Lina Attalah

Empowering women entrepreneurs in conflict zones through digital platforms

Social Entrepreneurship Visionary

Lina Attalah is the founder of Nisaa, a Jordan-based NGO that supports women entrepreneurs in conflict-affected regions. Established in 2015, Nisaa has trained 10,000+ women in Syria, Yemen, and Gaza through digital platforms, helping them launch businesses that sustain families during crises.

Innovative Solutions

Attalah developed a mobile app providing microloans, market access, and business training tailored for unstable regions. The platform uses blockchain technology to ensure secure transactions in areas with unreliable banking systems. Nisaa's 'Virtual Marketplaces' connect women artisans to global buyers, increasing average incomes by 300%.

Impact Highlights

• Prevented 700+ child marriages through economic empowerment
• Supported 500+ businesses during Gaza's 2021 conflict
• Secured $4.2 million in EU funding

Recognition & Expansion

In 2023, Attalah received the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship. Nisaa partnered with UN Women to expand to Afghanistan and Myanmar. Their 'Digital Literacy Initiative' now reaches 150,000+ women annually through WhatsApp-based courses.

Global Influence

Attalah's TED Talk 'Economic Empowerment as Conflict Prevention' (2022) has over 2 million views. She advises the World Economic Forum's Gender Gap Initiative and co-authored the UNDP report Women's Economic Empowerment in Fragile States. Learn more about Nisaa's mission.