Annual
Report
At A GlanceImage: Femicide prevention training for service providers. ©SEED 2025
Creating
a future
where
everyone
can thrive.
SEED is a women-led, local NGO in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, working to create a future where everyone can thrive by protecting rights, empowering communities, and strengthening systems. We promote gender equality and work to end gender-based violence; protect and promote the healthy development of children, adolescents, and youth; combat human trafficking and uphold survivor rights; and improve mental health and well-being.
Through transformational services, community development, capacity building, and policy and advocacy, we support individuals, communities, and institutions to create sustainable impact.
About SEED
Vision
A future where everyone can thrive.
Mission
To protect rights, empower communities, and strengthen systems.
Values
Integrity
We are committed to doing the right thing and being accountable for all that we do.
Equality
We believe in respect, fairness, justice, and equal rights and opportunities for all.
Impact
We are committed to delivering high quality results and achieving sustainable change.
Collaboration
We believe in teamwork and know that by working together, we can achieve more.
Goals
Achieve Gender Equality and End Gender-Based Violence (GBV)
SEED works to empower women and girls, uphold their rights, prevent violence against them, protect survivors and support their recovery, and engage men and boys.
Protect Children and Promote Their Development
SEED works to promote children’s growth and development by advancing and safeguarding their rights, protecting them from violence, exploitation, abuse, and neglect, and supporting survivors.
End Human Trafficking and Uphold Survivor Rights
SEED works to prevent and respond to human trafficking, protect and empower survivors and others at risk, uphold their rights, and strengthen response and prevention systems.
Improve Mental Health and Well-Being
SEED works to strengthen the mental health and psychosocial well-being of individuals and communities, and support the development of institutional and social structures that enable human flourishing.
Objectives
Deliver Transformational Services
SEED promotes the rights, protection, empowerment, and recovery of survivors of violence and others at risk through comprehensive care including case management, mental health and psychosocial support, legal services, cash assistance, and shelter services.
Empower Communities
SEED supports the development of a healthy, resilient, and cohesive society through community-based initiatives designed to foster social and emotional well-being, prevent violence and discrimination, and promote social and economic empowerment.
Ensure Organizational Excellence
SEED strives to build strong organizational and technical capacity through effective management and operational systems, empowering leadership, prioritizing accountability and learning, and fostering a collaborative and supportive work environment focused on achieving results.
Strengthen Systems
SEED works to achieve sustainable institutional change and social development through advocacy, technical assistance, and awareness-raising to strengthen rights and protections for all.
Increase Local Capacity
SEED equips local actors to prevent and respond to violence by strengthening capacity through education, training, mentoring, and professional development.
Where We Work
Erbil
- SEED Headquarters
- SEED Center
- SEED Shelter — for trafficking survivors
Sulaimani
- SEED Office
- SEED Center
Duhok
- SEED Program Activities
Halabja
- SEED Program Activities
Garmian
- SEED Program Activities
Deliver Transformational Services
2000+ Individuals Supported
Case Management
748
People Supported
- 81%
- Women and Girls
- 19%
- Men and Boys
Mental Health
365
People Supported
- 87%
- Women and Girls
- 13%
- Men and Boys
Legal Services
314
People Supported
- 79%
- Women and Girls
- 21%
- Men and Boys
Cash Assistance
218
People Supported
- 85%
- Women and Girls
- 15%
- Men and Boys
Safe Shelter
56
People Supported
- 86%
- Women and Girls
- 14%
- Men and Boys
Anti-Trafficking Services
105
Survivors of trafficking served
- 87
- Women and Girls 83%
- 18
- Men and Boys 17%
20
Countries of
Origin
Types of Trafficking
Sexual Exploitation
21
Labor Exploitation
61
Forced Begging
8
At-risk of Trafficking
15
Survivors by Country of Origin
- Ghana 28
- Morocco 15
- Bangladesh 8
- Iraq 7
- Sierra Leone 7
- Syria 6
- Yemen 6
- Nepal 6
- Indonesia 4
- Afghanistan 3
- India 3
- Philippines 3
- Somalia 2
- Tanzania 2
- USA 2
- Cameroon 1
- Malaysia 1
- Myanmar 1
- Netherlands 1
- Rwanda 1
Empower Communities
989
People Participated in Psychosocial Support Activities
- 800
- Women and Girls 81%
- 189
- Men and Boys 19%
Key Programs and Initiatives
SEED Girls
186
Graduates
108 SEED Mothers Participants
Thriving Together
100
Graduates
Skills for Life
142
Graduates
113 Women | 29 Men
Sulaimani | Kalar | Kifri | Halabja
Community-Based Initiatives
100
Graduates
67 Women | 33 girls
16 Projects Implemented
Increase Local Capacity
455
People trained
- 336
- Women 74%
- 119
- Men 26%
Training and Capacity Building
Kurdistan Regional Government Officials
212
Trained
142 Women | 70 Men
NGO Staff
75
Trained
60 Women | 15 Men
Journalists
85
Trained
57 Women | 28 Men
Women Parliamentary Candidates
52
Trained
Strengthen Systems
Advocacy and Technical Assistance
15
Initiatives
Conducted
6
Gender Equality & GBV
4
Child Protection & Development
5
Anti-Trafficking
Policy and Practice
9
Changes
Achieved
By Goal
- 3
- Gender Equality & GBV
- 2
- Child Protection & Development
- 4
- Anti-Trafficking
By Type
- 1
- Regulatory
- 2
- Policy
- 6
- Practice
Awareness Raising
61.9M
Total People Reached
- In-Person
- 107
- Media
- 60,648,000
- Online
- 1,259,722
Become a part of our global community of supporters
Your support enables SEED to protect, empower, and support the recovery of survivors of violence and others at risk.