Science Africa

What Science Africa does

Science Africa Limited is a Nairobi-based science communications consultancy founded in 1994, operating as a private limited company in Kenya with an 18-person team. The firm offers a portfolio of professional services — Publishing and Editorial Services (PES), Strategic and Corporate Communications (SCC), Media Relations and News Service (MRNs), Public Engagement and Participation (PEP), Capacity Building and Mentorship (CBM), Research, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (RMEL), and Policy and Regulatory Support (PRS) — and produces two flagship editorial products: the ScienceAfrica Quarterly Journal and the ScienceAfrica Weekly Newsletter.

The company's core technology consists of web publishing platforms (scienceafrica.co.ke and news.scienceafrica.co.ke, with archives spanning 2020-2025) and YouTube channels (AfriSMC TV and AHSJI). It operates several branded projects: the African Science Media Centre (AfriSMC), the Africa Health Systems Journalism Initiative (AHSJI), and SoJo News (Solutions Journalism Africa Initiative). Its primary customer segments are governments and public-sector bodies, international NGOs and development organizations (WHO, IFAD, Solutions Journalism Network, ILRI), and media houses and journalists across Anglophone, Francophone, and Lusophone Africa.

Science Africa generates revenue through project-based consulting fees negotiated per engagement, with no publicly disclosed pricing, subscription, or productized pricing model. Notable engagements include editing Kenya's Malaria Eradication Strategy 2009-2018 for WHO, co-organizing the WHO Road Safety Reporting Training for journalists across five African countries, co-delivering solutions journalism workshops with the Solutions Journalism Network, and covering the IFAD GROW program and the Dairy Interventions for Mitigation and Adaptation (DaIMA) programme. The company is independently owned with no disclosed external funding, parent company, or acquisition activity.

Name

Science Africa

Legal name

Science Africa Limited

Website

https://scienceafrica.co.ke

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Science Africa Limited is a Nairobi-based science communications consultancy founded in 1994, providing editorial, capacity-building, and media relations services to governments, international NGOs (WHO, IFAD, SJN), and media houses across Anglophone, Francophone, and Lusophone Africa through a network of trained journalists.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Communications and Media Consultancy

NAICS

Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (541690), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Miscellaneous Publishing (2741), Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)

akta.pro primary industry

Healthcare & Life Sciences PR (MPAAADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Scientific & Laboratory Reference (Chemistry, Biology, Physics; Methods & Protocols) (EDAGAGAG), Academic & Scientific Conferences (MPAGAGAD)

Keywords

• Science journalism consulting
• Strategic communications services
• Capacity building programs
• Science media training
• Editorial publishing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Nairobi

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Publishing and Editorial Services: Science Africa provides book, booklet, report, annual report, newsletter, journal (ScienceAfrica Quarterly Journal), and magazine publishing and editorial services to clients including governments and international organizations (e.g., edited and designed Kenya's Malaria Eradication Strategy 2009-2018 for WHO). Revenue is generated through project-based consulting fees.
2. Capacity Building and Mentorship Services: The company runs communication and media training and mentorship programs for professionals and organizations, funded by development partners and international NGOs. Revenue is project-based.
3. Strategic and Corporate Communications Consulting: Science Africa provides strategic communications consulting to support clients' national campaigns, public awareness initiatives, and conference support across Africa.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Science Africa is a science communications consultancy firm that delivers publishing and editorial services, strategic and corporate communications, media relations, public engagement, capacity building and mentorship, research monitoring and evaluation, and policy support to governments, international organizations, NGOs, and media organizations across Africa. The company also operates flagship editorial products (ScienceAfrica Quarterly Journal, ScienceAfrica Weekly Newsletter) and projects such as AfriSMC, AHSJI, SoJo News, and Road Safety Reporting.

Product overview

Science Africa is a science communications consultancy firm offering a portfolio of services including publishing (quarterly journal and weekly newsletter), strategic communications, media relations, public engagement, capacity building, and research evaluation. The company operates several flagship projects including AfriSMC (African Science Media Centre), AHSJI (Africa Health Systems Journalism Initiative), SoJo News (Solutions Journalism), and Road Safety Reporting. Digital platforms include AfriSMC TV and AHSJI YouTube Channel. The company has also developed internship and mentorship programs for African journalists since 1994.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sojo News: Science Africa news portal providing science and health journalism content across Africa
• AfriSMC
• AHSJI

Products and services

• Publishing and Editorial Services (PES) Editorial and publishing services for books, booklets, reports, annual reports, newsletters, journals, and magazines delivered to clients such as governments and international organizations.
• Strategic and Corporate Communications (SCC) Strategic communications consulting to help clients manage information flow, public engagement, national campaigns, and product launches in the global communications environment.
• Media Relations and News Service (MRNs) A network of trained journalists across Africa supporting national campaigns, product launches, public awareness, and conference coverage for client organizations.
• Public Engagement and Participation (PEP) Services focused on involving the public in decision-making for project planning, design, and implementation to ensure public knowledge and acceptance of development initiatives.
• Capacity Building and Mentorship (CBM) Communication and media training and mentorship programs with proprietary curricula for professionals, journalists, and organizations, including internship and mentorship cohorts.
• Research, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (RMEL) Research and evaluation services supporting evidence-based decision-making and learning for development and communications initiatives.
• Policy and Regulatory Support (PRS) Advisory services on policy development and regulatory frameworks for science and health sectors.
• ScienceAfrica Quarterly Journal A quarterly academic journal focused on science and health journalism, serving as one of the flagship editorial publications of Science Africa.
• ScienceAfrica Weekly Newsletter A weekly digital newsletter delivering science and health news across Africa, serving as a flagship publication reaching journalists and stakeholders.

Quantifiable outcome

• Edited and designed Kenya's Malaria Eradication Strategy 2009-2018 for WHO

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• World Health Organization (WHO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScience Africa partnered with WHO on road safety reporting training for African journalists. WHO and Science Africa co-organized a journalist training workshop on road safety reporting in Nairobi, Kenya. Selected journalists from Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Tanzania participated in the launch of the status report on Road Safety in the WHO African Region.
• Solutions Journalism Network (SJN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScience Africa partnered with Solutions Journalism Network on the SoJo News (Solutions Journalism Africa Initiative) project. SJN co-delivers solutions journalism training workshops with Science Africa in Nairobi. Caroline Karobia, SJN Africa Initiative Manager, shares insights with journalists during SoJo training workshops. David Bornstein, SJN Co-founder and CEO, has participated in Science Africa events.
• International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScience Africa covers news related to IFAD programs such as the Dairy Interventions for Mitigation and Adaptation (DaIMA) programme, a six-year initiative across East Africa ($358 million investment). Science Africa publishes news and communications content related to IFAD projects, including the GROW program for women's economic empowerment.
• International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerILRI provides technical assistance to countries under the DaIMA programme on Monitoring, Reporting and Verification of GHG emissions as a regional center of excellence. Science Africa covers related news content. ILRI Director General Appolinaire Djikeng participated in the DaIMA programme launch covered by Science Africa.
• Africa Freedom for Information Centre (AFIC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScience Africa (GROW Project Lead David Aduda, Editor Sharon Atieno, IT Manager Anthony Rume) met with Gilbert Sendugwa, Director of AFIC, and AFIC communications officer Maria Lakel in Nairobi to discuss collaboration. AFIC-TISA Policy makers roundtable on women's access to government procurement opportunities in Nairobi was covered by Science Africa.
• Nation Media GroupminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorScience Africa engaged Nation Media Group editors on solutions journalism. About 20 editors, managers, and directors attended a two-hour workshop delivered by Daniel Otunge of Science Africa and Caroline Karobia of Solutions Journalism Initiative. This partnership supports Science Africa's capacity building programs.
• Cycling out of Poverty Kenya (CooP Kenya)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooP Kenya initiated the distribution of bicycles to Community Health Volunteers within Nyalenda informal settlement in Kisumu, Kenya. Science Africa covered this initiative as part of its health journalism reporting. CooP Kenya Programs Officer Joab Oluoch was interviewed for Science Africa coverage.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SciDev.Net: Global science communications platform focused on science and development for the Global South. Directly comparable to Science Africa in mission, audience (African researchers, journalists, policymakers), and content-and-training business model, though SciDev.Net operates at larger scale and broader geography.
• Nigeria Health Watch: Health-focused journalism and communications organization in West Africa. Cited alongside Science Africa leadership at Solutions Journalism Network events, and operates an analogous model combining health journalism, thought leadership, and editorial services in Africa.
• Code for Africa: Africa's largest civic technology and data journalism network, with country-level hubs across the continent. Comparable to Science Africa in mission (African-led, journalism capacity building) and multi-country footprint, though with a stronger technology and data emphasis.

Broad incumbents

• Internews: Global media development organization with substantial Africa programming. Comparable in mission (journalist training, science and health communications, donor-funded) and operates at significantly larger scale with multiple regional offices.
• The Conversation Africa: Africa edition of The Conversation's expert-authored science and policy journalism platform. Operates at broader pan-African scale with a similar science journalism mission, supported by a global parent organization.
• Devex: Global development news and intelligence platform covering international aid and development. Comparable to Science Africa in serving development-sector communications and African coverage, though focused on news and intelligence rather than training and editorial services.

Emerging players

• AfricaCheck: Africa's leading fact-checking organization, with offices across multiple African countries. Overlaps with Science Africa on journalism capacity building and science/health misinformation, but specializes in verification rather than broader science communications.

Others

• African Academy of Sciences: Pan-African science institution that funds and promotes African researchers, with associated science communication activities. Adjacent peer that influences the demand for science communications services Science Africa provides.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCdmvZPpTJQFtLQncCL_eYfQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/science-africa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Science Africa