Aya Qais, who earned a master’s degree in agricultural engineering, started her nursery business by specializing in seed production, shade plants, and landscaping. Her business was doing well, and she wanted to expand her offerings sustainably, so she participated in business development and soft skills training at the NEF’s Siraj Center.
Her business idea was to establish a second production line focused on producing safe organic fertilizers. The idea emerged in response to the region’s large accumulation of organic waste. She would recycle this waste and turn it from a source of environmental and human health hazards into eco-friendly organic fertilizer.
Aya faced several challenges, particularly due to limited income and workforce capacity. However, by applying her learnings and leveraging a grant from the Siraj Center, she successfully launched the organic fertilizer, which increased her income and expanded her staff from three to seven people.
Aya’s future goals are to establish a fully integrated nursery specializing in organic fertilizer, expand the production of seeds, shade, and fruit-bearing plants, and produce solid and liquid fertilizers. She also aims to expand her sales area to include more cities and eventually cover all of Iraq.
The Anbar Business & Workforce Advancement for Improved Living Conditions (ABWA) project was designed to support the development of medium and small businesses in Anbar Province by fostering economic growth, business resilience, and job creation. Its primary objective was to equip businesses with the skills, resources, and tools necessary to enhance their operational capabilities and contribute to local economic development. The project’ s climate adaptation component aimed to promote environmentally friendly practices through the adoption of energy- efficient technologies, waste reduction strategies, and the use of sustainable materials to minimize environmental impacts.
To achieve these goals, NEF implemented a comprehensive support strategy that combined capacity- building workshops, financial assistance, and technical guidance. Training sessions covered financial management, marketing, operational planning, and climate change adaptation, equipping participants with practical skills to manage their businesses more effectively while integrating sustainable practices. These activities were carried out over several phases, with core activities taking place from February 2023 to October 2024, and a specific focus on climate resilience between August and October 2024.
NEF’ s support interventions included not only training but also field visits, tailored business plan development, and grant distribution. Financial assistance enabled businesses to invest in renewable energy systems, modern machinery with reduced energy consumption, and eco- friendly raw materials. The introduction of solar energy systems significantly lowered electricity costs, while resource- efficient production methods helped reduce operational expenses.
The impact of these interventions was significant, with participating businesses reporting increased production capacity, improved profitability, and greater market competitiveness. Many enterprises were able to expand their teams and create new employment opportunities, contributing to long- term economic growth in the region. The project activities were strategically implemented across Ramadi, Fallujah, and Heet, ensuring a broad and sustainable impact on the local business ecosystem.