The Ambrela Development Forum (ADF), organized annually by the Slovak Platform for Development Organizations – Ambrela, provides a unique space to navigate global challenges and reimagine international partnerships through in-depth discussions and interactive workshops. As the only event of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe, the ADF International Conference brings together more than 200 participants from around 20 countries each year. The next edition, ADF 2026, will take place on 1–2 October 2026 in Bratislava, Slovakia.

To ensure that ADF remains at the forefront of global development discussions, the conference is supported by its International Advisory Board (IAB) – an honorary body of distinguished experts and thought leaders who provide strategic guidance, foresight, partnerships, and international visibility. The IAB contributes to shaping the conference agenda, speaker selection, donor engagement, and international outreach, helping position ADF among Europe’s leading development policy events. We are delighted to welcome Nadine Saba as a member of the #ADF2026 International Advisory Board.

Nadine Saba, a lawyer registered with the Tripoli Bar Association, is the the Co-Founder and Director of Akkar Network for Development (AND), enjoying 18 years of experience with NGOs’ activity in Lebanon. Ms. Saba serves on the Steering Committee of the Lebanon Humanitarian and Development Forum (LHDF) and is a member of the Leadership Council of the Network for Empowered Aid Response (NEAR). She also represents NEAR as Sherpa to the Grand Bargain and serves within its Facilitation Group, contributing to global discussions on humanitarian reform and locally led action.

Throughout her career, she has led and supported programs focused on rural development, humanitarian assistance for Syrian refugees (education support, livelihoods, protection), women’s and youth empowerment, gender-based violence (GBV) prevention, child protection, and social cohesion. She has also worked extensively with municipalities across Lebanon on local governance, capacity strengthening, and community development initiatives. Miss Saba has designed and provided trainings in Lebanon and in the region on local governance, women’s leadership, and empowerment. Prior to that, she had worked for the U.S. State Department funded Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) as Alumni Coordinator at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut. 

We are honoured to welcome Nadine to the International Advisory Board and look forward to benefiting from her expertise in shaping ADF 2026. Her extensive experience in refugees support and protection, women’s and youth empowerment will be invaluable in helping create a conference that fosters meaningful dialogue, innovative thinking, and impactful partnerships. We warmly welcome Nadine Saba to the ADF community and look forward to working together on an inspiring and successful ADF 2026.