NIA (NIA Neighbours Initiative Alliance)

Neighbours Initiative Alliance (NIA) is Non governmental organization working with the Maasai people in Kajiado District in Kenya.

NIA was established and registered in 1996 as a non-profit making organization under the NGO coordination Act.

NIA is a service delivery organization, which addresses the needs of the poor and vulnerable groups among the Maasai people living in various neighbourhoods (former group ranches) in the district.

NIA's core business is empowering the community through education and training for critical consciousness, lobbying and advocating for justice, carrying out research and surveys and promotion of economic sustainability in the community.

NIA has a well-defined and functional structure, which empowers the neighbourhoods to participate in decision making and running of the organization.

At the neighbourhood level are Neighbourhood committees that address various developmental issues in the community. Under these committees are working groups which address natural resource management, social justice, leadership and governance, livestock development and development education (gender, HIV/AIDS, children rights).

Programme design and coordination is facilitated by the Secretariat and Board of Advisory Management (BOAM), the latter’s role being mainly advisory. At policy formulation level, strategic direction, leadership and governance is the Board of Directors.