Nabeela Abubakari
Social Impact Leader
Accra
Summary
Passionate sustainability strategist and dynamic social innovator with over five years of experience driving social impact initiatives in Ghana. Founder of the goTo Initiative, known for establishing influential partnerships, securing substantial funding, and launching educational programs that bridge gaps for sustainable development. Proven track record in empowering communities, particularly youth, through innovative solutions like the Eco-Makola Project. This project was recognized by the Youth Climate Fund with a $5,000 grant for its significant contribution to eco-awareness in Ghana's largest market. Possessing strong skills in project management, public speaking, and partnership development, excels at engaging diverse stakeholders in achieving sustainability goals.
Overview
2025
2025
years of professional experience
Work History
Founder & Team Lead
goTo Initiative
6 2022 - Current
- Strategic Partnership Development: Established partnerships with over 50 local and international sustainability actors, driving collective action toward Ghana’s sustainable development goals and engaging over 10,000 participants across multiple events
- Funding Success: Led GoTo to secure a $5,000 grant from the Youth Climate Fund - Accra, for the Eco-Makola Project within just 13 months
- The project trains and supports 20 youth agents within Makola Market to promote reusable packaging, fostering environmental consciousness within one of Accra's busiest markets
- Community-Focused Programs: Developed the Eco-Makola Project, upskilling youth agents in sustainable practices to decrease plastic waste
- Oversaw partnerships with Makola vendors to replace single-use plastics, reducing plastic bag use by over 50%
- Innovative Education Initiatives: Designed the “Sustainability Pop-Up Markets” which connects over 100 vendors with alternative materials and best practices, achieving a waste reduction of up to 60% and growing vendor visibility by 20%
- Empowerment through Storytelling: Launched social impact campaigns like the “Kantamanto Boys” series, spotlighting young, innovative waste Upcyclers in Accra’s Kantamanto Market and engaging over 8,000 followers in a broader conversation on ethical fashion and waste reduction
Vice Chairperson of Operations
G17 Global - Ghana
01.2022 - Current
- Project-Driven Fellowship Leadership: Managed operations for a 107-member sustainability fellowship, with 85% project completion rate 3 months before program close
- Social Media Strategy: Developed and executed a content strategy, resulting in a 57% increase in social and a 75% growth in online engagement
Co-President
Sustainability Week Accra
03.2019 - Current
- Youth Engagement & Workshop Facilitation: Organized week-long workshops promoting SDGs, directly engaging 750 youth participants, and securing a 10,000 cedis grant from the Swiss Embassy
- Stakeholder Collaboration: Facilitated partnerships uniting over 800 students from 10+ countries, driving a 15% increase in sustainable lifestyle engagement
Operations Coordinator
Recycle Up! Ghana Incubator
01.2021 - 07.2022
- Green Skills Training: Collaborated with community partners to provide essential green skills to underserved youth, leading to a 40% increase in Incubator program enrollment
- Entrepreneurial Support: Facilitated workshops on design thinking and sustainable business practices, resulting in a 70% increase in successful project pitches and aiding participants in securing seed funding for sustainable startups
Project Manager
Recycle Up! Ghana
09.2019 - 01.2022
- Education & Awareness: Spearheaded environmental education programs across 50 schools, increasing student participation by 75%
- Collaborated with local waste companies to secure a sustainable supply chain for recycled materials, diverting over 50% of waste from landfills
- Impactful Training Programs: Designed and implemented a waste management curriculum for over 50 teachers, enhancing eco-awareness among youth and reached over 100,000 students yearly
- Resource Management: Coordinated with government and community stakeholders to provide 800 dustbins and facilitate the recovery of 324 tons of plastic waste, significantly reducing landfill waste in the region
Founder & Director
COVID Relief Food Bank
03.2020 - 05.2020
- Crisis Response: Founded a contactless food bank, raising over 2,650 cedis in a week to support 30+ families
- Efficiently organized distribution protocols to reduce response times by 25%
- Mobile Technology for Fundraising: Leveraged mobile money technology to mobilize donations from both local and international supporters, enhancing accessibility and streamlining contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Information Studies & Philosophy
University of Ghana
Digital Advertising Degree - undefined
Aleph Holding
Skills
Microsoft Word
Excel
PowerPoint
Canva
Research
Data Analysis
Project Management
Digital Marketing
B2B
SEO
Public Speaking
Stakeholder Engagement
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Social Media Content Creation
Strategic Storytelling
Community Mobilization
Strategic Planning
Consulting
Negotiation
Organizational Structuring
Active Listening
Training and Development
Selected Achievements
- Youth Climate Fund Grant: Secured $5,000 for the GoTo Eco-Makola Project, expanding sustainable practices in Accra’s largest market.
- Kantamanto Boys Series: Launched a successful campaign highlighting upcycling in Accra’s secondhand fashion hub, driving up visibility and product sales .
- Sustainability Pop-Up Market Guide: Developed a vendor guide on sustainable practices, distributed to over 100 vendors, reducing event waste by 60%.
- High-Impact Community Engagement: Through Recycle Up! Ghana, integrated waste education into school curriculums, impacting over 100,000 students yearly.
Timeline
Vice Chairperson of Operations
G17 Global - Ghana
01.2022 - Current
Operations Coordinator
Recycle Up! Ghana Incubator
01.2021 - 07.2022
Founder & Director
COVID Relief Food Bank
03.2020 - 05.2020
Project Manager
Recycle Up! Ghana
09.2019 - 01.2022
Co-President
Sustainability Week Accra
03.2019 - Current
Digital Advertising Degree - undefined
Aleph Holding
Founder & Team Lead
goTo Initiative
6 2022 - Current
Bachelor of Arts - Information Studies & Philosophy
University of Ghana