NAKO - The Independent Anti-Corruption Commission

What NAKO - The Independent Anti-Corruption Commission does

NAKO - The Independent Anti-Corruption Commission is a Kyiv-based Ukrainian civil society organization, founded in 2016 as the Independent Defence Anti-Corruption Committee and re-established as an independent NGO in 2019 under a trilateral Memorandum of Understanding with Transparency International Ukraine and Transparency International Defence and Security. Its core activity is producing independent research and policy recommendations on corruption risks in Ukraine's defense and security sector, with specific deliverables spanning defense procurement monitoring (including 210 purchases analyzed at the State Operator for Non-Lethal Acquisition), sanctions evasion research on Russian defense supply chains, presidential accountability tracking via the Presidential Questionnaire platform, and advisory participation in the Public Anti-Corruption Council under the Ministry of Defence and the NABU Public Oversight Council.

Name

NAKO - The Independent Anti-Corruption Commission

Legal name

NAKO - Незалежна антикорупційна комісія

Website

https://nako.org.ua

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

NAKO is a Kyiv-based independent Ukrainian civil society organization founded in 2016 that conducts anti-corruption research, procurement monitoring, and sanctions analysis in Ukraine's defense and security sector for government, donor, and international policy audiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Anti-Corruption Research and Advocacy

NAICS

Public Finance Activities (921130)

akta.pro primary industry

Financial Risk, Controls & Audit (Public Sector) (BPAIAEAH)

Keywords

• Anti-corruption research
• Defense procurement monitoring
• Sanctions policy analysis
• Governance advocacy
• Civil society oversight

Headquarters

HQ city

Kyiv

HQ country

Ukraine

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donor Funding: NAKO operates as a non-profit civil society organization funded by international donors. Revenue comes from grants and donations rather than commercial activities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

NAKO is a Ukrainian civil society organization that produces independent research, analysis, and policy recommendations focused on corruption risks in Ukraine's defense and security sector. Its core offerings include investigative research on defense procurement, sanctions evasion analysis tracking Russian defense supply chains, the Presidential Questionnaire monitoring platform, and formal participation in governmental anti-corruption oversight bodies including the Public Anti-Corruption Council under the Ministry of Defence.

Product overview

NAKO - The Independent Anti-Corruption Commission is a civil society organization that serves as a research and advocacy platform rather than a traditional technology product company. Its core offerings consist of anti-corruption research and analysis in Ukraine's defence and security sector, the Presidential Questionnaire monitoring platform for electoral accountability, defence procurement monitoring services, and sanctions-related research contributing to international policy. The organization also facilitates public oversight through advisory councils and organizes discussion forums like Defence Talks. The portfolio centres on investigative research, policy advocacy, and civil society engagement rather than commercial software products or technology platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Presidential Questionnaire A monitoring platform developed for the 2019 Ukrainian presidential election to inform voters about candidates' positions on corruption in the defence sector, featuring candidate profiles and their responses to NAKO's survey questions. Aimed at Ukrainian voters and civil society seeking electoral accountability on defense sector anti-corruption.
• Defence Procurement Monitoring

Quantifiable outcome

• 13 companies identified in NAKO research on electronics for Russian Su fighters and Oreshnik missiles included in EU's 21st sanctions package
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• Transparency International UkrainecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019NAKO maintains a strategic partnership with Transparency International movement. Relations between NAKO, Transparency International Ukraine, and Transparency International Defence and Security are regulated by a trilateral Memorandum of Understanding. NAKO originated as a joint initiative of these organizations from 2016 to 2019 before becoming independent.
• Transparency International Defence and SecuritycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Co-founder of NAKO and ongoing strategic partner. Part of trilateral Memorandum of Understanding governing the relationship between the three organizations in the Transparency International network.
• Ministry of Defence of UkrainecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAKO participates in the Public Anti-Corruption Council under the Ministry of Defense, providing civil society oversight and recommendations for defense procurement reform.
• National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTwo NAKO representatives serve on the NABU Public Oversight Council, providing civil society oversight of Ukraine's anti-corruption bureau.
• State Concern "Ukroboronprom"majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUkraine's state defense industry concern. NAKO works on advancing good governance practices at Ukroboronprom, contributing to reform of the defense industrial complex.
• General Staff of the Armed Forces of UkrainemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as partner organization, collaborating on defense sector transparency and governance issues.
• Committee on National Security, Defence and IntelligencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParliamentary committee with which NAKO collaborates on defense oversight, including the Week of Parliamentary Oversight over Defence and Security Sector initiative.
• C4ADSsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational conflict analysis organization. Larry Henderson, NAKO Board member, previously led programs at C4ADS from 2022-2024.
• National Defence University of UkrainesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution collaborating on defense sector research and education.
• Ukrainian Veterans FoundationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation supporting Ukrainian veterans, aligned with NAKO's mission for transparent defense spending.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• DEJURE Foundation: Ukrainian civil society organization focused on judicial reform and anti-corruption. Operates in the same Ukrainian institutional ecosystem and shares donor relationships with NAKO.

Others

• Stimson Center: US think tank analyzing defense, security, and governance issues including sanctions effectiveness. Comparable research output on defense procurement reform and international security policy.

Broad incumbents

• Bellingcat: Open-source investigations organization covering conflict zones, sanctions evasion, and arms flows. Comparable OSINT-driven research methodology applied to Russia-related sanctions and defense supply chains.
• Open Government Partnership: Multistakeholder initiative promoting government transparency and accountability across 70+ countries. Overlaps with NAKO on democratic oversight and anti-corruption reform advocacy.
• Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP): Global investigative journalism network exposing organized crime and corruption, with strong Eastern Europe presence. Comparable investigative methodology and donor base for anti-corruption reporting.

Direct peers

• Transparency International Ukraine: Ukrainian chapter of Transparency International and NAKO co-founder. Operates anti-corruption research and advocacy in Ukraine, overlapping on governance reform mandates and donor relationships.
• International Budget Partnership: Global nonprofit promoting transparent and accountable public budgeting. Comparable focus on public finance oversight, though operating more on civilian budgets rather than defense procurement.
• Global Integrity: Independent anti-corruption research and advocacy organization producing evidence-based assessments of government accountability mechanisms. Comparable mission and donor profile to NAKO.
• Center for Advanced Defense Studies (C4ADS): US-based conflict analysis nonprofit using open-source and field research to expose illicit networks and sanctions evasion. Methodological peer to NAKO's supply-chain and sanctions evasion research; NAKO board member Larry Henderson previously led programs at C4ADS.
• Transparency International Defence and Security: Co-founder and ongoing strategic partner of NAKO under a trilateral MOU, focused on corruption and governance in the global defense and security sector. Directly comparable mission, methodology, and target institutions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nako-ngo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NAKO - The Independent Anti-Corruption Commission