AMWIK KENYA

What AMWIK KENYA does

AMWIK (Association of Media Women in Kenya) is a non-profit membership organization founded in 1982 in Nairobi, Kenya, dedicated to advancing gender equality and women's empowerment within Kenya's media sector. The organization serves a base of more than 300 active women members (with 500+ members cited on its homepage) drawn from journalism, communications, and media students across all 47 Kenyan counties, and has cumulatively trained 10,000+ women through its programs. AMWIK operates five thematic programs — Gender and Governance, Media Development and Membership, Women's Economic Empowerment, Sexual Health and Reproductive Rights, and Digital Safety and Security — delivered alongside a Career Center, research publications, and convening platforms such as the CEO Roundtable and the Media for Generation Equality Forum.

The organization runs on a hybrid non-profit revenue model comprising modest individual membership subscriptions (KES 3,000/year for professionals, KES 1,500/year for students, payable via M-PESA), institutional grants from donors including UNESCO, USAID, the Hewlett Foundation, DW Akademie, and the Thomson Reuters Foundation, and fee-for-service training delivered to media houses on policy adoption and gender-responsive reporting. Its go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, leveraging partnerships with the Media Council of Kenya, Kenya Union of Journalists, Kenya Editors Guild, UN Women, FEMNET, and other civil society organizations to recruit members, deliver training across counties, and convene stakeholders. AMWIK holds a mandate under the Maanzoni Declaration to lead the eradication of sexual harassment in Kenyan media and has supported policy adoption in 15 media houses through its partnership with Journalists for Human Rights.

AMWIK does not operate proprietary technology, software, or AI products; its technology stack is limited to standard digital communications, a website membership portal, and social media channels. Its competitive position rests on 43 years of brand legacy, a dense network of institutional partnerships, and a quasi-regulatory role in media-sector policy advocacy. The organization is governed by a nine-member Board of Directors, a Board of Trustees, and a secretariat of approximately 19 staff led by Executive Director Queenter Mbori, and is registered under Kenya's Societies Act as a national association.

Name

AMWIK KENYA

Legal name

Association of Media Women in Kenya

Website

https://amwik.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AMWIK (Association of Media Women in Kenya) is a 1982-founded Nairobi-based non-profit membership organization that empowers women in Kenyan media through training, advocacy, mentorship, and policy work across five programs, serving 500+ members and 10,000+ women trained cumulatively.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Media Development and Gender Advocacy Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK)

Keywords

• Women media association
• Media development programs
• Gender equality advocacy
• Journalism training services
• Membership organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Nairobi

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual subscription fees from members: KES 3,000 for professionals and KES 1,500 for students. Membership provides networking, training, mentorship, advocacy programs, and career development resources.
2. Grants and Donations: Funding from institutional donors and foundations including USAID, UNESCO, DW Akademie, Hewlett Foundation, and others for specific programmatic work in media development, gender equality, and women's empowerment.
3. Training and Capacity Building Services: Fee-for-service training programs for media houses on sexual harassment policies, digital safety, and gender-responsive reporting.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

AMWIK is a non-profit membership organization for women in journalism, media, and communications in Kenya. It operates a two-tier membership program (professional and student), delivers programmatic work across five thematic areas (Gender and Governance, Media Development, Women's Economic Empowerment, Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights, and Digital Safety and Security), and provides training, mentorship, scholarships, advocacy, and career development services to members and partner media organizations.

Product overview

AMWIK (Association of Media Women in Kenya) is a membership-based non-profit organization established in 1982 that empowers women in media through a comprehensive portfolio of programs, services, and publications. The organization operates a two-tier membership structure for professionals and students in journalism and communications. Its programmatic offerings span five thematic areas: Gender and Governance, Media Development, Women's Economic Empowerment, Sexual Health and Reproductive Rights, and Digital Safety and Security. The organization also provides career development services through its Career Center, publishes research reports and handbooks, and produces news and blog content on gender equality and media development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AMWIK Membership Program A two-tier annual membership program for women in journalism and communications, with professional membership at KES 3,000/year and student membership at KES 1,500/year, providing networking, training, mentorship, advocacy, scholarships, reference letters, and voting rights at AGMs.
• Gender and Governance Program Advocacy and training initiative addressing women's underrepresentation in decision-making, promoting gender-responsive journalism, and amplifying women's voices in political and governance spaces.
• Media Development Program Capacity building initiative offering journalism training on gender and conflict-sensitive reporting, safety skills, professional development, mentorship for young female journalists, and story grants.
• Women's Economic Empowerment Program Initiative promoting women's economic participation through national dialogues, media sensitization, radio programs, podcasts, videos, and policy influencing for women's economic rights and leadership.
• Sexual Health and Reproductive Rights Program Community education and empowerment initiative on reproductive health rights, addressing GBV, FGM, teenage pregnancies, and early marriages, including journalist training on gender-responsive reporting.
• Digital Safety and Security Program Training and advocacy initiative promoting digital safety and security for women journalists, including workshops on cybersecurity, online harassment prevention, and digital rights.
• Career Center Job board and career development platform offering scholarships, job opportunities, consultancies, fellowships, and volunteer positions for media professionals.
• Research and Publications Research reports and publications including Status of Women in Media Report, Digital Safety Study, Sexual Harassment in Media research, TFGBV research, FGM Reporting Handbook, and Digital Safety and Security Handbook.
• Men Engagement Program Initiative engaging male journalists as allies to promote gender equality, operating chapters in Nairobi, Kisumu, and Mombasa with workshops and advocacy campaigns.
• Training and Capacity Building Services Fee-for-service training programs delivered to media houses on sexual harassment policies, digital safety, and gender-responsive reporting.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10,000 women trained through various programs
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• OECDcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 May 2026Co-convenor of 2026 Pan-African Media Summit alongside Media Council of Kenya, Kenya Union of Journalists, and Kenya Editors Guild
• Global InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for media freedom and safety initiatives
• Media Council of KenyacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Young Female Journalists Mentorship Programme. MCK and AMWIK collaborate to train, mentor and coach young female journalists. Over 100 young female journalists have undergone mentorship sessions.
• Thomson Reuters FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner through BRIMEA (Building Resilience in Media Ecosystems Across) project addressing sexual harassment in media through research and advocacy
• Urgent Action Fund AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for 16 days of activism against GBV, FGM, and unpaid care work
• Transparency International KenyacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in USAID USAWA Program implementing good governance and accountability initiatives in Isiolo, Kakamega, Kilifi, Mombasa, and Nakuru counties
• Article 19coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on digital safety baseline survey and advocacy for digital rights
• SEPAR InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Women's Day celebrations and mental health awareness in workplace initiatives
• DW AkademiecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Women@Web Project training journalists, human rights defenders and university students on digital safety and security. Over 300 individuals trained.
• Crawn TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Women's Voice and Leadership (WVL) Project funded by Global Affairs Canada, promoting national dialogues on gender equality
• Code of AfricaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for digital initiatives and technology-related programs
• FEMNETcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in STITCH Program (Strengthening Transformative Feminist Movements in Africa) advancing gender equality and women's rights
• Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on journalist safety, election preparedness, and professional standards
• Kenya Editors GuildcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on ethical journalism, journalist welfare, and media sector development
• Journalists for Human Rights (JHR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to address sexual harassment in media. Established Sexual Harassment Committees in media spaces. 15 media houses have adopted sexual harassment policies.
• PollicyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Future of Work Project exploring impact of technology, data and automation on labor market for women
• KICTANetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on digital rights and internet governance issues
• Equality NowminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on gender justice advocacy and legal reform
• NALAFEMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in 5th NALAFEM Summit 2026 on women's political leadership and economic capital. Contributed to Nairobi Declaration adoption.
• UN WomencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Media for Generation Equality Forum and 15 years of advancing gender equality celebrations
• Kenya Media Sector Working Group (KMSWG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember organization. AMWIK mandated under Maanzoni Declaration to lead initiatives on eradicating sexual harassment in media industry
• Kenya Methodist University (KEMU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost of Leaders Forum event for gender policy discussions
• Strathmore University Business SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoverage of Creative Economy Africa Institute launch event
• Inter-Religious Council of Kenya (IRCK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in USAID USAWA Program for good governance
• Global Compact Network KenyaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in USAID USAWA Program for good governance

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Article 19: Global free expression organization with digital rights and journalist safety work closely aligned to AMWIK's digital safety program. Active partnership (digital safety baseline survey) and similar advocacy positioning make it a peer despite broader thematic scope.
• Equality Now: International gender justice organization working on legal reform and advocacy; AMWIK partners with Equality Now on gender justice advocacy. Comparable as a peer organization working at the intersection of women's rights, policy advocacy, and media.
• FEMNET: African Women's Development and Communication Network — continental feminist network with overlapping gender equality and SRHR programs. AMWIK partners with FEMNET on STITCH; comparable as a peer NGO operating in similar African gender-advocacy space.
• International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF): Global non-profit supporting women journalists worldwide through grants, training and emergency support. Highly comparable mission to AMWIK; broader geographic scope and significantly larger donor base make it a dominant incumbent in the same thematic space.

Regional players

• Transparency International Kenya: Kenyan chapter of Transparency International, partnering with AMWIK on the USAID USAWA Program on governance and accountability. Comparable as a Kenyan civil society peer with overlapping donor base and governance advocacy work.
• Media Council of Kenya: Statutory media regulator in Kenya partnering with AMWIK on mentorship programs. Comparable as a Kenyan media-sector peer, though operating in regulation rather than gender advocacy.
• Kenya Editors Guild: Professional body for Kenyan editors partnering with AMWIK on ethical journalism and journalist welfare. Comparable as a Kenyan media-industry peer organization with overlapping membership/governance advocacy.

Direct peers

• Urgent Action Fund Africa: African feminist fund providing rapid response grants and protection support to women human rights defenders — directly comparable to AMWIK's work with women journalists and HRDs and an active programmatic partner.
• African Women in Media (AWiM): Pan-African organization supporting women in media across the continent through training, mentorship and advocacy — directly comparable mission, target audience, and program mix to AMWIK, though operating at continental rather than national level.
• WAN-IFRA Women in News: World Association of News Publishers' program supporting women in media across Africa and emerging markets. Directly comparable to AMWIK's media development and gender-responsive journalism work, with overlapping donor ecosystem (including UNESCO and DW Akademie ties).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AMWIK
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@amwikassociationofmediawom5981
• Facebookfacebook.com/amwik
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/amwik-kenya
• Instagraminstagram.com/amwik.official

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about AMWIK KENYA