Statelessness is a global, complex, and deeply political issue. No single organisation, strategy, or intervention can address it alone. Lasting change requires stronger collective action across movements, sectors, and regions – and leadership by those most affected. ISI was established in 2014 on the belief that we can successfully challenge the manufacturing of statelessness and the denial of rights to stateless people by transforming fragmented efforts into strategic, coordinated action that unlocks change at scale. Over our first ten years, we worked simultaneously to identify and address several core challenges at the heart of the problem, and to strengthen and build a field that would be better equipped to lead the charge towards justice for the stateless. By growing and sharing expertise, building resources, strengthening capacities and serving as a convenor and connector, while prioritising working with and supporting those directly impacted by the issue, we enable coordinated responses that would not otherwise happen. Our efforts on childhood statelessness, citizenship stripping, discrimination, the rights of the Rohingya community, forced migration, COVID-19 and legal identity have all followed this model. Our strategic priorities for 2026 – 2030 build on the lessons and achievements of our work to date, while extending our vision and impact in new directions. Our strategy and programmes are shaped through shared leadership across the organization – guided by Co-Directors and co-founders Amal de Chickera and Laura van Waas, who bring over 40 years of combined experience and are widely recognised for their leadership on statelessness. They are supported by a small, highly dedicated international team whose professional and lived experience strengthens ISI’s ability to work with nuance, empathy, and global insight, underpinned by strong values and adaptive planning to remain responsive and strategic. ISI is governed by an international Board of ten members with diverse expertise, providing strategic support, fiduciary oversight, and accountability. ISI is a not-for-profit foundation (Stichting) under Dutch law and operates from offices in Rotterdam and the UK (generously hosted by Middlesex University). We hold ANBI public benefit status in the Netherlands and have 501(c)(3) equivalency status in the United States. ISI delivers its mission through a mix of grants, donations, and other contributions, with the majority of funding coming from private foundation grants, that are often long-term partnerships. ISI has been supported by funders including Sigrid Rausing Trust, Porticus, OSF, Oak Foundation, Dunn Family Charitable Foundation, Blue Sky Social Justice Fund, JRCT, AJWS, Haella Foundation, Media and Democracy Foundation, Stichting Weeshuis der Doopsgezinden, and Janivo Foundation, as well as pro bono support from leading international law firms Ashurst and DLA Piper. Further details, including budget information, current donor support, and concept notes for priority programme areas, are available on request. OUR IMPACT key milestones over the last decade STRENGTHENING & TRANSFORMING THE FIELD Catalysing and incubating the Global Movement Against Statelessness Establishing and implementing the COVID-19 Emergency Statelessness Fund (CESF) Catalysing and supporting the Global Statelessness Fund Convening World Conferences on Statelessness in 2019 and 2024 Providing unrestricted sub-grants to support the development of impacted-person-led groups Journeying with, mentoring and supporting stateless leaders and their organisations Developing resources and strengthening capacities (courses, Knowledge Hub, advocacy toolkits,databases Catalysing and strategically supporting joint initiatives on gender discrimination, child rights, education, minority rights, legal identity etc Created by PARDILA from the Noun Project HOW WE WORK Created by PARDILA from the Noun Project Supporting partner advocacy initiatives in several countries including the Dominican Republic, Kuwait, Bahrain and the UK Securing UN recommendations on the right to nationality and statelessness in over 150 countries Together with national partners, achieving law and policy reform in several countries including Colombia, South Africa, Nepal, Malaysia and the Netherlands Working with Rohingya activists and leaders to address multilayered challenges faced by the community, including in relation to trafficking, detention and legal identity Coordinating joined-up civil-society responses to unfolding crises such as the Rohingya genocide, Palestine genocide and Assam massdenationalisations With partners in 17 countries, securing positive changes to discriminatory and exclusionary policies and practices that marginalised stateless people during the COVID-19 pandemic DRIVING CHANGE www.institutesi.org

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