Voices That Count
Voices That Count is a Belgian cooperative network of around 16 narrative-research practitioners delivering SenseMaker-based consulting, monitoring, evaluation, and citizen-participation services to NGOs, foundations, multilateral agencies, and governments across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersAntwerp, Belgium
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Voices That Count does
Voices That Count is a Belgian cooperative and collaborative network of approximately 7 core staff and around 16 named practitioners that delivers narrative-based consulting, monitoring, evaluation, learning (MEL), and citizen-engagement services. Founded in 2018 by Steff Deprez, Claudia Van Gool Maldonado, and Nele Claeys — all former Rikolto practitioners — the firm was formally registered as a Belgian cooperative in 2021. Its core technology is methodological rather than software-based: the proprietary SenseMaker framework (where participants self-interpret their own stories through structured prompts) combined with complementary approaches such as Outcome Mapping, Outcome Harvesting, PhotoVoice, and Most Significant Change. Operational tooling includes custom dashboards (e.g. #OurFutures, #FarmVoices) for visualising patterns in narrative data at scale, and co-authored publications including the SenseMaker Practitioner Guide (with Oxfam and CRS) and a chapter in the SAGE Handbook on Participatory Research and Inquiry.
The firm sells exclusively through professional-services engagements: bespoke consulting projects and tailored or open training programmes, delivered both in-country and online. Pricing is quote-based and project-specific; no SaaS pricing, tiers, or public rate cards exist. Go-to-market is sales-led and event-driven, anchored on direct relationships and recurring engagement with multilateral agencies (UNDP, USAID, IFAD, WFP, SIDA), large NGOs and foundations (IUCN, WWF NL, Oxfam, CRS, MAVA Foundation, Trust Fund for Victims/ICC, EU Policy Lab/JRC, Alterfin, Equality Fund, VIA Don Bosco, Rikolto, Réseau Bilital Maroobe, Sankaa), municipal governments (City of Mortsel, Stad Antwerpen), and corporate clients (Cera Foundation). Geographic reach spans Europe, Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and South America, with marquee engagements including 4,000+ citizen stories for the EU #OurFutures initiative, 1,000+ stories for the Trust Fund for Victims reparations work in Uganda, and a 16-country Outcome Harvesting system for the IUCN/WWF Shared Resources Joint Solutions programme.
Voices That Count's customer base is concentrated in the international development, conservation, gender equality, philanthropy, and local-government segments, with academic partnerships (HIVA-KU Leuven, UGent, University of Antwerp, IDS) supporting training and research. The cooperative structure deliberately embeds its social mission in operations and anchors collaboration among practitioners, with founders originating the brand during a Rikolto impact-storytelling project. Revenue, funding, and ownership are not publicly disclosed; no external investors, parent company, or acquisition activity have been identified.
Voices That Count firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Voices That Count
- Legal name
- Voices That Count
- Website
- https://voicesthatcount.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Voices That Count is a Belgian cooperative network of around 16 narrative-research practitioners delivering SenseMaker-based consulting, monitoring, evaluation, and citizen-participation services to NGOs, foundations, multilateral agencies, and governments across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Voices That Count industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Social Impact Consulting and Participatory Research Services
- NAICS
- Other Management Consulting Services (541618)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- People Analytics, Assessment & Psychometrics Consulting (BPAHAGAH)
Keywords
Where Voices That Count is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Antwerp
- HQ country
- Belgium
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Voices That Count business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Consulting Services: Bespoke consulting engagements for monitoring, evaluation, strategic planning, and participatory action research. Projects are custom-designed based on client needs and typically involve narrative inquiry methodology deployment.
- Training Programs: Tailored trainings and facilitation support, open trainings and webinars around specific topics. Both in-country and online delivery options available. Includes annual specialist short courses developed with academic partners.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Voices That Count product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Voices That Count is a collaborative network of practitioners that provides narrative-based consulting and research services centered on the SenseMaker methodology and related participatory approaches (Outcome Mapping, Outcome Harvesting, PhotoVoice, Most Significant Change). The firm delivers Citizen Participation, Monitoring, Learning and Evaluation (MEL), Participatory Action-Research, Strategic Planning, Citizen Science/Human Sensor Networks, Organizational Celebration, and Training services to NGOs, governments, foundations, and academic clients worldwide.
Product overview
Voices That Count is a collaborative network of experts and practitioners offering narrative-based consulting and research services focused on social impact. Their portfolio centers on participatory approaches including SenseMaker methodology, Large-Scale Listening, Outcome Mapping, Outcome Harvesting, and Photovoice. Service offerings include Citizen Participation, Monitoring Evaluation & Learning (MEL), Strategic Planning, Participatory Action-Research, Citizen Science/Human Sensor Networks, and Organizational Celebration services. They also provide training programs and have developed specialized narrative tools like #FarmVoices and #OurFutures. The company operates as a cooperative enterprise and does not offer a traditional software product but rather delivers consulting, facilitation, and research services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Citizen Participation
- Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL)
- Strategic Planning and Programme Design
- Participatory Action-Research
- Citizen Science / Human Sensor Network
- Organizational Celebration Services
- Training Services
- #OurFutures Dashboard
- The Learning Power of Listening (SenseMaker Practitioner Guide)
Companies that use Voices That Count
Customer profileNamed customers24 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Voices That Count technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Voices That Count partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- EU Policy Lab (Joint Research Centre of the European Commission)coreVoices That Count supports the EU Policy Lab's #OurFutures initiative, conducting large-scale narrative collection and analysis to bring citizen perspectives into European future foresight and policymaking. Over 4,000 EU citizens shared stories, with analysis of 700+ stories for intergenerational fairness insights.
- OxfamcoreCo-publishing partner for the first SenseMaker Practitioner Guide 'The Learning Power of Listening'. Steff co-authored the guide with Oxfam colleagues, providing practical tips and examples from international development.
- CRS (Catholic Relief Services)coreCo-publishing partner for the SenseMaker Practitioner Guide supported and published by Oxfam and CRS. CRS supported development of practical guide for SenseMaker practitioners.
- Institute of Development Studies (IDS)coreAnnual specialist short course on Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation for Learning developed together with IDS. Collaborative training programme for development professionals.
- Outcome Mapping Learning CommunityminorAnnual Winter school organised in Brussels on Outcome Mapping and Outcome Harvesting for transformative change. Voices That Count participates as facilitators.
- ASMU (Saint-Martin)minorLocal civil society partner in St-Martin coordinating the 'Konté pou on landemen' climate resilience project. Voices That Count coordinated project from design to implementation.
- Karayib KlimaminorFunding partner for Caribbean climate change project. Project 'Konté pou on landemen' funded by ADEME via Karayib Klima.
- Cynefin CentreminorCollaboration on IUCN PLUS programme for participatory landscape governance in Uganda. Cynefin Centre provides theoretical framework for SenseMaker application.
- University of Antwerp / HIVA - KU LeuvenminorAcademic partners for Straatvinken citizen science project on street livability. HIVA provides scientific supervision for traffic counting initiative.
- IUCN NLcoreDesigned multi-country Outcome Harvesting monitoring system for Shared Resources Joint Solutions programme across 9 eco-regions in 16 countries.
- WWF NLcorePartnership with WWF NL for SRJS programme monitoring across 16 countries. Designed monitoring system and conducted regional train-the-trainer workshops.
- Toronto FoundationminorPart of Consortium with Equality Fund and World University Service of Canada for gender-conscious investment funding model development.
- Ringland AcademyminorInitiator of Straatvinken citizen science project. Voices That Count added narrative research layer using SenseMaker to assess quality of life in streets.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Voices That Count competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Laterite: Africa-focused data, research and MEL firm with a network-delivery model similar to VTC's. Comparable for its mix of bespoke consulting and analytics for development sector clients, though heavier on quantitative methods.
- INTRAC: International NGO Training and Research Centre providing training, research and consultancy on civil society evaluation, including Outcome Mapping. Comparable for its focus on capacity building and participatory MEL, especially with INGO clients.
- 60 Decibels: Impact measurement company that runs large-scale beneficiary voice surveys for impact investors, foundations and INGOs. Comparable for its scale-leveraged, technology-enabled listening approach and for serving similar institutional buyers of stakeholder insights.
- Busara Center for Behavioral Economics: Research and advisory organization working on measurement and evaluation in international development, with growing work in narrative and mixed-methods impact assessment. Adjacent peer given shared donor clients and growing emphasis on beneficiary voice.
Broad incumbents
- Oxford Policy Management: Large international development policy and evaluation firm with a much broader footprint than VTC. Competes for the same donor MEL contracts but at a larger scale and with a wider service mix; useful comparable for understanding what VTC could grow into.
- Pact: Large INGO with deep MEL practice and direct client overlap (IUCN/WWF programmes, USAID contracts). Comparable as a buyer and sometimes competitor of narrative-based MEL services, though at materially larger scale.
- Social Impact: US-based global development consultancy with a large MEL practice serving USAID and other donors. Overlaps with VTC in evaluation methodology and donor clients, but operates at materially larger scale and contract size.
Direct peers
- Itad: UK-based monitoring, evaluation and learning consultancy serving UN agencies, bilateral donors and INGOs. Directly comparable in that it sells bespoke MEL advisory and large-scale evaluation engagements to the same client base as Voices That Count.
- Anthrologica: UK-based consultancy specializing in applied anthropology, qualitative research and participatory methods for global health and development. Closely comparable niche specialist competing in the same qualitative, narrative-driven MEL segment.
- Clear Horizon: Australia-based MEL consultancy specialized in Most Significant Change, SenseMaker and outcome harvesting. Closest methodology peer to VTC and competes for the same narrative-based, participatory evaluation mandates from development funders.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Voices That Count social profiles
Digital presenceVoices That Count financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Voices That Count leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
Voices That Count funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Voices That Count M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Voices That Count
What does Voices That Count do?
Voices That Count is a collaborative network of practitioners that provides narrative-based consulting and research services centered on the SenseMaker methodology and related participatory approaches (Outcome Mapping, Outcome Harvesting, PhotoVoice, Most Significant Change). The firm delivers Citizen Participation, Monitoring, Learning and Evaluation (MEL), Participatory Action-Research, Strategic Planning, Citizen Science/Human Sensor Networks, Organizational Celebration, and Training services to NGOs, governments, foundations, and academic clients worldwide.
Is Voices That Count a public or private company?
Voices That Count is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Voices That Count founded?
Voices That Count was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Voices That Count based?
Voices That Count is headquartered in Antwerp, Belgium, in the Europe region.
How does Voices That Count make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Consulting Services are the primary driver. The others are training Programs.
Who are Voices That Count's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Laterite, INTRAC, 60 Decibels and Busara Center for Behavioral Economics. Broad incumbents are Oxford Policy Management, Pact and Social Impact. Direct peers are Itad, Anthrologica and Clear Horizon.
Does Voices That Count have an API?
No public API is recorded for Voices That Count.
What industry is Voices That Count in?
Voices That Count's product category is Social Impact Consulting and Participatory Research Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAGAH, People Analytics, Assessment & Psychometrics Consulting. Its NAICS code is 541618 and its SIC code is 8742.