Shafak
Shafak (منظمة شفق) is a Turkey-based Syrian humanitarian NGO operating in northwestern Syria, delivering integrated health, food security, protection, education, WASH, and emergency response programs to IDPs, host communities, and conflict-affected populations through donor-funded partnerships with UN agencies and international NGOs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersGaziantep
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Shafak does
Shafak (منظمة شفق) is a non-governmental humanitarian organization headquartered in Gaziantep, Turkey, operating primarily in northwestern Syria across Idlib governorate and Aleppo countryside including Azaz, Afrin, and Al-Bab. The organization emerged in 2011 from the merger of several local Syrian civil society organizations in response to the Syrian crisis and was officially established as an independent non-profit (Şafak Derneği) in Turkey in 2013. Shafak's mission is to deliver humanitarian services to the most vulnerable populations regardless of religion, ethnicity, or political affiliation, addressing the displacement, health, food insecurity, protection, education, and water/sanitation needs of conflict-affected communities.
Shafak delivers its services through six core program verticals: Health, Food Security, Protection, Education, Water and Sanitation, and Emergency Response, plus specialized sub-programs covering cash vouchers, agricultural support, livelihoods, livestock, child protection, gender-based violence prevention, and war remnants awareness. Service delivery is carried out via fixed community centers in Idlib, Maarat Misrin, and Harem, mobile health clinics, field teams, and direct distribution into IDP camps, with reported reach including food baskets to 50,000+ families monthly under a WFP partnership, 200,000+ WASH beneficiaries, 147,500+ health beneficiaries, and 23,000+ earthquake-affected beneficiaries reached during the February 2023 emergency response.
Shafak's business model is donor-funded humanitarian delivery, with funding sourced from UN agencies (WFP, UNICEF, UNHCR, WHO, UNFPA, IOM, OCHA, FAO) and international NGOs (Save the Children, CARE, IRC, ACTED, Concern Worldwide, World Vision, Handicap International). All services are provided free of charge to beneficiaries. The organization employs approximately 1,154 personnel across daily wage contracts, service contracts, and staff roles, and is governed as an autonomous entity without parent ownership or equity structure. Membership in the Syrian NGO Alliance and coordinated participation in the broader Syria humanitarian response architecture are central to its operating model.
Shafak firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Shafak
- Legal name
- Şafak Derneği
- Website
- https://shafak.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Shafak (منظمة شفق) is a Turkey-based Syrian humanitarian NGO operating in northwestern Syria, delivering integrated health, food security, protection, education, WASH, and emergency response programs to IDPs, host communities, and conflict-affected populations through donor-funded partnerships with UN agencies and international NGOs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Shafak industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Humanitarian Aid Services
- NAICS
- Social Assistance (624), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Community Food Services (62421), Individual and Family Services (6241)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- International & Local Implementing NGOs (HLAJAKAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) (BPAGABAC), Health Systems Strengthening & Universal Health Coverage (UHC) (BPADAIAE), Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) Emergency Services (BPAGAAAE)
Keywords
Where Shafak is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Gaziantep
Offices1 record
Markets served
Shafak business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- International Donor Funding: Shafak operates as a donor-funded humanitarian organization, receiving funding from international organizations including UN agencies (UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, WHO, UNFPA), international NGOs (CARE, Save the Children, IRC, ACTED, Concern Worldwide), and government donors to implement humanitarian programs in northwestern Syria.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Shafak product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Shafak is a non-profit humanitarian civil society organization delivering integrated humanitarian services to conflict-affected populations in northwestern Syria through six core program areas: Health, Food Security, Protection, Education, Water and Sanitation, and Emergency Response. The organization delivers services free of charge to beneficiaries, funded by grants from international donors and UN agencies, reaching 50,000+ families monthly with food assistance, 147,500+ beneficiaries with health services, and 200,000+ beneficiaries with WASH services.
Product overview
Shafak is a non-profit civil society organization providing humanitarian services in northwestern Syria. The organization operates through six core program areas: Health, Food Security, Protection, Education, Water and Sanitation, and Emergency Response. These programs are implemented via multiple sub-programs and specialized services including cash vouchers, agricultural support, livelihoods development, livestock sector support, child protection, gender-based violence prevention, and war remnants awareness. The organization functions as a unified humanitarian service provider rather than a technology platform, delivering services through community centers, mobile teams, health facilities, and field operations across Idlib and Aleppo governorates.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Health Program Integrated medical sector program providing humanitarian health aid to ensure equitable access for people in need, including primary health care, secondary health care, nephrology services, and nutrition programs for conflict-affected populations in northwestern Syria.
Quantifiable outcome
- Reached 50,000+ families monthly with food assistance
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Shafak
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Shafak technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Shafak partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- World Food Programme (WFP)corePartnership for food security programs including monthly distribution of food baskets to 50,000+ families in northern Syria. WFP provides funding and food supplies while Shafak handles distribution logistics.
- UNICEFcorePartnership for child protection, education, and health programs including support for pediatric departments and emergency response.
- UNHCRcorePartnership for protection services and shelter support for displaced populations in northwestern Syria.
- UNFPAcorePartnership for reproductive health services and gender-based violence prevention programs.
- WHOcorePartnership for health system support and medical supplies for health facilities in northwestern Syria.
- Save the ChildrenmajorInternational NGO partner for child protection and education programs in northwestern Syria.
- CARE AustraliamajorInternational NGO partner for humanitarian programs in northwestern Syria.
- International Rescue Committee (IRC)majorInternational NGO partner for emergency response and protection programs.
- ACTEDmajorInternational NGO partner for humanitarian aid and development programs.
- Concern WorldwidemajorInternational NGO partner for humanitarian programs.
- FAOmajorPartnership for agricultural support and food security value chain programs.
- World VisionmajorInternational NGO partner for humanitarian programs.
- IOMcoreInternational Organization for Migration partnership for displacement response.
- OCHAcoreUN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs for coordination of humanitarian response.
- Handicap InternationalmajorInternational NGO partner for disability inclusion and protection programs.
- Syrian NGO Alliance (SNA)majorCoalition of Syrian NGOs coordinating advocacy and humanitarian response, with Shafak as member organization.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Shafak competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Independent Doctors Association (IDA): A Syrian NGO operating health facilities and emergency medical programs in northwestern Syria from a Turkey base. Direct peer as a Syrian-origin implementing organization providing comparable medical and humanitarian services in the same geography.
- Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS): A Syrian-origin humanitarian organization providing medical relief and healthcare services inside Syria and in refugee-hosting countries. Directly comparable as a Syrian diaspora / Turkey-based implementing NGO operating health facilities and emergency programs in northwestern Syria.
- ACTED: A French-headquartered humanitarian INGO with one of the largest field presences in northwestern Syria, implementing WASH, food security, livelihoods, and emergency response programs. Directly comparable as a current Shafak partner with overlapping geographic and programmatic footprint.
- Relief International: A US-headquartered humanitarian INGO with deep operational presence in northwestern Syria delivering health, food security, WASH, and protection programming. Directly comparable in service mix, donor base, and geographic focus.
Broad incumbents
- Mercy Corps: A major US-headquartered humanitarian INGO implementing multi-sector programs (food security, livelihoods, WASH, youth) in Syria. Comparable in programmatic breadth but operates at much larger scale across multiple geographies.
- CARE International: A global humanitarian confederation with active Syria programming in food security, women's economic empowerment, GBV prevention, and WASH. Comparable in sector coverage but with much broader geographic and thematic reach.
- Concern Worldwide: An Ireland-headquartered humanitarian INGO implementing livelihoods, health, and emergency programs in Syria. Comparable in multi-sector approach and current partner status, but with a global portfolio across multiple crises.
- Save the Children: A leading global humanitarian organization running child protection, education, health, and nutrition programs in Syria. Overlaps directly with Shafak's child protection (55,000 children) and education programs but operates at global scale.
- International Rescue Committee (IRC): A large, established humanitarian INGO operating across multiple crisis contexts including Syria. Overlaps with Shafak on health, protection, and emergency programming in northwestern Syria but with a much broader global footprint and deeper unrestricted funding base.
Emerging players
- Molham Volunteering Team: A Syrian-origin volunteer-based NGO delivering humanitarian aid, shelter, education, and medical relief inside Syria and to Syrian refugees. Comparable in community-driven operating model and beneficiary focus, though smaller in formal institutional funding scale.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Shafak social profiles
Digital presenceShafak financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Shafak leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Shafak funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Shafak M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Shafak
What does Shafak do?
Shafak is a non-profit humanitarian civil society organization delivering integrated humanitarian services to conflict-affected populations in northwestern Syria through six core program areas: Health, Food Security, Protection, Education, Water and Sanitation, and Emergency Response. The organization delivers services free of charge to beneficiaries, funded by grants from international donors and UN agencies, reaching 50,000+ families monthly with food assistance, 147,500+ beneficiaries with health services, and 200,000+ beneficiaries with WASH services.
Is Shafak a public or private company?
Shafak is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Shafak founded?
Shafak was founded in 2013. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Shafak based?
Shafak is headquartered in Gaziantep.
How does Shafak make money?
One revenue line is on record: international Donor Funding.
Who are Shafak's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Independent Doctors Association (IDA), Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS), ACTED and Relief International. Broad incumbents are Mercy Corps, CARE International, Concern Worldwide, Save the Children and International Rescue Committee (IRC). Molham Volunteering Team is listed as an emerging player.
Does Shafak have an API?
No public API is recorded for Shafak.
What industry is Shafak in?
Shafak's product category is Humanitarian Aid Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAJAKAD, International & Local Implementing NGOs, with a secondary code of BPAGABAC, Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH). Its NAICS code is 624 and its SIC code is 8300.