Viestintä ja kehitys -säätiö Vikes

What Viestintä ja kehitys -säätiö Vikes does

Viestintä ja kehitys -säätiö Vikes is a Finnish non-profit foundation (säätiö) founded in 2005, specializing in international media development cooperation and the promotion of freedom of expression. Headquartered in Helsinki with a six-person core team, the foundation operates programs in 10 countries across Central America (El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua), East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda), the Horn of Africa (Somalia), and Asia (Myanmar, Nepal). Its core work consists of training journalists (1,339 in 2025), providing grants and organizational support to 15 local partner media outlets, building community radio networks reaching over 15 million listeners in East Africa, and supporting exiled journalists through platforms such as the Central American Journalism Forum (Forocap) and the La Sala women journalists network.

Vikes' business model is that of a grant-funded development NGO: the foundation's primary revenue comes from the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the European Union, supplemented by individual and organizational donations accepted through its website. Services are provided free of charge to beneficiaries. In 2025, the foundation spun off GLOMECO (Global Media Consulting Oy), a wholly-owned commercial subsidiary that sells strategic communications, training, and content production services to NGOs, foundations, municipalities, and sustainability-oriented companies, representing the foundation's first move into earned commercial revenue. The foundation also operates educational products (online courses on sustainable development journalism, guides to diverse journalism), grant programs (Iikka Vehkalahti fund, travel grants for journalists), and a volunteer network (Globaalien journalistien verkosto).

A new four-year development cooperation programme running 2026–2029 is structured around five thematic areas—Media Rights, Equality and Inclusion; Journalism in Exile; Peace Journalism; Environmental Journalism; and Disability Rights in Media. Vikes is governed by a board chaired by Jarmo Koponen, with Marjo Heinonen serving as Executive Director since 2021.

Name

Viestintä ja kehitys -säätiö Vikes

Legal name

Viestintä ja kehitys -säätiö

Website

https://vikes.fi

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Vikes is a Finnish non-profit foundation that promotes freedom of expression and media development by training journalists and supporting independent media organizations in 10 countries across Central America, East Africa, and Asia, primarily funded by the Finnish government and EU.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Media Development Cooperation

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200), Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPABADAN

Public Media Partnerships & Content Co-productions (NGO/Cultural)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Broadcasting (TV & Radio)/Public/Nonprofit Broadcasting (PBS/NPR-style)

SECONDARYMPABADAH

Educational/Instructional Public Media Services (Schools, Distance Learning)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Broadcasting (TV & Radio)/Public/Nonprofit Broadcasting (PBS/NPR-style)

SECONDARYMPAJADAF

Investigative & Nonprofit News Organizations

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Publishing (Books, News, Magazines)/News Publishing (Newspapers, Digital Newsrooms, Wire Services)

SECONDARYEDAIAGAO

Volunteer Program Funding, Scholarships & Fundraising Support

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/International Service Learning, Volunteering & Gap Year Programs

Keywords

• Media development cooperation
• Journalism training programs
• Freedom of expression support
• Press freedom capacity building
• Development communication grants

Headquarters

HQ city

Helsinki

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Institutional Development Funding: Primary funding from Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Ulkoministeriö) providing stable, long-term support for development cooperation programs. Additional EU funding through European Union programs.
2. Donations: Individual and organizational donations accepted through the foundation's website. Monthly donation option available with billing through local bank transfers.

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Vikes is a Finnish non-profit foundation that supports freedom of expression and independent journalism in Finland and the Global South through capacity building, training programs, and direct partnerships with media organizations. It funds journalism training, professional networking, exile media support, and community radio development across Asia, Africa, and Central America, while also providing grants, awards, and educational materials to journalists. The foundation operates a wholly-owned commercial subsidiary, GLOMECO (Global Media Consulting Oy), which markets strategic communications, training, and content production services to external clients.

Product overview

Vikes is a foundation focused on journalism development cooperation, not a single software product. The organization operates primarily through its subsidiary GLOMECO (Global Media Consulting Oy) for paid communications services, while the foundation itself offers educational products (online courses, guides), grant programs (Iikka Vehkalahti fund, travel grants), awards (Development Journalism Award), and volunteer networks (Global Journalists Network). The core offering is the development cooperation program 2026-2029 supporting media development in Asia, Africa, and Latin America through capacity building, training, and journalism support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GLOMECO (Global Media Consulting Oy): A specialist company combining decades of experience in the Global South with strategic communications, training, and impact-driven content production. Offers services to Finnish and international clients including NGOs, foundations, municipalities, and sustainability-oriented companies.

Products and services

• Vikesin kehitysyhteistyöohjelma 2026–2029 (Development Cooperation Programme 2026–2029) A four-year development cooperation programme implementing capacity building, training, and journalism support across Asia, Africa, and Central America through five thematic streams: media rights, equality and inclusion; journalism in exile; peace journalism; environmental journalism; and disability rights in media. Delivered through 15+ partner media organizations in 10 countries.
• GLOMECO (Global Media Consulting Oy) A specialist communications and consulting company combining decades of experience in the Global South with strategic communications, training workshops, event production, and impact-driven content production. Serves NGOs, foundations, municipalities, and sustainability-oriented companies in Finland and internationally.
• Journalismia kestävästä kehityksestä -verkkokurssi (Online Course on Journalism About Sustainable Development) An online course providing training material on journalism about sustainable development. Offered to Finnish journalists and journalism students to build competencies in covering global development topics.
• Opas moninaisempaan journalismiin (Guide for More Diverse Journalism) A published guide for more diverse journalism used as educational material to support inclusive reporting practices among Finnish journalists and journalism students.
• Iikka Vehkalahti -rahasto (Iikka Vehkalahti Fund) A grant fund established to support journalism and media development, providing financial support to individual journalists and journalism initiatives aligned with Vikes' mission.
• Matka-avustukset journalisteille (Travel Grants for Journalists) Travel grants provided to journalists to support journalistic work and international reporting assignments, funded as part of Vikes' development cooperation activities.
• Globaalien journalistien verkosto (Global Journalists Network) A volunteer network connecting journalists globally, enabling cross-border professional exchange, mentoring, and collaboration among journalists engaged with Vikes' mission.

Quantifiable outcome

• 25.6 million audience reach through partner activities
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Finnish Journalism Union (Suomen Journalistiliitto)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBackground organization providing institutional support and collaboration for Finnish journalism development initiatives.
• Helsingin Seudun Journalistit (HSJ)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional journalists' union in Helsinki area, collaborating as a background supporting organization.
• Radio- ja televisiotoimittajien liitto (RTTL)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinnish Radio and Television Journalists' Union, supporting Vikes activities as a background organization.
• Vala (Finnish development communications network)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork organization for development communication in Finland. Vikes is a member of Vala's network.
• Fingo (Finnish development cooperation organizations)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUmbrella organization for Finnish development NGOs. Vikes is a member providing access to sector resources and coordination.
• Forocap (Central American Journalism Forum)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional journalism forum supported by Vikes, bringing together 30 Central American media organizations with 526 participants. Hosts workshops on investigative journalism, freelance methods, storytelling, and photojournalism.
• PCIN (Nicaraguan Journalists' Coalition)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of Nicaraguan journalists providing organizational support to exiled journalists. Coordinates La Sala women journalists network and collaborative journalism initiatives.
• Radio Tadios (Tanzania)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity radio portal hosting content from 46 rural radio stations in Tanzania with over 5,000 articles and programs published. Enables rural radio stations to reach online audiences.
• Radio Comnetu (Uganda)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUgandan community radio portal connecting 25 rural radio stations, supporting climate and environmental journalism with over 2,500 articles and programs.
• Development Through Media (Kenya)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization providing mentorship to young journalists from rural Kenya and Nairobi slums. 67 journalists participated in 2025 mentoring program.
• UMWA - Uganda Women Journalists AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoined as project partner in 2025, organizing 17 training sessions on gender-equal reporting, election coverage, and journalist safety.
• CIJ Nepal (Centre for Investigative Journalism)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduces investigative reports on corruption, kleptocracy, and climate crisis. Female journalists receive mentoring for investigative reporting.
• Media Council of Tanzania (MCT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorks on gender equality with 20+ media organizations, developing equality plans and sexual harassment prevention guidelines.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• DW Akademie: Germany's Deutsche Welle media development arm, funded by the German Federal Foreign Ministry, providing journalist training, media development, and freedom of expression support globally. Closely comparable institutional funding model and training focus.
• Internews: Large international NGO supporting independent media and access to information in 100+ countries. Directly comparable as a media development organization with multi-country programs, US/EU government funding, and training/capacity-building offerings.
• Free Press Unlimited: Dutch foundation supporting independent journalism and press freedom worldwide, particularly in countries with restricted media. Similar foundation structure, EU/institutional funding, and thematic focus on journalist safety, training, and exile support.
• International Media Support (IMS): Denmark-based global media development NGO working on journalist safety, press freedom, and independent media support in conflict and crisis-affected countries. Highly comparable to Vikes' mission, funding model (Danish MFA, EU), and operational focus on exile and at-risk journalists.
• Fojo Media Institute (Linnaeus University): Swedish media development institute (formerly within Fojo) working internationally on journalist capacity building, freedom of expression, and editorial development. Closely comparable Nordic institutional model, multi-country focus, and thematic alignment with Vikes.

Broad incumbents

• BBC Media Action: BBC's international development charity working on media development, communication for development, and journalist training in low- and middle-income countries. Much larger scale, but operates in the same space with similar funder base (FCDO, EU, Nordic donors).
• Reporters Without Borders (RSF): Paris-based international NGO focused on press freedom, journalist safety, and exiled media support globally. Operates in the same thematic space (press freedom, exile journalism) as Vikes but with broader advocacy mandate and larger footprint.
• Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ): US-based independent NGO that promotes press freedom worldwide and defends the rights of journalists, including those in exile. Comparable mission on press freedom and journalist safety advocacy.
• Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Media Programmes: German political foundation with significant media development programming in developing and transition countries, including journalist training and press freedom support. Comparable institutional structure (foundation), EU-adjacent funding, and multi-country programmatic approach.

Emerging players

• Fonds voor Journalistiek / Journalism Fund (Dutch): Dutch journalism foundation providing grants and fellowships to support investigative and innovative journalism. Comparable as a national-level journalism foundation but with primarily grantmaking rather than development cooperation focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Vikes.fi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vikes
• Instagraminstagram.com/vikes.fi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Viestintä ja kehitys -säätiö Vikes