Alliance of Iraqi Minorities Network

What Alliance of Iraqi Minorities Network does

Alliance of Iraqi Minorities Network (AIM) is a non-profit civil society coalition founded in November 2010 and headquartered in Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. It functions as a federation of 28 locally-based organizations representing 14 ethno-religious Iraqi minority groups — including Yazidis, Christians (Chaldean, Assyrian, Armenian), Kaka'i, Turkmen, Shabak, Faili Kurds, Mandaeans, Baha'i, and Roma — supported by a 71-member advisory body drawn from parliamentarians, ministers, religious leaders, and experts. AIM delivers its mission through six core programs: Legal Protection, Capacity Building, Annual Reports on Violations, Response to UN Human Rights Recommendations (UPR reports), Awareness Raising, and Promoting Peace Building and Social Cohesion, supplemented by project-based work such as the Safe Return Project in Nineveh and the Women Empowerment in Work Force legal support fund.

AIM's underlying 'technology' is a partner-network-based human rights monitoring and documentation system. Violation data is collected and verified through 28 contracted partner organizations and surfaced in a series of nine consecutive annual violation reports (2016-2024) published via press conferences in Baghdad and Erbil, alongside a multilingual publications library and an organizational policy framework covering safeguarding, anti-corruption, and data protection. Direct service delivery is supported by hotline numbers (07737555114, 07750000230) and safe return centers in Nineveh. The organization is lean, with 9 employees, and operates across 10 Iraqi governorates including Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Duhok, Halabja, Nineveh, Kirkuk, Baghdad, Al-Wasit, Diyala, and Basra.

AIM is a grant-funded non-profit with no commercial revenue model. It does not charge beneficiaries; all legal protection, capacity building, awareness, and advocacy services are provided free of charge to Iraqi minority communities. Funding flows from international development donors, with Norwegian People's Aid having anchored a five-year 'Improving the Human Rights Situation of Minorities in Iraq' program from 2020-2024, and supplementary support from KAICIID, the European Union, UNAMI-UNDP, USAID, and Heartland Alliance International. The organization reports 25 implemented projects, 30 supporting donors, and 2,954 beneficiaries reached in a single 2022 project cycle. Leadership is provided by Mikhail Benjamin Dawood (Head of Administrative Board), Hedi Sarkar (Executive Director), and Bassam Salem Elias (President).

Name

Alliance of Iraqi Minorities Network

Legal name

Alliance of Iraqi Minorities Network

Website

https://aim-iq.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Alliance of Iraqi Minorities Network is a non-profit coalition founded in 2010 in Erbil, Iraq, uniting 28 local organizations and a 71-member advisory body to deliver legal protection, capacity building, annual violation monitoring, and advocacy for 14 ethno-religious Iraqi minority groups across 10 governorates.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Minority Rights Advocacy

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

International & Local Implementing NGOs (HLAJAKAD)

Keywords

• Minority rights advocacy
• Human rights monitoring
• Civil society coalition
• Capacity building training
• Peacebuilding programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Erbil

HQ country

Iraq

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. International Development Funding: AIM operates primarily through grants and funding from international donors and development organizations including Norwegian People's Aid, KAICIID, European Union, and USAID. As a non-profit civil society network, the organization does not generate commercial revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

AIM is a coalition of 28 locally-based civil society organizations that delivers a portfolio of programs—Legal Protection, Capacity Building, Annual Reports on Violations, Response to Human Rights Recommendations, Awareness Raising, and Peace Building and Social Cohesion—for 14 ethno-religious Iraqi minority groups. Services include legal aid and representation, training for minorities and CSOs, monitoring and documentation of rights violations, advocacy for legislative reform, and direct support for displaced returnees.

Product overview

Alliance of Iraqi Minorities Network (AIM) operates as a coalition of 28 locally-based organizations offering a portfolio of interconnected programs focused on protecting and promoting the rights of Iraqi minorities. The core offerings include: Legal Protection (advocacy and policy drafting), Capacity Building (training for minority groups and CSOs), Annual Reports on Violations (monitoring and documentation), Response to Human Rights Recommendations (UPR reports), Awareness Raising (cultural heritage education), and Peace Building initiatives. Supporting services include publications about minority communities, organizational policy documents, and the Safe Return Project for displaced populations. The programs are implemented across multiple Iraqi governorates including Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Duhok, Nineveh, Kirkuk, and Baghdad.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Legal Protection Program A program establishing legal committees and advocacy campaigns to improve the rights situation of Iraqi minorities through policy drafting and engagement with decision-makers, including the Women Empowerment in Work Force legal support fund providing free legal information, advice, and representation for working women facing discrimination.
• Capacity Building Program A training program for minorities including women, youth, NGOs, civil society organizations, and media agencies on human rights, project design, financial management, monitoring & evaluation, and advocacy skills.
• Annual Reports on Violations A monitoring and documentation program that produces annual reports on violations against Iraqi minorities, published through press conferences in Baghdad and Erbil, leveraging data collected by 28 partner organizations.
• Response to Human Rights Recommendations An advocacy program responding to UN Human Rights Council recommendations through the preparation of Universal Periodic Review (UPR) reports and engagement with international human rights mechanisms.
• Awareness Raising Program An educational program conducting awareness sessions, radio/TV broadcasts, carnivals, and producing publications about minorities' heritage, language, and cultural rights.
• Promoting Peace Building and Social Cohesion A program focused on safe voluntary return of displaced minorities, community empowerment, and building social cohesion through various initiatives, including the Minorities Cultural Carnival in Duhok.
• Safe Return Project A project in Nineveh Governorate providing legal, social, and psychological services plus vocational training and small business support for returnees and displaced persons from minority communities, delivered with Heartland Alliance International.
• Women Empowerment in Work Force A legal support fund project providing information, legal advice, and representation for working women facing discrimination and harassment in the workplace, accessible via dedicated hotline numbers.
• Minority Publications Library Educational publications in Arabic and English about Iraqi minority groups including Yazidi, Kakai, Christian, Shabak, Zoroastrian, Turkmen, Faili Kurd, Mandaean, Bahai, and Armenian communities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Produced 9 consecutive annual violation reports (2016-2024) documenting discrimination and violations against Iraqi minorities
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

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

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KAICIID (King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports interfaith dialogue projects in Nineveh, including coordination and networking forums bringing together religious actors for cooperation based on shared citizenship and social cohesion.
• UNAMI-UNDPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint support for Iraq's electoral process including participation in operational timeline workshops and voter awareness initiatives for the 2025 Parliamentary Elections.
• Heartland Alliance InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Safe Return Project in Nineveh Governorate, providing legal, social, and psychological services plus small project support for returnees and displaced persons from minority communities.
• People for Development Organization (PDO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on advocacy campaign to activate the Yazidi Survivors Law No. 8 of 2021, including high-level meetings with government officials in Baghdad.
• Wardak Organization for Development and ReliefminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCoordination partner for 2025 Capacity Building Program including training sessions on project proposal writing and financial management.
• Nineveh Center for Minorities RightsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal coordination partner for Minorities Cultural Carnival in Duhok, working together to promote diversity and social cohesion.
• United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) Human Rights OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJointly organized training on 'Protection of Minorities and Engagement with the United Nations Human Rights Mechanisms' with 22 participants from minority rights NGOs and government bodies.
• Shams Network for Election ObservationminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaboration partner for electoral education session aimed at enhancing political awareness and participation among minority communities and persons with disabilities.
• Accepting Others OrganizationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in organizing a two-day national workshop titled 'Combating Hate Speech' held on June 13-14, 2025 in Erbil.
• Madārat Al-Salam OrganizationminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLead organization for interfaith dialogue project in Nineveh, with AIM as a partner organization, supported by KAICIID.
• Hammurabi Human Rights OrganizationminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal coordination partner for round table discussions on legal protection mechanisms for minorities.
• Gender Studies and Information OrganizationminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner for institutional development workshops and forum on defending minority rights in the Kurdistan Region.
• Yarsan Organization for Kakai CultureminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal partner for seminars on minority rights awareness in Sulaymaniyah and Kalar district.
• Ghasin Al Zaiton Organization for YouthminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner for training workshops on project design and proposal writing, and vocational training programs.
• Justice Organisation for Minorities RightsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner for finance management training workshops for local partner organizations.
• RastY Organization for Human RightsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner for information management and monitoring & evaluation training workshops.
• CAPNI for Humanitarian AidsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner for human resource management training workshops.
• Hoiathan Cultural AssociationminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner for media organizations workshop on minority rights and international mechanisms.
• Eyzidi Organization for DocumentationminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner for annual violation reports and press conferences on minority rights.
• Public Aid Organization (PAO)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner organization and member of AIM Network for conference on quota seats for minorities.
• Mandaean Culture AssociationminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHost venue for Minority Festival on International Minority Rights Day and electoral education sessions.
• Muthabirun FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided venue and professional support for interfaith dialogue activities in Nineveh.
• Shams Election Monitoring NetworkminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOrganizer of three-day workshop on youth and women participation in Kurdistan Region elections.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Hammurabi Human Rights Organization: A prominent Iraqi human rights NGO that works on legal protection, minority rights, and rule of law in Iraq. It is a current AIM partner, making it a directly comparable Iraqi civil society organization in the same advocacy niche.
• Iraqi Al-Amal Association: An Iraqi civil society organization working on minority rights, women's empowerment, and community development. It serves as a directly comparable Iraqi NGO with similar programs for vulnerable ethno-religious communities.
• Yazda: A global Yazidi-focused advocacy organization addressing the post-2014 genocide, minority rights, and survivor support in Iraq. It is a directly comparable Iraqi minority-rights NGO with overlapping Yazidi-specific programming.

Broad incumbents

• Christian Aid: An international humanitarian organization supporting marginalized and minority communities in Iraq with programming on rights, livelihoods, and peacebuilding. It is a comparable broad-incumbent peer with overlapping Iraqi minority programming.
• Amnesty International: A global human rights organization that produces country reports on Iraq, including on minority and ethno-religious rights. While far larger and broader in scope, Amnesty's Iraq advocacy, UPR engagement, and annual reporting model are structurally comparable to AIM's work.
• Heartland Alliance International: An international human rights NGO that operates in Iraq on legal aid, minority protection, and the Safe Return Project in Nineveh. It is both a current AIM partner and a broader incumbent with overlapping programs and donor footprint.
• Minority Rights Group International: A global NGO working to promote the rights of ethnic, religious, and linguistic minorities, producing annual reports and advocacy materials. AIM's annual minority violation reports and coalition model mirror MRG's thematic focus, though MRG operates globally from a UK base.

Emerging players

• Article 19: A global freedom of expression organization that engages on hate speech, minority rights, and advocacy campaigns in restrictive environments. AIM's Combating Hate Speech workshop and minority media training programs make Article 19 a thematic peer in the same rights ecosystem.

Others

• Norwegian People's Aid (NPA): A major international humanitarian and development organization that funds and implements minority rights, legal protection, and peacebuilding programs in Iraq. While NPA is primarily a funder/partner rather than a peer, its programmatic scope in Iraq significantly overlaps with AIM's.
• KAICIID: An intergovernmental organization promoting interreligious and intercultural dialogue that funds and co-implements interfaith projects in Nineveh, including with AIM. It is a comparable ecosystem actor in the Iraqi minority/peacebuilding space.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alliance-of-iraqi-minorities-network

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Alliance of Iraqi Minorities Network