Our Story
Founded by local experts, inspired by global change.
NABU is an independent, non-governmental and non-partisan social enterprise based in Baghdad and working across Iraq, founded by a group of youth committed to driving sustainable development and inclusive economic growth. The name NABU is inspired by the ancient Mesopotamian god of wisdom — symbolising knowledge, insight, and informed decision-making at the core of our work.
We specialise in research, community engagement, programme design, field implementation, training, and communications — delivering context-driven solutions that respond to local needs while aligning with international best practices.
Through our work, we support communities, institutions, donors, and private companies in designing and implementing impactful programmes across climate resilience, cultural heritage, livelihoods, social cohesion, and youth and women's empowerment. By combining local insight with global standards, NABU ensures that every intervention is practical, scalable, and results-oriented.
Unlike traditional NGOs, NABU combines the efficiency and flexibility of a commercial entity with the values and mission of a non-profit. This hybrid model allows us to deliver timely, cost-effective, and scalable solutions while ensuring that every intervention creates lasting impact for communities and partners.
Who We Work With
We partner with international donors and development agencies, UN bodies, international and local NGOs, government directorates, and private-sector companies. Our recent collaborators and clients include GIZ (on behalf of the German Federal Ministry, BMZ), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Embassy of France in Iraq, Oxfam, the Iraqi Al-Firdaws Society, the Chibayish Organization for Environmental Tourism (COET), and private companies including DAMAC.
Where We Work
We are based in Baghdad and work across Iraq, with a particularly strong network and field presence in the southern governorates of Basra, Dhi Qar, Maysan, and Muthanna — including the Central Marshes (the Ahwar) and the Al-Chibayish Marshlands. Our extensive local network of grassroots groups, experts, master craftspeople, and community leaders means we design programmes that are relevant, trusted, and sustainable — rooted in the communities they serve rather than imposed from outside.
Founders of NABU
Ahmed Naama
Ahmed is a programme, grants and operations leader with more than 10 years of experience across international development, consulting and the private sector. He has managed and supported donor portfolios exceeding $15 million across Iraq and Ukraine, working with USAID, FCDO, UNDP, GIZ, UNICEF and the French Embassy. His experience covers the full programme and award lifecycle, including programme design, grants and subcontract management, procurement, compliance, budgeting, partner capacity building, MEAL, implementation and closeout. Throughout his career, Ahmed has managed grants valued from $20,000 to $1 million, chaired more than 50 procurement evaluations, led teams of up to 35 staff and coordinated with government institutions, donors, civil society organizations and private-sector suppliers. As Managing Director and Co-Founder of NABU for Research and Development, he leads research, MEAL, community engagement, climate adaptation and livelihoods programmes. NABU has delivered work supported by UNDP, GIZ and the French Embassy, with a strong field network across Iraq, particularly in southern and post-conflict communities. His core areas of expertise include programme leadership, grants and subcontracts, donor compliance, localization, procurement, climate resilience, livelihoods, research, MEAL and institutional partnerships. He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Conflict, Peace and Security, complementing his professional experience with academic study in conflict, peacebuilding and security.
Ahmed Mahdi
Ahmed Mahdi is a strategic communications and development professional with more than eight years of experience across international development, humanitarian programming and consulting in Iraq and the wider MENA region. He has led communications, outreach and reporting for major donor-funded programmes, including USAID-funded initiatives, and has provided strategic communications, reporting and advisory support through independent and institutional consultancies. His experience spans strategic communications, donor and programme reporting, advocacy, knowledge management, branding and visibility, stakeholder engagement, research communications and capacity building. Throughout his career, Ahmed has led communications teams and strategies, managed high-level events and campaigns, developed reporting and communications systems, and worked closely with donors, government institutions, civil society organizations, development partners and private-sector stakeholders. His regional experience includes work across Iraq, Libya and Tunisia, with a strong focus on fragile and post-conflict contexts. Ahmed is Co-Founder and Director of Strategic Communications and Development at NABU for Research and Development, where he leads strategic communications, partnerships, business development and client engagement. Through NABU and his consulting work, he continues to provide communications, reporting, research and strategic advisory services to development organizations and programmes. His core areas of expertise include strategic communications, donor reporting, development communications, stakeholder engagement, advocacy, knowledge management, branding and visibility, research communications and institutional partnerships.
