Upinion

Upinion is a Netherlands-based technology company and digital engagement platform that enables two-way communication between crisis-affected communities and the humanitarian organizations that serve them. Founded in 2014 as a market research technology company, Upinion pivoted in 2019 to focus entirely on humanitarian and development contexts, becoming an award-winning platform for participatory engagement in hard-to-reach areas. The company's mission is rooted in the "Participation Revolution" principle: people affected by crises are best placed to identify their own problems, needs, and solutions, yet decisions about aid are often made without them. Upinion addresses this gap by actively engaging affected populations around the globe and channeling their perspectives into program and policy decisions. Upinion operates by harnessing real-time digital engagement through social messaging apps such as Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp — the same tools communities already use to connect with friends and family. Its engagements go beyond simple surveys; they are interactive exchanges designed to build trust, provide information, and foster informed, empowered communities. By amplifying community voices, Upinion helps NGOs deeply understand situations on the ground and implement interventions that directly address unique community needs. The platform supports continuous two-way engagement with information exchange at its core. The company is guided by core principles including accountability, do no (digital) harm, non-discrimination, necessity in asking questions, accuracy, confidentiality, respect for the rights of people, and security. Upinion holds ISO 27001 certification for its Information Security Management System and is GDPR compliant. Its team consists of mission-driven experts, researchers, software development specialists, and community managers, supported by independent Supervisory and Advisory Boards. Upinion is a private company headquartered in the Netherlands and operates globally, partnering with NGOs and humanitarian organizations.

Upinion began as a technology company in 2014, initially operating in the market research sector. During its early years, the company developed technology and methodology for digital engagement and data collection. However, the founders soon realized that their tools could address a much larger and more urgent problem: the exclusion of crisis-affected communities from decisions about the aid they receive. In 2019, Upinion fully transformed its business, pivoting from commercial market research to become a dedicated two-way communication and digital engagement platform working with local communities in hard-to-reach areas around the world. This strategic shift aligned the company with the "Participation Revolution" movement in the humanitarian sector, which advocates for the meaningful inclusion of affected populations in decision-making processes. Since 2019, Upinion has built a platform that leverages widely used social messaging apps like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp to engage communities in crisis areas. The approach recognizes that people in these contexts already use such apps daily to connect with friends and family, making them a familiar and trusted channel for two-way dialogue. Upinion's engagements are designed as interactive exchanges rather than one-off surveys, aiming to build trust, provide information, and empower communities. The company works with NGOs and humanitarian organizations to help them understand local situations and design interventions that directly address community needs. Upinion has received recognition for its work, describing itself as an award-winning platform. It operates under a set of core principles: accountability, do no (digital) harm, non-discrimination, necessity in asking questions, accuracy, confidentiality, respect for the rights of people, and security. The company has achieved ISO 27001 certification for its Information Security Management System and complies with GDPR. Its team includes mission-driven experts, researchers, software development specialists, and community managers, and it is supported by independent Supervisory and Advisory Boards that provide oversight, strategic direction, and expert advice. Upinion is headquartered in the Netherlands and operates globally, partnering with and supported by various organizations in the humanitarian sector.

• 2019

  Upinion fully transforms into a two-way communication and digital engagement platform for crisis-affected communities.

• 2014

  Upinion founded as a technology company in market research.

Award-winning two-way communication and digital engagement platform empowering crisis-impacted communities through participatory engagement and accountability.

• Two-way digital engagement platform

  Platform enabling real-time, interactive engagement with communities via messaging apps like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp.

1. 1Upinion – Listen. Participate. Amplify.upinion.com
2. 2About us – Upinionupinion.com
3. 3Wikidata Q132472662wikidata.org