HCR

What HCR does

Health Communication Resources (HCR) is a non-profit charitable organisation founded in 1996 that uses community-centred media — principally community radio, portable speaker boxes, and participatory facilitation — to address health, peacebuilding, gender-based violence, and development challenges in marginalised communities. Its core methodology, SALT (Strengthen, Amplify, Listen, Transform), is a facilitated, story-based listening process that builds trust and amplifies community voices through radio and on-ground engagement. The organisation operates as a dual entity — Health Communication Resources Inc. in Australia (headquartered in Carine, Western Australia) and Health Communication Resources (UK) in Worthing — with the UK and Pakistan teams having rebranded as Amplifying Voices (AmpVoices) in January 2021. Active projects span at least 15 countries including Australia, the UK, Pakistan, Kenya, Uganda, India, the DRC, the Philippines, Sierra Leone, and South Sudan.

HCR's underlying technology stack is unusual for a non-profit: it combines low-tech, high-trust distribution (community FM radio stations such as Umoja FM, Amani FM, Radio MAMA, and Radio Gandingan), portable speaker boxes pre-loaded with local-dialect dramas for radio-less communities, an SMS-based misinformation reporting system via the Una Hakika partnership, and a structured human facilitation framework (SALT). As a founding member of the First Response Radio (FRR) network — formalised in 2012 — HCR contributes to a multi-country disaster-response capability that can stand up temporary FM stations within 72 hours. There is no software platform, proprietary model, or AI/ML capability disclosed; the value creation is methodologically driven rather than technology-driven.

HCR's business model is donation-, grant-, and project-funded rather than commercially priced. Revenue streams comprise individual/church donations and sponsorship, institutional grants and project funding from charitable trusts, and professional consultancy services in communication for development. Beneficiary communities are not charged; pricing is therefore not applicable in the conventional sense. Customer segments span marginalised and disadvantaged communities, community radio stations, health and social service providers, development NGOs, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Western Australia. The organisation is led by Founder Dr. Ross James (40+ years of expertise, Curtin University Global Impact Award recipient, 2015) and Director Jon Hargreaves, with Hazeen Latif directing HCR Pakistan.

Name

HCR

Legal name

Health Communication Resources Inc.

Website

https://h-c-r.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Health Communication Resources (HCR) is a non-profit founded in 1996 that uses community-centred media — community radio, speaker boxes, and the SALT facilitation methodology — to address health, peacebuilding, and development challenges for marginalised communities across 15+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Health Communication Services

NAICS

Broadcasting and Content Providers (516)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Health, Health Promotion & Behavior Change (SBCC) (BPADAIAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK), Health Systems Strengthening & Global Health Technical Assistance (BPADAEAH)

Keywords

• Community health media
• Development communication services
• Community radio programming
• Peacebuilding media projects
• Disaster response radio

Headquarters

HQ city

Carine

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Sponsorship: HCR relies on donations and sponsorship from individuals, churches, and organisations to fund community media projects around the world.
2. Grants and Project Funding: Project-based funding from institutional donors and charitable trusts for specific development and humanitarian projects.
3. Consultancy Services: Professional consultancy services in communication for development, training, and media skills development for development sector organisations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

HCR mobilises and equips partners and local people to transform community health and well-being through community-centred media. The organisation delivers Communication for Development programs, training courses, and consultancy, and runs active community radio stations and disaster-response radio networks in countries including Australia, Pakistan, Kenya, DRC, the Philippines, Sierra Leone, and Uganda.

Product overview

Health Communication Resources (HCR) is a non-profit organization that operates as a unified health promotion and community media organization rather than a traditional software product company. HCR's offerings consist of community-centred media programs, training services, and consultancy. The core programs include Communication for Development, Training for Development, and Consultancy for Development. Active projects span multiple countries including community radio stations (Radio MAMA in Australia, Amani FM in Kenya, Umoja FM in DRC, First Response Radio disaster response network), the Amplifying Voices through SALT project, Tuanze Biashara micro-enterprise initiative, and distribution of speaker boxes to remote communities. HCR also provides the SALT methodology framework and community-centred media approach as core service offerings. The organization does not offer commercial software products but rather implements community development programs using media as a tool for health promotion and social change.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Communication for Development

Quantifiable outcome

• Community volunteers in Sierra Leone generated tangible changes including pipe-borne water, road construction, and community centre construction
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 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

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• First Response Radio (FRR) NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012HCR is a founding member of FRR, a network of local teams in disaster-prone countries equipped to set up temporary FM radio stations within 72 hours of a disaster. HCR supports international FRR coordination and advises on monitoring and evaluation.
• CDAC NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHCR supports FRR's contribution to CDAC Network initiatives to improve and mainstream Communication and Community Engagement (CCE) in disaster responses.
• EsadercoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal partner NGO in DRC that collaborated with HCR and Feba to establish Umoja FM community radio station in Nobili.
• Feba UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in the Amplifying Voices project in Sierra Leone and Umoja FM project in DRC. Feba UK launched and supports community radio initiatives.
• Believers Broadcasting Network (BBN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLarge Christian radio station and counselling centre in Freetown, Sierra Leone that forms multi-stakeholder teams with churches and health clinics for the Amplifying Voices project.
• Seva Social Welfare FoundationcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIndian partner working with HCR on the Adivasi Voices Project, distributing speaker boxes to remote tribal communities in Maharashtra.
• Sentinel ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanadian-based genocide prevention organisation partnering with HCR on peacebuilding initiatives including Una Hakika misinformation project and Amani FM in Kenya.
• Una HakikacoreTechnology or IntegrationInformation service that gathers, verifies and counters misinformation. Integrated with radio stations including Amani FM and Tana FM to promote peace and verified information.
• Kenya Sustainable Health Aid (KESHA)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal organisation led by Shedrack Hiribae that developed the vision for Tana FM, working with HCR on peacebuilding radio in Tana River.
• Foundation for Better Tomorrow (FFBT)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPakistan-based NGO collaborating with First Response Radio and HCR to establish FRR network in Pakistan.
• International Organisation for Migration (IOM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN migration agency coordinating disaster response efforts. IOM coordinator welcomed plans for First Response Radio network in Pakistan.
• Desert Blue ConnectminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWomen's health organisation in Western Australia running the Community, Respect and Equality project. HCR helped develop radio messages for domestic violence campaign.
• Western Australia Centre for Rural Health (WACRH)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner organisation that requested HCR to produce film sharing Indigenous health stories. Supported funding for video production.
• Stop the Child Witchcraft Accusations (SCWA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational network partnership for analysing community feedback on COVID-19 impacts across Sub-Saharan Africa, examining misinformation and socio-economic harm.
• Mtaani RadiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRadio station in Nairobi's informal settlements partnering with HCR on COVID-19 'nudge' campaigns targeting youth.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Farm Radio International: Canadian charity using radio to serve African farming communities with development programming. Directly comparable in its radio-for-development model and community engagement approach.
• Search for Common Ground: Largest dedicated peacebuilding NGO using media as a core methodology to transform conflict. Comparable in its use of radio and media for peacebuilding, particularly relevant given HCR's Amani FM and Umoja FM peace projects.
• BBC Media Action: BBC's international development charity using media and communication to reduce poverty and support people's rights worldwide. Closely comparable to HCR in mission, methodology, and target beneficiaries across Africa and Asia.
• Internews: International NGO supporting independent media and information access in developing countries. Highly comparable as both organizations fund and operate community media projects globally, with similar donor base.
• Equal Access International: International NGO creating positive social change through media, education, and community engagement in the developing world. Comparable scope of community-centered media programming across multiple countries.
• CDAC Network: Global humanitarian network improving communication and community engagement in disaster response. Directly comparable and an actual HCR partner, with overlapping focus on humanitarian CCE.
• Free Press Unlimited: Dutch foundation supporting independent journalism and media in countries with restricted press freedom. Comparable international media development mandate and donor-funded operating model.
• Fondation Hirondelle: Swiss foundation providing independent media in crisis and post-conflict zones. Closely comparable for HCR's work in DRC, Sierra Leone, and South Sudan, with similar humanitarian media model.
• Panos Institute: Network of institutes working on media, communication, and development with a focus on marginalized voices. Comparable communication-for-development methodology and community-led approach.

Broad incumbents

• UNICEF Communication for Development: UN agency's dedicated C4D function delivering large-scale health and behavior change programs globally. A broader incumbent in the same communication-for-development space, operating at significantly larger scale and budget.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hcruk
• Facebookfacebook.com/HealthCommunicationResources
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hcr_2

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries12 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 HCR