-owned computers donated by European companies to educational and social projects in developing countries
• MadrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational women's human rights organization and feminist fund; Partnered on global domestic violence prevention initiative and invited MMW to lead during COVID-19
• SOFEPADIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFemale Solidarity for Integrated Peace and Development in DRC; Local partner for Wamama Tujenge podcast program; Led by internationally recognized women's rights advocate Julienne Lusenge
• Women@TheTablecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization based in Geneva; Co-partner in DRC Wamama Tujenge podcast initiative; Focus on women's rights and technology
• Paris Peace ForummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual forum where MMW showcased female-owned aquaculture project; Platform for presenting organization's work internationally
• Dechert LLPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLondon-based law firm providing legal counsel and support for governance and compliance matters
• Reuters Foundation Trust Law ProgrammeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLondon-based program providing legal support and training for media organizations
• Oxford Internet InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAI-focused partnership for digital equity training; Global Director and Founder invited to Oxford for AI learning initiatives for rural girls
• Foundation HirondellecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOrganizes community radio station network in DRC for Wamama Tujenge broadcast distribution
• King's College London - Global Institute for Women's LeadershipmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExecutive Director Florence Sesay became King's College London 'Changemaker'; MMW presented at institute on amplifying women's voices in Sierra Leone
• CatchafireminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerB-Corp matching professionals who donate time and talent with nonprofits; Provided pro bono services including data analysis and branding for Mamie & Omo series
• ISOC BOLT and ResiliencyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternet Society program; MMW participated in grantee meeting in Nairobi focused on digital inclusion and resiliency

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Women for Women International: Established non-profit providing vocational training, rights education, and economic empowerment to marginalized women in conflict-affected countries. Comparable target beneficiary and thematic focus, but operates a more curriculum-based, classroom-style model rather than MMW's audio-first distribution.
• BBC Media Action: The BBC's international development charity, producing radio, TV, and digital content on health, rights, and governance across Africa and Asia. Comparable mission and media-for-development methodology, but operates at significantly larger scale and broader thematic scope than MMW.

Direct peers

• MADRE: International women's human rights organization partnering with grassroots women's groups. Already a named MMW partner (COVID-19 domestic violence initiative); comparable focus on women's rights programming and partnership-based delivery model.
• Free Press Unlimited: Dutch non-profit supporting independent journalism and media access in restrictive environments. Comparable in mission to strengthen local media voices and reach information-poor populations, particularly in Africa and conflict-affected regions.
• Population Media Center: US-based non-profit that uses long-running serialized dramas (radio, TV, digital) to shift health, rights, and gender attitudes in low-income countries. Directly comparable to MMW's Mamie & Omo and Wamama Tujenge serialized drama approach for social and behavioral change.
• Internews: International media development non-profit supporting independent media and information access in 100+ countries. Already a named MMW partner; directly comparable mission of strengthening local media and information ecosystems, particularly in fragile and under-served regions.
• Farm Radio International: Canadian non-profit that uses interactive radio and digital tools to deliver development information to rural African smallholder farmers. Directly comparable to MMW's model of podcast/audio content produced and distributed to rural African audiences through community listening and broadcast partnerships.

Emerging players

• Viamo: Social enterprise that delivers audio information services to people without internet via mobile phones across emerging markets. Comparable in targeting unconnected rural audiences with audio content, though operates a more commercially-oriented, platform-based model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubesoundcloud.com/mediamattersforwomen
• Facebookfacebook.com/MediaMattersforWomen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mediamatters4women
• Instagraminstagram.com/media_matters_for_women/?hl=en
• Xx.com/MMWSierraLeone

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

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 Media Matters for Women