The Media Viability Accelerator (MVA), an initiative supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), will officially cease operations on Monday, 31 March 2025, following a sudden withdrawal of funding.
In a message shared with users, the MVA team expressed “deep regret” over the platform’s closure and confirmed that all associated programs, subgrants, and access to its tools would end. The platform, which served more than 1,000 users and partnered with 20 institutions within months of its launch, had become a key resource for evaluating media sustainability and business performance.
Users have until 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US) on the day of closure to download or delete their data. After that, the platform will be securely archived and inaccessible. While users can erase their personal information, Internews, the MVA’s operating organization, stated that some records must be retained in line with U.S. federal laws.
Despite the setback, there are efforts underway to carry forward the MVA’s mission. Jason Lambert, the platform’s former Head of Product and original visionary, has announced plans to launch an independent, unaffiliated service with similar aims. “A service like this has an important purpose – now more than ever,” Lambert said, inviting interested parties to follow him on LinkedIn for updates and to share suggestions for the upcoming platform.
For assistance during the shutdown period, users can contact mva-ops@internews.org, though the team warned of possible delays due to reduced staffing.
The closure signals a significant shift in the global media development landscape, particularly for smaller or emerging media outlets that relied on the MVA for benchmarking and strategic insights.
