What Hiwa Foundation does

Hiwa Foundation is an independent non-governmental, non-profit foundation established on March 6, 2013, by Hiwa Rauf and Nian Abdullah in Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The foundation operates a multi-vertical program portfolio spanning education and training, women's empowerment, arts and culture, community development, and environmental awareness. Its core deliverables are content- and program-driven rather than technology-driven: over 250 TED Talks and numerous books (titles by Yuval Noah Harari, Sheryl Sandberg, Stephen Covey, Malala Yousafzai, and Nadia Murad) translated into Kurdish, a Training Center offering professional and personal development workshops, the ESTA Gallery for contemporary Kurdish art exhibitions, documentary productions, and community projects targeting people with disabilities, women in jail, and families.

The foundation serves youth and young adults, women and girls, students with financial need, and the broader Kurdish-speaking community in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. It reaches beneficiaries through direct program implementation, partnerships with local NGOs (Civil Development Organization, Disabled People Union, People's Development Organization, Gender Media Organisation) and international partners (FranklinCovey, TED, American University of Iraq-Sulaimani, and the European Union). It employs approximately 13 staff and distributes translated content digitally via the TED platform and YouTube.

As a charitable foundation, Hiwa generates no commercial revenue; operations are funded through donations, grants, and fundraising activities. Programs and translated books are provided free of charge or via request, and there is no disclosed pricing model. The foundation does not maintain a software product platform, does not offer an API, and has no proprietary technology assets — its competitive position rests on its translated content library, its partnership ecosystem, and its credibility as a community-facing NGO in the Kurdish Region.

Name

Hiwa Foundation

Legal name

Hiwa Foundation

Website

https://hiwafoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hiwa Foundation is a Sulaimani-based non-profit NGO that translates books and TED Talks into Kurdish, runs a Training Center, the ESTA art gallery, and community programs serving youth, women, and vulnerable populations in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Education and Cultural Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Volunteer Program Funding, Scholarships & Fundraising Support (EDAIAGAO)

Keywords

• Nonprofit education programs
• Cultural translation services
• Community development projects
• Documentary production services
• Training center programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Sulaimani

HQ country

Iraq

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable donations and grants: As a non-governmental, non-profit organization, Hiwa Foundation operates primarily through charitable donations, grants, and fundraising activities. The foundation does not generate commercial revenue but relies on the support of donors and partners to fund its educational and empowerment programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Hiwa Foundation is a non-profit foundation that delivers educational and cultural programs, including translated TED Talks and books, documentary productions, an ESTA Gallery, training center programs, and community development projects. It is funded by donations and grants and serves individuals and communities in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Product overview

Hiwa Foundation is a non-governmental organization offering educational and community development services in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The organization operates a multi-faceted portfolio centered on five core areas: education and training, women's empowerment, arts and culture, community development, and environmental awareness. Key offerings include a publication service translating books and TED talks into Kurdish (over 250 TED talks and numerous books translated), a Training Center providing professional development courses, the ESTA GALLERY for art exhibitions showcasing contemporary Kurdish artists, documentary productions covering cultural and social topics, and various community projects supporting women, people with disabilities, and families. The organization does not operate a unified software product platform; instead, it delivers services through in-person programs, publications, and community initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TED Talk Translations Translation of TED Talks, presumably into Kurdish and/or Arabic, to make globally recognized educational talks accessible to local audiences in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
• Book Translations Translation of books to expand access to educational and cultural literature for Kurdish/Iraqi readers.
• ESTA Gallery Gallery program operated by the foundation, providing cultural and artistic programming for the community in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
• Documentary Productions In-house documentary film production to support cultural storytelling and educational content for local audiences.
• Training Center Programs Structured training programs delivered through the foundation's training center, designed to empower individuals with skills and education in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
• Community Development Projects Community-focused development initiatives implemented for beneficiaries in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, supporting empowerment and local social impact.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 250 TED Talks translated and made available in Kurdish
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Hiwa Foundation was the first organization to introduce TED Talks to the Kurdish region, translating over 250 talks into Kurdish and making them accessible to the local community.
• FranklinCovey CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for delivering 'The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People' training programs in Kurdistan. Hiwa Foundation partnered with FranklinCovey to hold workshops and training sessions, including the 'Leader in Me' program for schools.
• American University of Iraq, Sulaimani (AUIS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished the Hiwa Foundation Endowment Fund to support education of students demonstrating financial need. Scholarship covers tuition fees for undergraduate and Academic Preparatory programs.
• European UnionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with EU diplomatic missions in Iraq for hosting the first European Union Film Festival in Iraq, promoting shared values of mutual tolerance, peaceful coexistence and common understanding.
• Lean IncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunched Kurdish edition of Sheryl Sandberg's 'Lean In' book, supporting women's empowerment and leadership through translated content and community programs.
• Gender Media OrganizationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for organizing 'Gender and Media' training workshops for women journalists as part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign.
• Disabled People UnionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to improve living conditions of people with special physical needs, especially children and youth, through provision of wheelchairs, school equipment and other necessities.
• People's Development OrganizationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for delivering 'Improving Family Awareness Through Reading' workshop across 4 vicinities in Sulaimani governorate based on 'The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens' content.
• Azmar College for Talented StudentsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementation partner for 'The Leader in Me – Kurdistan' pilot project to enhance skills and productivity of students using FranklinCovey's world-class content.
• Gender Media OrganisationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-designed and facilitated 'Gender and Media' training program for women journalists, exploring gender inequality in media coverage.
• Civil Development OrganizationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint project to build a bakery for women's rehabilitation in Sulaimaniyah, helping women in jail develop skills for financial independence.
• Kurdistan Institute of Directors-IraqminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation for corporate governance training course presented by IFC trainer on December 12-13, 2017 in Sulaimani.
• PAK (Environmental Group)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for 'Twreke' environmental campaign to raise awareness about harm caused by plastic bags and encourage use of reusable cotton tote bags.
• Vinci Interior Design and ArchitectureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation for hosting the first European Union Film Festival in Sulaimani, the cultural hub of Kurdistan Region.
• Danya Beauty InstitutionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for conducting hair-styling training course where 25 students received theoretical and practical training with internationally recognized accreditation.
• 7 Renge CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation for 'Colour and Art in Postcards' project to reintroduce children to writing postcards and preserve historic stories.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Iraq Foundation: Iraq-focused NGO supporting civil society, women's rights, and democratic development, comparable to Hiwa Foundation in operating environment and engagement with Iraqi communities on empowerment issues.
• Hariri Foundation for Sustainable Human Development: Lebanon-based NGO focused on education, women's empowerment, and community development, with a comparable portfolio of scholarships, training, and cultural programs targeting youth in the MENA region.
• Ruwwad Community Development Foundation: Ruwwad is a community development NGO operating in the Middle East (Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Turkey) that combines education, youth empowerment, and community-led programming similar to Hiwa Foundation's model in Kurdistan.

Others

• European Union Delegation to Iraq (Cultural/Education Programs): Funding and programming counterpart for Hiwa Foundation's EU Film Festival and EU-related cultural initiatives, representing the donor/international partner ecosystem Hiwa Foundation engages with.

Broad incumbents

• Education Above All Foundation: Qatar-based foundation operating at significantly larger scale to provide education and youth empowerment programs across MENA and globally, with overlapping focus areas in scholarships and youth development.
• UNESCO Iraq Office: UN agency operating in Iraq with programs in education, culture, and gender equality, sharing thematic overlap with Hiwa Foundation's cultural heritage, education, and women's empowerment focus.
• Mercy Corps: Large international humanitarian and development NGO with significant Iraq operations, comparable in mission to support communities affected by conflict through education, women's empowerment, and youth programs.

Regional players

• INJAZ Al-Arab: Regional NGO delivering workforce readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy programs across MENA, with a similar focus on youth skills development and 21st-century competencies.
• Reach Foundation (Qatar): Regional NGO providing accredited training and youth empowerment programs in the Gulf and MENA, with comparable training-center offerings and industry-recognized certifications.
• Al Fanar (Arab Foundation for Freedoms and Equality): Civil society organization supporting social entrepreneurship, education, and advocacy in the Arab world, sharing thematic overlap with Hiwa Foundation's women's empowerment and education programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HiwaFoundation
• YouTubeyoutube.com/HiwaFoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/Hiwa.Foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/Hiwa_Foundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hiwa-foundation

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 Hiwa Foundation