Social Innovation and Impact Foundation

SIIF, the Social Innovation and Impact Foundation, is a nonprofit organization established in 2023 under the laws of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Founded by the American University of Kurdistan, SIIF aims to foster social impact, promote social entrepreneurship, and cultivate innovation in the region. The foundation is committed to supporting the university’s mission of providing high-quality education across various disciplines.

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About SIIF

Social Innovation and Impact Foundation (SIIF) is a nonprofit organization incorporated under the laws of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. SIIF was founded in 2023 by the American University of Kurdistan to help create an environment leading to the strongest social impact in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, the promotion of social entrepreneurship, and similar initiatives, and the development of innovation. Also, SIIF is dedicated to supporting AUK in achieving its mission and vision: to provide high-quality education across a wide variety of academic and professional disciplines.

What we do

We, at SIIF, foster entrepreneurship as one of the strongest tools/instruments resulting in social impact in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq. We educate and strengthen/encourage the current and next generation of entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs with the knowledge and skills necessary in contemporary markets. We promote proactive projects between social entrepreneurs, innovators, and companies, including NGOs, in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq. Through our projects, we aim to create a community of entrepreneurs, companies, creators, community workers, investors, politicians, developers, artists, and other professionals, who will cooperate for the creation of a more positive world. Also, we offer educational and training projects related to entrepreneurship, in general, and social entrepreneurship, in particular, contributing to the influence and implementation of ideas through incubation and acceleration projects (fast development and preparation projects), training, and guidance.

Vision

SIIF will strongly contribute to creating a world where all individuals have equal opportunities to thrive, regardless of their background or circumstances. SIIF will help build resilient communities that are capable of addressing social, environmental, and economic challenges through collaboration and innovation.

Mission

Creating an environment leading to the strongest social impact in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, the promotion of social entrepreneurship, and similar initiatives, and the development of innovation.
Empowering entrepreneurs by providing them with resources, mentorship, and networks to scale their solutions.
Supporting and investing in innovative projects and initiatives that address pressing economic, social, and environmental challenges.

Goals and Objectives

To establish within the Duhok Governorate an ecosystem for innovation and impactful entrepreneurship;
To create an ecosystem within the Duhok Governorate dedicated to building incubation and acceleration networks;
To serve as a resource for the community in the fostering of entrepreneurship initiatives; and
To provide programming and training designed for the youth’s professional and economic success