Team Leader, European Union Territorial Integration Facility (EU-TIPF)

 As the Team Leader for the EU-TIPF, we developed integrated plans for different interventions in four corridors in Somalia and Somaliland for the EU's Inclusive and Local Economic Development Programme: Stabilisation, Local Governance, Investment Facility, Microfinance Facility, Resilient Value Chains, Youth Entrepreneurship Facility, Infrastrucutre and Social Protection.

This facility was approximately USD 100 million, and is to be implemented in four corridors:

Shabelle Corridor, the Juba Corridor, the South-North Corridor and the Berbera Corridor

Senior Trade Adviser, Trade Mark East Africa

Unlocking the Potential of the Horn of Africa is a project funded by UK Prosperity Fund. I provided just in time support to kick start the project which included an infrastructure component, as well as studies on local economic development, trade negotiations and strengthening the role of women along the economic corridor.

The project aims to support the USD 440 million Berbera Port upgrades supported by DP World linking land-locked Ethiopia to the Berbera Port. 

Planning Specialist, Somaliland Development Fund II

Under the leadership of the Minsitry of Planning and National Dvelopment, I supported the prioritisation of Somaliland's National Development Plan in preparation for infrastructure investments to be supported by the Somaliland Development Fund II. 

This included conducting extensive consultations with 54 Ministries, Departments and Agencies. 

I then went on to draft 10 sector priority booklets which was launched by the Minister of Planning and National Development as a fund-raising tool.

Infrastructure Adviser, Somalia . KfW (German Development Bank)

As the Infrastructure Adviser to the German Co-chairs of the Infrastructure Pillar Working Group, I provided just in time support to the Donors including the African Development Bank, World Bank, UK-FCDO, USAID amongst others, as well as the Ministers of Public Works, Somalia

Senior Strategic Adviser, Implementing Accountability in Action Project, Somalia, Mott MacDonald for UKFCDO

IAAAP generated and promoted a robust evidence base that informed, influenced and supported a broad range of Somali and international actors to hold the government more accountable. This included studies on security sector reform, roadblocks in Somalia, elections, gatekeepers in IDP camps. 

Organised a historical Technical Dialogue on Urban Resilience in Somalia. This included being engaged in Gender and Social Inclusion learning events and the development of knowledge products based on the findings of action-based research.

Team Leader, Technical and Vocational Training Needs Analysis, African Development Bank (AfDB)

I  conducted a rapid assessment of TVET facilities in Hargeisa/Somaliland, Garowe and Mogadishu on TVET facilities related to infrastructure-based skills to inform AfDB investment.

This included review of curricula, business models and TVET models. 

Country Director, United Nations Operations for Project Services,  UNOPS Somalia

I  was able to grow UNOPS portfolio delivering on core mandates: infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and capacity development. Projects supported key priorities for the Somali government:

• Political settlement (extension of the state - through building the capacity of institutions such as the Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction))
• Security Sector Reform (Somali National Army and the Somali National Police)
• Rule of Law and Human Rights (Infrastructure development, payment of stipends, capacity buidling, and provision of non-lethal support)
• Youth Employment
• Financial and Economic Management Growth (Use of Country Systems)
• Economic Recovery and Resilience (with a focus on infrastructure, and renewable energy)

Energy Security and Resource Efficiency, Somaliland (ESRES)/Mott MacDonald

Mott MacDonald hire me to provide just-in-time support to the Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources, as well as to the UK-Department of International Department (UK-DFID) team on:

• Lessons from other catalytic funds around the world, particularly in the energy sector
• A mapping of clean energy efforts
• Facilitated input into the Energy Sector for Somaliland's National Development Strategy (2017-2019)
• Established an Energy Sector Coordination forum including government, donors and the private sector
• Advised on strategies to facilitate the passage of the Electricity Act through Parliament

Review Team Member: Business Case preparation for Phase II, Somaliland Development Fund (SDF)

As a member of the two-person review team, I  consulted over sixty government officials, civil society members, clan elders, the Somaliland private sector, and donors on lessons from Phase I of the SDF, and what should change for Phase II. I was involved from the very beginning of the implementation phase of the SDF in 2012.

The team also went to various project sites, primarily focused on infrastructure including roads, rehabilitation of water pipes to improve access to water in Hargeisa (currently one of the largest infrastructure projects in Somaliland), and upper catchment watershed management.

The report was used to brief the UK-DFID on our findings to inform the design and business case for  SDF II. Donors include DFID, DANIDA, the Netherlands and Norway.

Deputy Team Leader, Economic Policy Incubator (EPI), Palladium Group/UK-DFID

I successfully led the team of distinguished Nepali Senior Leaders to develop a comprehensive Inception Report, based on consultations with senior Government officials, the private sector, think tanks,  civil society and donors on the challenges to economic growth and private sector development in Nepal. Priority projectsincluded:

• Support to the Government to implement the Special Economic Zone Policy
• Support the Government and private sector to identify challenges
• Unlock the barriers to Foreign Director Investment
• Conduct a political economy analysis of the Nepal Business Forum, and develop a strategy to revitalize it.

Worked closely with the leadership team to practically conceptualise the implementation of EPI activities using a Problem Driven Iterative Approach (PDIA)  in Nepal. Guided a variety of Technical Advisors on:

• Gender and Investment Strategy
• Conflict and Social Inclusion Strategy
• Green Growth Strategy

Initiated process for MOU between World Bank/IFC and EPI for cooperation.

Senior Adviser, Somaliland Development Fund (SDF), Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA)

As the embedded adviser to the Minister of National Planning and Development, Somaliland, I worked with the Minister and the National Planning Commission (NPC) to establish the USD 65 million SDF, co-financed by the Governments of the UK, Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands.

I actively worked with the NPC to support them to prioritise infrastructure projects identified in Somaliland's National Development Plan 2012-2016 (NDP).

I was a  key bridge between donors, development actors and the Government

Supported the Government with strategic communications.

Organised four High Level Aid Coordination Forums - the highest-level platform for dialogue between the Government, donors and the United Nations on achieving key targets identified in the NDP.

Supported the Government on finalising their Public Financial Management Reform, Civil Service Reform and Justice Sector Reform, Implementation of the National Statistics Strategy to support evidence-based decision-making.

Advised the Government and the international community on the Somaliland Special Arrangement and the Somali Compact (2013 - 2016)