Development Communication Networks

What Development Communication Networks does

Development Communication Networks (DevComs) is a non-profit media development organization headquartered at 26 Adebola Street, Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria, focused on mobilizing journalism around science, public health, and social sector issues in Nigeria and the wider West African region. The organization's core function is content production paired with journalist capacity-building, delivered through a multi-format product suite that includes Devcoms Radio (broadcast), Journals, Publications, News Desk, News Feeds, Community Voices, and Media Report. DevComs operates as a grant-funded non-governmental organization rather than a commercial media business, with no pricing model, subscription revenue, or advertising stack disclosed; its operating capital is sourced from project-based grants and co-implementation partnerships.

DevComs' partnership footprint defines its operating model. The organization works alongside international foundations — notably the MacArthur Foundation on immersion journalism and DFID/SAVI on accountable governance — and with Nigerian implementation and advocacy NGOs including NURHI, NMCP, PPFN, YEF, HMI, Project Enable Africa, TCI (The Challenge Initiative), and Freedom Foundation. These relationships position DevComs as a connective content-and-capacity intermediary between funders seeking measurable development outcomes and local communities requiring evidence-based reporting on health, governance, and social issues. Strategic intent in the observed period leans toward thematic broadening (disability inclusion via Project Enable Africa) and channel diversification (Devcoms Radio).

Name

Development Communication Networks

Legal name

Development Communications Network

Website

https://devcomsnetwork.net

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Development Communication Networks is a Lagos-based non-profit media development organization that mobilizes science, public health, and social sector journalism across Nigeria and West Africa through multi-format content and capacity-building programs funded by international foundations and local NGO partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Media Development and Capacity Building Services

NAICS

Broadcasting and Content Providers (516), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210)

SIC

Miscellaneous Publishing (2741), Communications Services, Nec (4899)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Development & ICT4D / GovTech Technical Assistance (BPADAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Corporate Learning & Training Content Development (EDAGAKAC)

Keywords

• Media development services
• Journalism capacity building
• Community radio broadcasting
• Development journalism training
• Public health media advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Lagos

HQ country

Nigeria

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Development Communications Network (DevComs) is a not-for-profit media development organization that builds the capacity of journalists and media organizations to report on science, public health, and social sector issues. It delivers this through community radio programming (Devcoms Radio), professional journals and publications, a news desk, audio programming, and direct training/mentoring programs for journalists across Nigeria.

Product overview

Development Communications Network operates as a media development organization offering a portfolio of communication and journalism services. The core offerings include Devcoms Radio (a studio-based radio platform), Journals (professional publications), Publications (reports and materials), News Desk (reporting service), News Feeds (media coverage), Community Voices (audio programming), and Media Report campaigns. These products collectively serve the organization's mission of mobilizing science, public health, and social sector journalism for sustainable human development in Nigeria and Africa.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Devcoms Radio
• Journals
• Publications
• News Desk
• Community Voices
• Journalist Training and Mentoring Programme

Quantifiable outcome

• Training journalists on reporting nutrition in Abuja
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for family planning advocacy and Spitfire campaigns to promote reproductive health awareness in urban areas of Nigeria
• National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to support malaria control communication and awareness initiatives across Nigeria
• Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on reproductive health and family planning advocacy programs
• Youth Empowerment Foundation (YEF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on youth empowerment and development journalism initiatives
• DFID/SAVI (State Accountability and Voice Initiative)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to assist media in demanding accountability from government through state-level governance programs in Lagos
• Freedom FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in development communication activities
• Health Matters Incorporated (HMI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization focused on health communication and development
• Networking Forum on Reproductive Health and Rights in NigeriaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork collaboration on reproductive health and rights communication
• Strengthening Participatory Governance in Nigeria (SPGN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for participatory governance and civic engagement initiatives
• Erin MagazineminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMedia partner for development communication content distribution
• Project Enable AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to build capacity of people with disabilities and promote inclusive society through Devcoms Radio
• The Challenge Initiative (TCI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to train Gombe journalists on media advocacy for child birth spacing

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism: Abuja-based Nigerian media NGO focused on investigative journalism training and accountability reporting. Comparable to DevComs in mission (journalism capacity building for development and governance outcomes) and in operating context (Nigeria, donor-funded).
• Code for Africa: Pan-African civic technology and investigative journalism organization operating across multiple African countries. Comparable to DevComs as a media development organization that builds journalism capacity and produces development-focused content, though with a stronger digital/civic-tech orientation.
• Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism: Lagos-based Nigerian media development and investigative journalism capacity-building NGO. Directly comparable to DevComs as a domestic non-profit that trains journalists on accountability and development reporting, often in partnership with international donors.
• Media Foundation for West Africa: Accra-based regional media development and press freedom organization covering West Africa. Comparable to DevComs in mission (media capacity building, development journalism, donor-funded advocacy) and overlapping geographic footprint in West Africa.

Broad incumbents

• International Center for Journalists (ICFJ): Global non-profit that trains journalists worldwide, with significant programming in Africa on health, climate and accountability reporting. Comparable to DevComs in capacity-building mission and donor-supported model, though operating globally with a much larger budget.
• BBC Media Action: BBC's international development charity, operating globally on media development, governance and health communication. Comparable to DevComs as a media-for-development organization running training, radio programming and development content, but at vastly larger scale and global footprint.
• Internews: Large international media development NGO operating in 100+ countries with programming on health, governance and inclusion. Comparable to DevComs in mission and donor profile, but with a global portfolio and far larger operational scale.
• DW Akademie: Deutsche Welle's media development arm, funded by Germany's foreign office to support independent journalism worldwide. Comparable to DevComs in journalist training and development communications focus, but operating at a much larger scale across multiple continents.
• Free Press Unlimited: Dutch media development NGO supporting independent journalism and press freedom in dozens of countries. Comparable to DevComs in the journalist training / development journalism space and in reliance on bilateral and foundation donors, but with a global portfolio and stronger press-freedom orientation.

Regional players

• African Centre for Media Excellence: Kampala-based media training and research organization serving East Africa. Comparable to DevComs in its training-of-journalists model and donor-funded programming, but focused on a different African region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DevComs
• Facebookfacebook.com/devcoms
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/devcomsnetwork

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Development Communication Networks