Nadia's Initiative, Inc
Rebuilding communities in crisis and advocating for survivors of sexual violence.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Nadia’s peaceful life was brutally interrupted in 2014 when ISIS attacked her homeland in Sinjar - to ethnically cleanse Iraq of all Yazidis. Like many minority groups, the Yazidis have carried the weight of historical persecution. Women, in particular, have suffered greatly - as they have been and continue to be victims of sexual violence. Today, more than 2,800 women and children remain missing and the vast majority of the Yazidi community live in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, unable to return to their homeland.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Sinjar Action Fund
The Sinjar Action Fund (SAF) is dedicated to advancing reconstruction efforts in Sinjar, Iraq. Sinjar, the Yazidi ancestral homeland, was systemically destroyed by
ISIS. Critical infrastructure was demolished, leaving Sinjar uninhabitable. Today, more than 300,000 Yazidis are still displaced and living without access to basic necessities in IDP camps in Northern Iraq.
Education
We recognize the importance education plays in the long-term development and healing of communities recovering from genocide. We work with foreign and local NGOs to build, rehabilitate, and staff schools throughout the Sinjar region to
enable access to education for child returnees.
Projects include:
Rehabilitation of primary and secondary schools throughout the Sinjar region.
Building of new primary and secondary schools throughout the Sinjar region.
Staffing of schools and provision of school supplies to students.
Advocating for the staffing of rehabilitated schools and for continued investment in the education sector in Sinjar.
Health
Access to health care is a basic
human right. Our team works
with the local communities,
national governments, and
international organizations to
ensure the restoration of
comprehensive health care to
the Sinjar region.
Projects include:
New Sinjar Hospital – Mother and Child wing projected to be operational by 2021
New Sinjar Operating Theater – operational since February 2020.
Rehabilitation of Sinuni Hospital.
Rehabilitation of Primary Health Centers throughout Sinjar.
Advocating for investment in quality health care for Yazidi returnees to the Sinjar region.
Women
We advocate to help female survivors and to support their families and communities. We do so by designing sustainable development projects that are
survivor-centric and benefit survivors in the Sinjar region. We also work to provide reparations to survivors globally and seek justice and accountability of their perpetrators.
Projects include:
Rehabilitation of female-headed farming households.
Women’s empowerment programs throughout Sinjar.
Advocating to end sexual violence against women globally and provide reparations to survivors.
Establishing the Global Fund for Survivors of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence.
Advocating for global gender equality in partnership with France’s Gender Advisory Council through the promotion of legislation protecting and promoting women’s rights.
Drafting and passing of UN Security Council Resolution 2467
Livelihoods
We work to revitalize Sinjar's agriculture industry by providing comprehensive rehabilitation to farms and farming households - restoring one of the main sources of livelihoods for the Yazidi community.
Projects include:
Provision of basic services to returnees throughout Sinjar.
Housing rehabilitation.
Rehabilitation of farming households and communities.
Advocating for local governments and international actors to invest in and support the redevelopment of livelihoods for returnees to the region.
Survivors Action Reponse
The Survivors Action Response (SAR) is dedicated to the well-being of survivors and communities. Key priorities of SAR include justice and reparations for survivors globally, relocation of Yazidi survivors and their children, and the provision of vital resources and skills training to survivor returnees in Sinjar.
Sexual violence knows no geographic boundaries and occurs with disturbing frequency – not just as a weapon of war. Nadia’s Initiative supports and develops initiatives that focus on justice for survivors – both formally and informally. All programs developed and supported by Nadia’s Initiative are survivor-centric.
WASH
We work across the Sinjar region to provide WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) services to farms, villages, clinics, and schools.
Projects include:
Comprehensive rehabilitation of WASH services to villages throughout the Sinjar region.
Rehabilitation of WASH in clinics, schools, households, and farms.
Advocating for local governments and international actors to invest in the provision of WASH services to returnees in the region.
Security
We work to increase the safety of returnees to the Sinjar region and improve security throughout Iraq. We also work to relocate those most vulnerable who are still displaced.
Projects include:
Working with local and foreign governments to enable the relocation of the most vulnerable Yazidis and their minor children to France and other countries.
Advocating local governments and international organizations to take concrete
steps to ensure increased security in the region.
Justice
We work with international human rights lawyers and the United Nations to bring ISIS militants to court for crimes against Yazidis, including genocide, human trafficking, mass executions, sexual enslavement, recruitment of child soldiers, and forced displacement.
Projects include:
Working with international human rights lawyers to bring ISIS perpetrators to justice.
Working with local governments and international organizations to document the crimes of ISIS against the Yazidi community.
Working with local governments and international organizations to bring justice and reparations to female survivors.
Advocating for the passing of UN Security Council Resolution 2379 - which created the United Nations Investigative Team for Accountability of Da'esh / ISIL (UNITAD).
Where we work
External reviews
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Nadia’s Initiative is dedicated to rebuilding communities in crisis and advocating globally for survivors of sexual violence. Nadia’s Initiative’s current work is focused on the sustainable redevelopment of the Yazidi homeland in Sinjar, Iraq, where Nadia grew up. When ISIS launched their genocidal campaign, they not only killed and kidnapped Yazidis, but also destroyed the Yazidi homeland to ensure the community could never return.
Nadia’s Initiative works with the local community and a variety of implementing partners on the ground in Sinjar to design and support projects that promote the restoration of education, healthcare, livelihoods, WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene), and women’s empowerment in the region. All Nadia’s Initiative programs are community-driven and survivor-centric and work to promote long term peace-building. Nadia’s Initiative advocates governments and international organizations to support efforts to rebuild Sinjar, seek justice for Yazidis, improve security in the region, and support survivors of sexual violence worldwide.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Nadia’s Initiative works with the local community and a variety of implementing partners on the ground in Sinjar to design and support projects that promote the restoration of education, healthcare, livelihoods, WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene), and women’s empowerment in the region. All Nadia’s Initiative programs are community-driven and survivor-centric and work to promote long term peace-building. Nadia’s Initiative advocates governments and international organizations to support efforts to rebuild Sinjar, seek justice for Yazidis, improve security in the region, and support survivors of sexual violence worldwide.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Nadia’s Initiative brings a comprehensive peace-building approach to the process of rebuilding and recognizes that reconstruction efforts must be developed locally by the community. Our team consults with the local community to identify gaps in the provision of services, design of projects. Nadia's Initiative works in tandem with local communities and implementing partners to carry out those projects.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Since its inception in 2018, Nadia’s Initiative has earned the trust and recognition of government leaders, policy-makers, activists, and advocates throughout the world as a leader in sustainable, community-driven development and advocacy as it relates to women, peace, justice, and security. In a short time, Nadia’s Initiative has provided both regional and cultural expertise in Iraq in the effort to rebuild Sinjar and strengthen security in Iraq.
With continued investment from our supporters, we will be able to advance our efforts to hold perpetrators of crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes accountable. We plan to continue our advocacy efforts to support the building of sustainable infrastructure throughout Sinjar, as well as the provision of services across the health, education, livelihoods, and women’s empowerment sectors. Our continued work will ensure a better and brighter future for the entire Yazidi community and all those who live in the Sinjar region.
While we’ve made tremendous progress advocating for reparations for survivors and promoting legislation that ensures the protection of women’s equal rights under the law, the fight for a more equitable world is an uphill battle that will need the continued support of the international community. Our advocacy work and continued progress are only possible through the strengthening and building of our partnerships with INGOs, NGOs, CSOs, and governments. Our partnerships enable us to push forth agendas that prioritize the human rights of the communities we are working to serve and protect. They enable us to shift the status quo to a more humane and equitable world through the promotion of legislation and the provision of services to those most in need.
Financials
Unlock nonprofit financial insights that will help you make more informed decisions. Try our monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights?
Learn more
about GuideStar Pro.
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Nadia's Initiative, Inc
Board of directorsas of 06/16/2023
Ms. Nadia Murad
Kerry Propper
ATW Parners
Gregoire Thery
Cap International
Elizabeth Bohart
Antelope Foundation
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
The organization's co-leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
Transgender Identity
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data