Women without Borders (WwB)

What Women without Borders (WwB) does

Women without Borders (WwB) is a Vienna-based nonprofit founded in 2001 by Dr. Edit Schlaffer, dedicated to preventing violent extremism (PVE) through family- and community-based interventions. The organization operates with a small team of approximately 14 employees and maintains a programmatic network spanning 40 countries through partnerships with local implementing organizations.

WwB's core programmatic portfolio includes MotherSchools (a parenting-for-peace training model launched in 2012), FatherSchools (a complementary program engaging fathers, launched 2017-2018), the SAVE Network (a female-led PVE platform established in 2008), the Parenting for Peace Academy (a train-the-trainer scaling channel launched in 2019), and Women Know How! (a gender-based violence prevention program launched in 2021). Together, these programs have trained a network of more than 2,000 mothers and reached families across diverse high-risk geographies including Europe, the Middle East, and East Africa.

The organization's business model is nonprofit and grant-funded, deriving revenue from institutional grants (Austrian Federal Ministries, OSCE, US State Department, US Institute of Peace) and corporate philanthropy (notably the L'Oréal Fund for Women and the Fourth Wave Foundation). WwB does not charge for its core program content; instead, it relies on program-aligned grants and donations to fund operations, with methodologies that have been incorporated into Austria's national PVE strategy. The organization's competitive position rests on its brand reputation, multi-decade programmatic track record, and its global partner network rather than on technology infrastructure or AI capabilities.

Name

Women without Borders (WwB)

Legal name

Women without Borders (WwB)

Website

https://wwb.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Women without Borders (WwB) is a Vienna-based nonprofit that prevents violent extremism through family-based training programs, including MotherSchools, FatherSchools, and the Parenting for Peace Academy, serving communities across 40 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community-Based Violence Prevention Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (624110), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment (BPAGABAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Gender Equality & Women’s Rights (BPADAGAF), Safeguarding, Accountability & Compliance (ESG, Gender/GBV, Do No Harm) (BPADAEAM)

Keywords

• Community-based prevention programs
• Violent extremism prevention
• Gender-based violence prevention
• Mother parenting education
• Peacebuilding capacity building

Headquarters

HQ city

Vienna

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: WwB accepts donations via bank transfer (UniCredit Bank Austria) and PayPal. Donations are non-refundable. The organization does not have an Austrian Donation Certificate, meaning donations are not tax-deductible in Austria.
2. Institutional Grants and Funding: WwB receives funding from governments, foundations, and international organizations including: Austrian Federal Ministry for Social Affairs, BKA (Federal Chancellery), BMEIA (Foreign Ministry), US Department of State, L'Oréal Fund for Women, Fourth Wave Foundation, OSCE, EU/URB-AL Network, and various local government bodies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Women without Borders (WwB) is an international nonprofit association that delivers community-based prevention programs focused on preventing violent extremism and gender-based violence. Its core offerings are the MotherSchools: Parenting for Peace and FatherSchools: Parenting for Peace curricula, the Sisters Against Violent Extremism (SAVE) network, the Women Know How! storytelling circles program, and the Parenting for Peace Academy train-the-trainer workshops, all delivered through trained local implementing partners.

Product overview

Women without Borders (WwB) operates as a nonprofit social impact organization rather than a technology company. Its core offerings consist of community-based prevention programs: MotherSchools: Parenting for Peace (the flagship program empowering mothers as first-line defenders against extremism), FatherSchools: Parenting for Peace (complementary program engaging fathers), the SAVE network (global female PVE platform), Women Know How! (GBV prevention through storytelling), and the Parenting for Peace Academy (train-the-trainer capacity building). WwB also produces documentary films and policy paper publications to translate research into action. The organization does not offer a software product, API, or technology platform—the programs are implemented through in-person workshops, local implementing partners, and printed educational materials.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MotherSchools: Parenting for Peace: A pioneering family-centred prevention programme that positions mothers as the first line of defence against violent extremism in their communities
• FatherSchools: Parenting for Peace
• SAVE Network (Sisters Against Violent Extremism)
• #MothersLead Campaign
• Women Know How!

Products and services

• MotherSchools: Parenting for Peace A pioneering family-centered prevention program positioning mothers as the first line of defense against violent extremism, strengthening individual capacity, capability, and emotional literacy while heightening awareness of radical influences. Delivered to mothers in at-risk communities across 12 countries.
• FatherSchools: Men Included in Parenting for Peace A family-centered prevention program actively involving fathers in parenting for peace and addressing masculinity-related limitations. Complements MotherSchools to strengthen families from both sides; implemented in Austria, Germany, Belgium, Uganda, and Zanzibar.
• SAVE Network (Sisters Against Violent Extremism) The world's first female Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE) platform, initiated in 2008, connecting women leaders across regions to share strategies and build community resilience against extremism.
• Women Know How! A gender-based violence prevention program supporting women in breaking the taboo on gender-based violence through Story Telling Circles, offering safe spaces to address experiences of violence and build self-confidence. Piloted in Graz (2023) and expanded to Vienna (2024-2025).
• Parenting for Peace Academy A train-the-trainer program that expands the pool of WwB-approved trainers to deliver MotherSchools workshops. Equips community leaders, psychologists, social workers, and teachers with tools and knowledge to train local capacity globally.
• Publications (Policy Papers and Booklets) Research-based publications including policy papers on topics such as Afghanistan's crisis, weaponized misogyny, Yemen's human cost, and booklets documenting women's experiences and program impact.
• Documentary Films

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,000 mothers trained across 12 countries through MotherSchools program
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AshokacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal fellowship of social entrepreneurs. Ashoka is listed as a network partner/supporter of WwB, with WwB founder Edit Schlaffer having held positions within Ashoka (Vice President Iman Bibars serves on WwB's Advisory Board)
• Element CminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a supporter/network partner of WwB
• Omega InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOmega Institute (with its Omega Women's Leadership Center) is listed as a network supporter of WwB. WwB collaborates with Omega Graz on Women Know How program
• Soroptimist International VaduzminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as network supporter of WwB; awarded Edit Schlaffer the Soroptomist Peace Prize 2015
• Wider die GewaltminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustrian initiative working to address domestic violence; listed as network supporter of WwB
• OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey international partner; WwB participates in OSCE events, roundtables, and working groups on counter-terrorism and PVE; Thomas Wuchte (Head of Anti-Terrorism Issues at OSCE) praised WwB/SAVE
• REOCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as network supporter of WwB
• RAN (Radicalisation Awareness Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU RAN Plenary 2020 featured WwB participation; WwB contributes to RAN's P/CVE policy work
• Gender ChampionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWwB is part of International Gender Champions Vienna network; hosts Gender Champions Podcast jointly
• BNEDminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as network supporter of WwB
• Center for Partnership SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWwB Founder Edit Schlaffer was speaker at Peace Begins at Home Summit 2025, produced by Center for Partnership Systems; model featured in their handbook
• PIVA AssociationcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal implementing partner for FatherSchools Villach 2019-2021 and MotherSchools Villach 2024-2025
• Verein Omega GrazcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal implementing partner for Women Know How Graz 2023 and MotherSchools Graz
• NachbarinnencoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal implementing partner for Women Know How Vienna 2024-2026
• Base GrazcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal implementing partner for Women Know How Graz 2025
• Diakonie FlüchtlingeshilfecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal implementing partner for MotherSchools Vienna 2022-2023 and 2024-2025
• CampusAsyl e.V.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal implementing partner for MotherSchools and FatherSchools in Kempten and Regensburg, Germany
• Sozialdienst Muslimischer Frauen e.V.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal implementing partner for MotherSchools and FatherSchools Germany
• Manusher Jonno Foundation (Bangladesh)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal implementing partner for MotherSchools Bangladesh graduation 2024

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Mercy Corps: Large international humanitarian and peacebuilding NGO operating in 40+ fragile states with community resilience and youth violence prevention programming. Comparable to WwB in working in conflict-affected geographies through local partners, though at significantly larger scale.
• Search for Common Ground: One of the world's largest peacebuilding NGOs operating in 40+ countries with community-level conflict and extremism programming. Comparable to WwB in grassroots, community-led prevention methodology and global footprint.
• Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD): London-based counter-extremism and disinformation think-and-do tank with global programming and government advisory work. Operates broadly in the same P/CVE space as WwB but at much larger scale and with policy-research emphasis.
• Radicalisation Awareness Network (RAN): EU Commission-funded network of practitioners and policymakers working on P/CVE. WwB participates in RAN as a practitioner; comparable as a multi-stakeholder platform shaping European P/CVE policy and practice.
• International Alert: London-headquartered peacebuilding NGO working on security, gender, and violent extremism. Closely aligned with WwB on integrating gender perspectives into peace and security programming and policy advocacy.

Direct peers

• Hedayah — International Centre of Excellence for Countering Violent Extremism: Abu Dhabi-based international centre of excellence focused on P/CVE capacity building, policy advice, and programming. Directly comparable to WwB as a small, donor-funded PVE-specialized organization working through partnerships and international networks.
• Women for Women International: Global nonprofit delivering women-focused empowerment, training, and livelihoods programs in conflict-affected countries. Directly comparable to WwB in target beneficiary (marginalized women in fragile contexts) and program modality (cohort-based, trainer-led training).
• Women Peacemakers Program (WPP) / Global Fund for Women: International network of women peacebuilders operating in conflict-affected contexts. Directly comparable to WwB on network-model delivery of women-centered peace and PVE programming globally.
• Kvinna till Kvinna: Swedish foundation supporting women peacebuilders and women's rights organizations in conflict-affected countries. Comparable to WwB on focus, donor base (European institutional/governmental), and women-centered peacebuilding methodology.
• International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN): US-based network advancing women-led peacebuilding and PVE. Closely comparable to WwB's MPVE and SAVE-style work in elevating female-first-line-responder models and producing policy guidance for women's roles in CVE.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WwB_SAVE
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/WwB_org
• Facebookfacebook.com/WwB.org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/womenwithoutborders
• Instagraminstagram.com/wwb_org

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Women without Borders (WwB)