EyeOpenerWorks

What EyeOpenerWorks does

EyeOpenerWorks is a Utrecht-headquartered creative agency and consultancy that designs and delivers participatory processes for international development organisations, government agencies and NGOs. Co-founded in 2007 by Henrik Looij and now structured as a four-partner partnership, the firm operates from offices in the Netherlands (Utrecht) and Uganda (Kampala, as EyeOpener Initiative), with an associate network extending across at least 11 countries in Europe, East Africa, Central Africa and South Asia. Its roughly 15 team members deliver three core service lines: active learning and curriculum design, impact monitoring and visual storytelling, and process facilitation and partnership development, supported by specialist offerings such as Participatory Video Evaluation (PVE), IATI data publishing support, and the open-source Ukarimu tourism and hospitality curricula.

The firm's underlying 'technology' is a stack of proprietary facilitation methodologies rather than software: PVE, active learning curriculum design, documentary film production and impact harvesting approaches, combined with internal software tools for IATI Registry publishing and process streamlining. Repeat clients include GIZ, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Uganda and Ethiopia), the Centre for the Promotion of Imports (CBI), the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), War Child Canada, Simavi, AVSI Foundation, International Rescue Committee, DW Akademie, Mensen met een Missie, ENABEL and CARE.

Revenue is generated exclusively through project-based consulting contracts — consulting fees for curriculum development, M&E systems design, facilitation, visual storytelling, and training — awarded via direct relationship-based engagement with institutional donors and implementing partners. Quantified project outcomes include 341 full-time jobs supported, €6.3 million in incremental EU/EFTA tourism sales, and over 1,200 youth trained, validating the consultancy's measurable impact narrative. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, and there is no evidence of external equity investment, software licensing, or subscription revenue.

Name

EyeOpenerWorks

Legal name

EyeOpenerWorks

Website

https://eyeopenerworks.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

EyeOpenerWorks is a Netherlands- and Uganda-based creative agency that designs participatory learning, impact monitoring and visual storytelling services for international development organisations, government agencies and NGOs across more than 20 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Development Consulting

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Other Management Consulting Services (541618), Graphic Design Services (54143)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Integrated Full-Service Creative Agencies (MPAAAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Economic Growth, Trade & Private Sector Development Programs (BPADABAF), Corporate Team-Building & Offsite Services (HSACADAF)

Keywords

• Participatory development consulting
• Monitoring and evaluation services
• Curriculum development training
• Visual storytelling production
• International development facilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Utrecht

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Project-based Consulting Services: Consulting engagements for development organizations including curriculum development, M&E systems, facilitation, and visual storytelling. Revenue generated through project contracts with NGOs, government agencies, and international donors.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

EyeOpenerWorks is a creative agency that designs and delivers participatory process services for international development organizations, NGOs, government agencies, and embassies. Core offerings include active learning and curriculum development, impact monitoring and storytelling (including ToC development, M&E research, and visual storytelling), and process facilitation and partnership development (strategy sessions, team building, multi-stakeholder programmes). Services are delivered through project-based consulting engagements across more than 20 countries.

Product overview

EyeOpenerWorks is a creative agency offering participatory process services rather than a traditional software product company. Their core offerings consist of three interconnected service areas: (1) Active Learning and Curriculum Development - designing participatory learning processes and training curricula; (2) Impact Monitoring and Storytelling - using participatory methods to measure impact and communicate results through visual storytelling; and (3) Process Facilitation and Partnership Development - coordinating partnerships and facilitating strategy and learning sessions. Additional offerings include Visual Storytelling Training for documentary production, IATI Reporting Support for aid transparency, and the open-source Ukarimu Training Curricula for tourism and hospitality skills development. These services are delivered through project-based engagements across international development, tourism, and social transformation sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Active Learning and Curriculum Development Designing and implementing participatory active learning processes focused on building skills and knowledge that enable individuals, communities, and organisations to take action. Includes curriculum development, skills training programs, and facilitator capacity building for development organizations and NGOs.
• Impact Monitoring and Storytelling Participatory and engaging methods for understanding impact of development programs, giving voice to everyone and speaking to multiple audiences. Includes ToC development, M&E research, impact harvesting, and visual storytelling for donor-funded programme implementers.
• Process Facilitation and Partnership Development Creating and coordinating innovative partnerships and challenging individuals, teams, communities, and organisations to reflect on their practices and systems. Includes strategy development, learning sessions, team building, and multi-stakeholder programmes for government agencies, embassies, and NGOs.
• Visual Storytelling Training Training programs in visual storytelling methodologies involving documentary film production and participatory video approaches for development organizations, NGOs, and CSO partners.
• IATI Reporting Support Training and support for organizations and their partners to publish international aid project reports on the IATI Registry, helping drive transparency and accountability in global aid efforts. Includes data literacy and results reporting for Dutch-funded CSOs.
• Ukarimu Training Curricula Open-source training curricula for tourism and hospitality industry in East Africa, including tourism and hospitality, digital marketing for tour operators, product development and entrepreneurship, tour guiding, and adventure tourism programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 341 full-time jobs supported through CBI tourism project
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• GIZcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007Long-term partnership with GIZ for strategy sessions, team building, and leadership facilitation. Supports GIZ Uganda and programmes with management strategy sessions, learning sessions for teams of 30-50 people, manager feedback sessions, and Leaders' Forum facilitation.
• War Child CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaboration on participatory video evaluation projects for education, peacebuilding and livelihoods programming in Uganda, DRC, and South Sudan.
• SimavicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Watershed Empowering Citizens programme producing visual impact stories showcasing WASH and IWRM results in Uganda, Kenya, Bangladesh and India.
• AVSI FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term development partner for various projects including those involving AVSI Foundation's programming.
• International Rescue Committee (IRC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partner for international aid and refugee support programmes.
• Centre for the Promotion of Imports (CBI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinating partner for Transforming Uganda Tourism Project (TUT-P) 2021-2026, working with Uganda Tourism Board and international experts to transform Uganda's tourism sector.
• DW AkademiecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Women at Web project, supporting East African Women at Web network in developing Digital Literacy curriculum across Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda.
• Mensen met een MissiecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term development partner since 2017 for Interfaith Experience experiential learning programme. Co-developed programme for interfaith peacebuilders in East Africa.
• Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdventure Tourism Uganda project (2020-2024) implemented through impact cluster of seven Dutch/Ugandan tourism businesses.
• Sport for Development PartnershipmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with KNVB, KNHB, Right to Play Netherlands and ISA for sports for development programme evaluation across six regions worldwide.
• CAREmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner for Intergender Experience 1325 programme promoting UNSC Resolution 1325 in Africa's Great Lakes Region.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Solidaridad: International civil society organisation working on sustainable value chains with offices in East Africa. Comparable in programme-management and capacity-building work with development donors in similar geographies.
• KIT Royal Tropical Institute: Larger Dutch knowledge institute active in international development, health, and sustainable economic development. Overlaps with EyeOpenerWorks on capacity building, M&E, and advisory work for development organisations and governments.
• Hivos: Dutch INGO funding and implementing programmes in social transformation and civil society, particularly in East Africa. Comparable client base and thematic focus, though Hivos operates as a funder/implementer rather than a service consultancy.

Direct peers

• Butterfly Works: Amsterdam-based creative agency that, like EyeOpenerWorks, uses participatory methods, storytelling, and co-creation to drive social impact in international development. Directly comparable in service mix, target clients (NGOs, donors, multilaterals), and Netherlands-headquartered operating model.
• InsightShare: UK-based specialist in Participatory Video for monitoring, evaluation, and learning. Most direct methodological peer to EyeOpenerWorks' PVE offering; competes for the same donor-funded PVE/evaluation contracts globally.
• MDF Training & Consultancy: Dutch development consultancy delivering capacity-building, training, and M&E services to NGOs and government programmes. Comparable in service portfolio (curriculum development, M&E, organisational learning) and Dutch-government client base.

Regional players

• CREA (Creative Responses to Conflict): EU-based consultancy applying creative and participatory learning methodologies in peacebuilding and social transformation. Comparable in participatory learning design and East Africa programme delivery.
• Enviu: Rotterdam-based impact-driven organisation building ventures and programmes for social and environmental change. Comparable Netherlands origin and focus on sustainable social impact, though with a venture-building rather than consultancy model.

Emerging players

• Participatory Research and Design (PRAD): Boutique consultancy applying participatory, human-centred design to development and social impact programmes. Comparable in methodology (participatory processes, design thinking, co-creation) and client types.
• Practical Participation: Specialist consultancy in participatory methods, including Participatory Video, for research, evaluation, and learning. Direct methodological overlap with EyeOpenerWorks' PVE service offering.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eye-opener-works
• Xx.com/eyeopenerworks
• Facebookfacebook.com/eyeopenerworks

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 EyeOpenerWorks