Nisaa Institute for Development

What Nisaa Institute for Development does

Nisaa Institute for Development (legally Nisaa Institute for Women's Development) is a South African non-governmental, non-profit organization founded in 2001 and registered as a Section 21 not-for-profit company (registration 2001/015558/08) with NPO status (004-410). The organization is dedicated to opposing all forms of oppression, exploitation, and violence against women, with a primary focus on preventing gender-based violence (GBV) and empowering women who have been abused by intimate partners. It is headquartered in Lenasia, Gauteng, and operates a national footprint through satellite service points in Soweto and Orange Farm, plus a 24-hour toll-free shelter helpline (0800 001 005) that connects abuse survivors to shelter services across all nine South African provinces in partnership with the National Shelter Movement (NSM).

The core service offering comprises three pillars: (1) crisis shelter accommodation providing 4–6 week stays for abused women and their children, (2) sustained counselling services, and (3) training programmes offered at a minimal fee to community members and professionals who work with survivors. The organization supplements direct services with a substantial advocacy and public-awareness portfolio, including the Bus Campaign ('You are only half a man if you rape a woman'), the White Ribbon Campaign (extended to two other African countries), the Red and White Ribbon Campaign on the GBV–HIV interface, the Date Rape Campaign, the 'Change the Tune' radio drama series broadcast on Ligwalagwala Radio Station and into SADC markets, and the 'Consent is Sexy' campus campaign. Nisaa also produces four substantive publications (Turning the Tide, Women Making a Fresh Start, Rising Up Moving On, and We Are Those Girls) that codify shelter-operations guidance and survivor narratives.

The business model is donation-funded, with services delivered free of charge to survivors and nominal fees only for training participants. The organization employs 12 people and has no proprietary technology products, AI/ML capabilities, app, or disclosed revenue; reach is delivered through physical locations, telephony, SMS, WhatsApp, and community outreach. Go-to-market is community-led, anchored on trust within Gauteng townships and the NSM partnership for national helpline coverage.

Name

Nisaa Institute for Development

Legal name

Nisaa Institute for Women's Development

Website

https://nisaa.org.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Nisaa Institute for Development is a South African non-profit, founded in 2001, that provides free crisis shelter, counselling, and training to women survivors of gender-based violence, operating a national 24-hour helpline and community offices in Lenasia, Soweto, and Orange Farm.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Gender-based violence support services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Temporary Shelters (624221)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services (BPAGAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Protection Services (GBV, Child Protection, Legal Aid) (BPADADAH), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGAEAH), Protection Services (GBV, Child Protection, Safeguarding) (BPADAHAF)

Keywords

• Gender violence support
• Crisis shelter services
• Abuse survivor counselling
• GBV prevention training
• Community awareness campaigns

Headquarters

HQ city

Lenasia

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Nisaa operates as a Section 21 not-for-profit company and NPO (registration 004-410). The organization relies on donations from the public and likely institutional donors to fund its shelter, counselling, and training services. Bank details are provided on the website for direct donations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Nisaa provides direct crisis intervention and support services to women survivors of gender-based violence and their children, including a 4–6 week shelter, professional counselling, and a 24-hour national toll-free helpline. It complements these direct services with training programmes (delivered at minimal fee to community members and professionals), public awareness campaigns, and educational publications on gender violence. All core survivor services are provided free of charge, funded through donations.

Product overview

Nisaa Institute for Development is a non-profit organization providing a comprehensive suite of services for survivors of gender-based violence. The core service offering consists of crisis shelter accommodation (4–6 weeks), counselling services, and training programs. The organization supplements direct services with public awareness and advocacy campaigns including the Bus Campaign, White Ribbon Campaign, Red and White Ribbon Campaign, Radio Drama Programme, Date Rape Campaign, Change the Tune radio programmes, and the Consent is Sexy Campaign. Nisaa also produces publications including 'Turning The Tide,' 'Women Making a Fresh Start,' 'Rising Up, Moving On,' and 'We Are Those Girls' to educate and inspire survivors and the public.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Crisis Shelter Services Crisis shelter providing 4–6 weeks of accommodation for abused women and their children at the Lenasia headquarters; free of charge to survivors.
• Counselling Services Sustained counselling service for abuse survivors and community members in need of emotional and psychological support; free of charge to survivors.
• Training Programmes Educational courses delivered at a minimal fee that give participants a good understanding of the dynamics of abuse and the necessary skills to assist survivors; targeted at community members and professionals.
• National 24-Hour Toll-Free Shelter Helpline 24-hour toll-free shelter helpline (0800 001 005) operated in partnership with NSM, providing immediate crisis support and referrals to shelter services across all nine South African provinces; free of charge.
• Turning The Tide: Guidelines for Caring and Effective Shelters for Survivors of GBV Guidelines document for GBV shelter management in South Africa focused on empowerment, upliftment, and collective action; published by Nisaa.
• Women Making a Fresh Start Book helping readers understand domestic violence, the resources available to women experiencing violence, and guidance for leaving abusive relationships; published by Nisaa.
• Rising Up, Moving On Publication making women's voices and experiences visible, aimed at inspiring other women facing violence to seek support and overcome abuse; published by Nisaa.
• We Are Those Girls Compilation of stories written by adolescent girls and young women sharing their voices and experiences; published by Nisaa.

Quantifiable outcome

• Survivors report feeling empowered to speak about their experiences and regain a sense of human dignity through Nisaa services.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• NSM (National Shelter Movement)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNisaa partners with the National Shelter Movement (NSM) to operate the first national 24-hour toll-free shelter helpline exclusively dedicated to helping victims of domestic abuse access shelter services across all nine South African provinces. NSM's helpline also assists with issues impacting survivors beyond shelter placement.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Sonke Gender Justice: South African gender rights NPO working on GBV prevention, policy advocacy, and community education. Comparable advocacy and campaign capability, with broader male-engagement remit.
• Tears Foundation: South African GBV NPO delivering shelter, counselling, and awareness programmes. Comparable service model and beneficiary population to Nisaa.
• Rape Crisis Cape Town: Cape Town-based GBV support organisation providing crisis counselling, court support, and prevention programmes. Similar service architecture to Nisaa, though regionally focused on the Western Cape.
• People Opposing Women Abuse (POWA): South African NPO providing counselling, shelter, and advocacy for women survivors of GBV. Directly comparable to Nisaa in mission, service mix, and South African township footprint.
• National Shelter Movement of South Africa (NSM): Umbrella body coordinating shelters for abused women in South Africa, with which Nisaa already partners on the national helpline. Direct peer as both funder/partner and fellow GBV shelter network operator.

Emerging players

• South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG): Mental health NPO running national helplines and counselling services. Comparable counselling infrastructure to Nisaa, though with broader mental-health focus beyond GBV.
• Childline South Africa: National child-protection helpline and counselling service. Overlaps with Nisaa's GBV work on child survivors and family crisis intervention.
• Lifeline South Africa: National crisis helpline provider offering GBV-adjacent support. Comparable in operating a 24-hour crisis line and counselling infrastructure, though broader in scope than Nisaa.

Regional players

• Refuge (UK): UK-based GBV charity providing helplines, refuges, and advocacy. Comparable integrated service model, useful as a strategic template for how a GBV NPO can professionalise and scale.

Broad incumbents

• UN Women South Africa: Multilateral body funding and coordinating GBV programming across South Africa. Comparable mission and potential donor/partner relationship, but operates at policy/grant scale rather than direct service delivery.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nisaa-institute-for-development

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nisaa Institute for Development