Accepting Others Organization

What Accepting Others Organization does

Accepting Others Organization (AOO Iraq) is a non-governmental, non-religious, non-profit organization founded in 2014 and headquartered in Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The organization delivers humanitarian, protection, livelihood, and advocacy programming for vulnerable populations across federal Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, operating through field offices in Sulaymaniyah, Duhok, Kirkuk, Diyala, Nineveh, and Baghdad. Its core service areas include a Protection Program (case management, GBV response, psychosocial and legal assistance, referrals), a Livelihood Program (vocational training, entrepreneurship, agribusiness, SME grants), a Humanitarian Program (notably the Bakhsheen clothing donation network), an Advocacy Program (policy briefs, dialogue forums, women's political participation), plus Social Cohesion & Peacebuilding, Climate Resilience, Food Security & Nutrition, and Education initiatives. AOO runs a specialized Protection Center in Sharia Camp serving the Yazidi community and maintains a public-facing awareness campaign ('Be a Woman for One Day') on GBV.

The organization is staffed by approximately 18 permanent members with 5-20 years of sector experience, supplemented by project-based hires, and is led by a female President and Executive Director Aree Dilshad Saber, with a Program Director (Alisha Robinson) and a Board of Trustees that is 80% female. Its operational backbone consists of internally developed Standard Operating Procedures — HR, Finance, Procurement, PSEA, and MEAL/M&E policies — aligned with international humanitarian standards. All programs are delivered free of charge to beneficiaries.

AOO's business model is institutional grant funding: it does not charge for services and does not disclose revenue figures. Funding is sourced from a diversified but concentrated pool of UN agencies (UN Women, UNDP, UNIDO, IOM), bilateral donors (USAID, UKAID, Government of Italy), EU institutions (EU Regional Trust Fund), multilateral mechanisms (WPHF, ADB), international NGOs (Cordaid, D66 International, Euro-Med Feminist Initiative), KRG government bodies (DCVAW, DNGO, HCWD, Ministry of Endowment), and private-sector sponsors (Korek Telecom, Zain Telecom, Kadeer Company, Erbil Municipality). The organization's stated impact metrics include contribution to 11 of 17 UN SDGs, more than 70% female participation among HQ staff and volunteers, and 90%+ youth participation in past cohorts.

Name

Accepting Others Organization

Legal name

Accepting Others Organization

Website

https://aooiraq.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Accepting Others Organization (AOO Iraq) is a woman- and youth-led non-profit NGO founded in 2014 that delivers humanitarian aid, protection, livelihood, and advocacy programs for women, IDPs, refugees, and minorities across Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

NGO Humanitarian and Social Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cash Assistance & Social Safety Net Delivery for Displaced Populations (BPADAHAH), Gender Equality, Inclusion & Social Protection Programs (BPADABAK), Humanitarian Health & Emergency Medical Relief NGOs (HLAJAKAE)

Keywords

• Women's rights advocacy
• Humanitarian protection services
• Gender-based violence response
• Livelihood support programs
• Social cohesion programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Erbil

HQ country

Iraq

HQ region

Middle East

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Institutional Donor Funding: AOO receives funding from national and international donors including UN agencies (UN Women, UNDP, UNIDO), government donors (USAID, UKAID, Government of Italy), EU funds, and private sector partners to implement humanitarian, protection, livelihood, and advocacy programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Accepting Others Organization (AOO) designs and implements community-based humanitarian, protection, livelihood, and advocacy programs for vulnerable populations across Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Services are delivered free of charge to beneficiaries including women, youth, IDPs, refugees, and ethnoreligious minorities, with programs covering GBV response, case management, vocational training, entrepreneurship support, clothing donations, food security, peacebuilding, and policy advocacy.

Product overview

Accepting Others Organization (AOO) is a woman and youth-based NGO that designs and implements community-based programs across Iraq. The organization operates through multiple interconnected program areas including Protection (specialized case management and GBV response), Livelihood (vocational training and entrepreneurship support), Humanitarian (clothing donations and emergency assistance), Advocacy (policy influence and awareness campaigns), Social Cohesion & Peacebuilding, Climate Change & Environmental Resilience, Food Security & Nutrition, and Education. Key initiatives include the Bakhsheen Project for clothing donations, Protection Centers serving displaced populations, and advocacy campaigns like 'Be a Woman for One Day'. The programs are delivered through field offices across federal Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Protection Program Provides specialized case management services, psychosocial support, legal assistance, and referral services to vulnerable individuals including women, children, displaced persons, and marginalized groups across Iraq and KRI; includes gender-based violence prevention and response services.
• Livelihood Program Improves economic opportunities for vulnerable communities in Iraq and KRI through vocational training aligned with labor market needs, entrepreneurship support, small business grants, and food security initiatives.
• Humanitarian Program Provides emergency humanitarian assistance, capacity building for staff and partner organizations, and aid distribution to vulnerable populations across Iraq and KRI, including the Bakhsheen Project clothing donation program.
• Advocacy Program Influences policies and systems through policy briefs, dialogue forums, and community engagement to promote human rights, social cohesion, and gender equality, with particular focus on women's participation in political processes.
• Social Cohesion and Peacebuilding Program Strengthens social cohesion in Iraq and KRI through inclusive dialogue platforms, Local Peace Committees, and initiatives promoting youth and women's leadership in conflict resolution and decision-making.
• Climate Change and Environmental Resilience Program Supports communities in Iraq and KRI in addressing climate impacts through practical solutions including water management, sustainable resource use, and clean energy access.
• Food Security and Nutrition Program Improves food security for vulnerable groups in Iraq and KRI through small-scale food production support, home-based agriculture, income-generating activities, and nutrition awareness programs.
• Education Program Promotes access to quality learning for youth in Iraq and KRI through capacity building, life skills training, and specialized programs including English and computer courses preparing youth for the labor market.
• Bakhsheen Project (Clothing Donation Boxes) Community clothing donation initiative with drop-off boxes installed throughout Erbil, providing clothing assistance to vulnerable families including IDPs, refugees, and women-headed households; supported by Erbil Municipality, Korek Telecom, Zain Telecom, and Kadeer Company.
• Sharia Camp Protection Center Specialized protection center in Sharia IDP Camp serving the Yazidi community, providing case management, recreational activities, referral services, and outreach to war victims and conflict survivors; implemented with IOM.
• Drop Off Box Service Physical clothing donation collection service with drop-off boxes located throughout Erbil, enabling community members to donate clothing and accessories for distribution to beneficiaries.

Named customers6 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

Feature2 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• UN WomencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor funding and technical partner for women's rights, gender-based violence prevention, and women, peace and security (WPS) programs. Supports institutional development and capacity building for AOO and other women's rights organizations.
• UNDPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on public security and community engagement initiatives, including projects in Al Qayyarah, Nineveh focused on civil society involvement in security.
• UNIDOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding partner for entrepreneurship and agribusiness development programs targeting Syrian refugees, IDPs, and host communities in Duhok.
• IOM (International Organization for Migration)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing partner for protection services in Sharia Camp for Yazidi community, providing protection, assistance, and recreational activities for war victims.
• CordaidcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating organization on women's political participation, peacebuilding, and WPS agenda projects funded by UKAID and Government of Canada.
• Euro-Med Feminist InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for cybercrimes and electronic blackmail protection programs for women in Nineveh.
• Erbil MunicipalitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for clothing donation boxes (Bakhsheen Project) and urban development proposals in Erbil.
• Korek TelecommajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPrivate sector sponsor for clothing donation boxes project providing clothing assistance to vulnerable families.
• Zain TelecommajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPrivate sector partner for clothing donation boxes project.
• Kadeer CompanymajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPrivate sector partner for clothing donation boxes project.
• Directorate to Combat Violence Against Women (DCVAW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for referral services and comprehensive care for GBV survivors in the Kurdistan Region.
• Department of Non-Government Organizations (DNGO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment department collaborating on humanitarian challenges coordination in Kurdistan Region, bringing together 148 NGOs and INGOs.
• KRG Ministry of Endowment and Religious AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for conferences on women's participation in elections involving ethnoreligious leaders.
• High Council for Women and Development (HCWD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKRG government body partnering on women's empowerment, political participation, and International Women's Day events.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• CARE International: Large international humanitarian and development NGO with established Iraq/KRI programming on women's economic empowerment, GBV response, and humanitarian assistance. Overlaps AOO's protection, livelihood, and women-focused programming but operates globally with a far larger budget and footprint.
• Save the Children: Global humanitarian INGO with substantial Iraq/KRI programming across child protection, education, GBV, and livelihoods. Broader mandate than AOO but directly overlaps the child protection, youth, and women-focused program areas AOO delivers through its Protection and Education programs.
• Mercy Corps: Global humanitarian organization active in Iraq focused on livelihoods, youth employment, women and girls, and social cohesion. Highly comparable program mix to AOO and frequently a co-funder or co-implementer of similar WPS and GBV initiatives in KRI and federal Iraq.
• UN Women Iraq Country Office: UN entity that is AOO's largest strategic partner. Operates a much broader mandate and budget, but is the principal funding conduit through which many of AOO's WPS, GBV, and women's rights grants flow; functionally the most important counterparty shaping AOO's growth trajectory.

Direct peers

• Cordaid: Dutch INGO that is explicitly listed as a current strategic partner of AOO on women's political participation, peacebuilding, and WPS programs funded by UKAID and Government of Canada. Operates in Iraq with overlapping protection and peacebuilding mandates.
• Relief International: Humanitarian INGO with active programming in Iraq on protection, GBV, women's empowerment, and livelihoods. Operates similar donor relationships (UN Women, WPHF, USAID) and competes for the same restricted grants targeting AOO's beneficiary segments.
• Iraqi Al-Amal Association: Iraqi national NGO focused on women's rights, GBV response, livelihoods, and protection services across Iraq. Comparable as a locally rooted, women-led organization competing for similar UN Women, WPHF, and EU funding pools in the Iraqi protection ecosystem.
• Women for Women International: Global women's rights and economic empowerment organization operating across conflict-affected states including Iraq/KRI. Directly comparable to AOO's livelihood + women's rights + GBV portfolio and shares AOO's training, social empowerment, and rights-based model for women survivors of conflict.
• ASUDA for Combating Violence Against Women: Iraqi NGO specializing in combating violence against women, providing shelters, legal aid, and psychosocial support across Iraq including KRI. Directly comparable in GBV response, case management, and protection services, and operates in the same regulatory environment (DCVAW, DNGO).
• Harikar NGO: Iraqi/KRI-registered NGO focused on IDP and refugee rights, GBV prevention, child protection, and livelihood support. Closely comparable local peer with similar geographic coverage in Duhok, Nineveh, and Erbil and a similar beneficiary base of IDPs, women, and youth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/aooiraq
• Facebookfacebook.com/AOOiraq
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aooiraq

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Accepting Others Organization