[vc_section full_width=”stretch_row” css=”.vc_custom_1577881101145{padding-top: 40px !important;padding-bottom: 40px !important;background-color: #ffffff !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_row row_container=”no_container” css=”.vc_custom_1577881194551{padding-top: 50px !important;background-color: #ffffff !important;}”][vc_column css_animation=”none” width=”1/2″ animate_delay=”.3″ animate_duration=”1.6″ css=”.vc_custom_1546568542960{padding-top: 20px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”Who We Are” font_container=”tag:h3|font_size:36|text_align:left|color:%23333333|line_height:48px” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1662585183745{margin-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 15px !important;}” el_class=”edu-title”][vc_column_text el_class=”bt-about-list”]Accepting Others Organization (AOO) is a woman and youth-based non-governmental, non-profit, non-religious organization founded in 2014 that operates across federal Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). We work diligently to enforce human rights, with a particular focus on enhancing and protecting women’s rights and empowerment across the nation.
AOO advocates for peaceful coexistence by promoting tolerance and collaboration between the diverse components of society with a concentration on livelihood sustainability, peacebuilding, and social cohesion. We also support governmental and non-governmental organizations in developing policies that guarantee freedom, gender equality, and social justice in accordance with international standards.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column css_animation=”none” width=”1/2″ animate_delay=”.3″ animate_duration=”1.6″ css=”.vc_custom_1546568421139{padding-top: 0px !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”4417″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_container=”no_container” css=”.vc_custom_1577881194551{padding-top: 50px !important;background-color: #ffffff !important;}”][vc_column css_animation=”none” animate_delay=”.3″ animate_duration=”1.6″ css=”.vc_custom_1546568542960{padding-top: 20px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”Organizational Capacity” font_container=”tag:h3|font_size:36|text_align:left|color:%23333333|line_height:48px” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1662585170440{margin-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 15px !important;}” el_class=”edu-title”][vc_column_text el_class=”bt-about-list”]AOO’s main office is located in Erbil with field offices and/or representations in Sulaymaniyah, Duhok, Kirkuk, Diyala, Nineveh, and Baghdad. Our management structure includes the Board of Trustees, President, Chief Executive Director, Director of Programs, and Director of Operations and Finance. AOO’s staff capacity includes eighteen permanent members, in addition to specialized staff who are hired per project basis. The permanent staff members working with AOO have an average experience of between five and twenty years in the fields of human rights, women’s rights, GBV prevention, protection, child protection, humanitarian and relief work, livelihood support and sustainability, and management.
AOO, being a woman and youth-based NGO, has a female President and out of the five members on our Board of Trustees, four are female. AOO also believes in empowering youth and encouraging them to thrive in the humanitarian sector. With this in mind, out of the eighteen permanent staff members, more than half are under 35 years of age. Within our headquarters, more than 90 percent of project staff and volunteers in the past have been youth aged 18-24, with the average rate of female participation reaching above 70 percent.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_container=”no_container” css=”.vc_custom_1577881194551{padding-top: 50px !important;background-color: #ffffff !important;}”][vc_column css_animation=”none” animate_delay=”.3″ animate_duration=”1.6″ css=”.vc_custom_1546568542960{padding-top: 20px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”Sustainable Development Goal” font_container=”tag:h3|font_size:36|text_align:left|color:%23333333|line_height:48px” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1662586016449{margin-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 15px !important;}” el_class=”edu-title”][vc_column_text el_class=”bt-about-list”]At AOO, we understand that the UN 2030 Agenda depends on following through with established Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through AOO’s programs and activities, we are able to contribute to carrying out at least 11 of the 17 SDGs set forth by the UN in order to help end poverty and hunger, improve livelihoods at a socioeconomic level, foster just, inclusive, secure, and peaceful communities, and advocate for all human rights, particularly for women and girls.[/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)” font_container=”tag:h3|font_size:36|text_align:left|color:%23333333|line_height:48px” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1662585268989{margin-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 15px !important;}” el_class=”edu-title”][vc_column_text el_class=”bt-about-list”]AOO has established strong systematic Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure that policies, procedures, and guidelines are in place to carry out successful programming for our organization that are in line with international standards. Our SOPs have been established by senior staff with review, input, and conformation by our Board of Trustees and sector-specific Consultants. These SOPs include but are not limited to:[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_container=”no_container” css=”.vc_custom_1577881194551{padding-top: 50px !important;background-color: #ffffff !important;}”][vc_column css_animation=”none” animate_delay=”.3″ animate_duration=”1.6″ css=”.vc_custom_1546568542960{padding-top: 20px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”Human Resources (HR)” font_container=”tag:h3|font_size:36|text_align:left|color:%23333333|line_height:48px” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1663011310222{margin-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 15px !important;}” el_class=”edu-title”][vc_column_text el_class=”bt-about-list”]The purpose of the HR/Personnel manual is to establish employment policies, conditions, rights, and obligations of AOO employees subject to their performance of duties and responsibilities in their respective job descriptions. From the time of hiring, each employee will have access to this policy, so that he/she can adhere to it with full knowledge and information. Our HR Policy also includes our Code of Conduct, an Anti-Corruption Policy, a Gender Policy, Health and Safety procedures, Sexual Harassment policies and reporting procedures, a Staff Disciplinary policy, and our Communications Policy and guidelines, including media and PR.[/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”Finance and Administration” font_container=”tag:h3|font_size:36|text_align:left|color:%23333333|line_height:48px” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1663011363607{margin-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 15px !important;}” el_class=”edu-title”][vc_column_text el_class=”bt-about-list”]A Finance manual has been established with procedures of financial tools used to ensure accountable program implementation and transparency. It includes procedures of compliance, record keeping of accounts and transactions, retention of financial records, asset management, auditing procedures and reporting.[/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”Bylaws” font_container=”tag:h3|font_size:36|text_align:left|color:%23333333|line_height:48px” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1663011381760{margin-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 15px !important;}” el_class=”edu-title”][vc_column_text el_class=”bt-about-list”]Our Bylaws manual outlines the Organizational Structure with dedicated duties and expectations beginning with our Board of Trustees and includes all other AOO staff and volunteers. It also includes the goals of the organization which promotes the bases of dialogue and tolerance, providing a healthy and objective environment suitable for cultivating the culture of accepting others and otherwise curbing all forms of violence and terrorism. We also ensure a professional and healthy environment for protecting and defending human rights, women’s rights and supporting youth.[/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”Procurement, Logistics and Supply Chain” font_container=”tag:h3|font_size:36|text_align:left|color:%23333333|line_height:48px” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1663011396712{margin-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 15px !important;}” el_class=”edu-title”][vc_column_text el_class=”bt-about-list”]We have an established Procurement manual that details procurement and logistics tools, safety and security guidelines, fleet and office management procedures to ensure proper delivery of supplies needed for project implementation. These procedures ensure that goods, works, services, and consultancies acquired by the organization are obtained in a timely fashion, at the most competitive price and are of the required quality and quantity up to international standards. [/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA):” font_container=”tag:h3|font_size:36|text_align:left|color:%23333333|line_height:48px” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1663011407391{margin-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 15px !important;}” el_class=”edu-title”][vc_column_text el_class=”bt-about-list”]AOO recognizes that Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) may occur in unequal relationships, especially when working with stakeholders and beneficiaries in the field. AOO has a designated employee responsible for training all employees in PSEA and reporting any SEA allegations. Certificates of successful completion of courses are kept in each employee’s HR file and they are required to sign an acknowledgement of their understanding of SEA and includes measures that will be taken in the event of any incident, which could result in an employee being terminated.[/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”MEAL / M&E Policy” font_container=”tag:h3|font_size:36|text_align:left|color:%23333333|line_height:48px” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1663011420830{margin-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 15px !important;}” el_class=”edu-title”][vc_column_text el_class=”bt-about-list”]The main purpose of the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning manual (MEAL) is to use Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) tools to ensure that projects are conducted smoothly, as planned, and according to the agreed terms of quality, quantity, and time. M&E staff, under the direct supervision of the Program Management of AOO, designs a tailored monitoring plan and relevant monitoring forms to collect quantitative and qualitative data on a regular basis based on the project. Feedback/evaluation forms are also developed to be filled by the project beneficiaries, mainly for the groups who attend workshops/training and those who attend other awareness activities. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section]