CORE EXPERTS

Guhad Muhammad Adan – Managing Director

Senior Policy & Resilience Researcher - Guhad is a senior researcher and policy analyst specializing in social protection, displacement, climate resilience, and local governance systems across the Horn of Africa. He holds a Master of Science in Managing Rural Development from the University of London (SOAS) and a Bachelor of Arts in Development Studies. His academic and professional work focuses on the intersection of post-conflict governance, the socioeconomics of rural livelihoods, and institutional recovery. Guhad’s extensive research portfolio is grounded in rigorous qualitative and mixed-methods fieldwork, contributing to critical studies commissioned by major donors and UN agencies. As a senior researcher, he brings deep contextual fluency and trusted community networks, enabling effective operation in complex and sensitive environments. His core expertise lies in market system analysis, social protection, and economic recovery, with a proven ability to translate granular community-level realities into rigorous, policy-relevant analysis that informs durable solutions and inclusive governance strategies across fragile contexts.

Khadar M. Abdi – Senior Economist & Resilience Expert.

Khadar is a seasoned economist with over 15 years of progressive experience in shaping the evidence base for major development and resilience programs in Somalia. He holds an MSc in International Development (specializing in Climate Change, Food Security, and Social Protection) from SOAS, University of London, and a BSc in Agriculture with a major in Agricultural Economics. While working with various UN organizations, Khadar provided strategic leadership for cumulative portfolios exceeding USD 1.3 billion, including substantive contributions to FAO Somalia’s USD 300 million and WFP Somalia’s USD 1 billion programs. His expertise lies in utilizing advanced methodologies such as RIMA (Resilience Index Measurement and Analysis) to quantify economic resilience and conducting macro-fiscal diagnostics that inform national policy dialogue. As a senior member of the AREA expert team, he ensures all diagnostics are strictly anchored in Somalia’s strategic frameworks, including the Centennial Vision 2060 and the National Transformation Plan.

Mr. Mohamed Hussein Abdi – Lead Researcher and Senior Strategy & Data Systems Specialist.

Mohamed brings over 25 years of multi-sectoral experience in strategy development, data management, and institutional strengthening across East Africa. He holds a Master of Science from Hohai University, China, and a Bachelor of Science from Egerton University, Kenya. A Fellow of the Computer Society of Kenya and a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, Mohamed bridges the gap between high-level academic rigor and technical application. His scholarly contributions include peer-reviewed publications in impact assessment, data management, and institutional development, providing the evidence base for sustainable policy initiatives. As a senior consultant, he has led high-impact projects including livelihood recovery assessments for the World Food Programme (WFP) in Somalia and baseline studies for FAO-funded programs. As a core member of the AREA expert team, he specializes in applying research-driven methodologies—including advanced statistical analysis and survey design—to transform complex datasets into actionable solutions for Somalia’s national development goals.

Asma Bile Hirsi – Senior Environmental & Gender Specialist

Asma is a dedicated specialist with over 10 years of experience in environmental sustainability, livestock systems, and gender-responsive rural development. She holds an MPhil in Conservation Leadership from the University of Cambridge and a Postgraduate Diploma in International Wildlife Conservation from the University of Oxford. Asma has a distinguished track record in delivering impactful field research and coordinating community-based programs for international organizations, including BirdLife International, Mercy Corps, and the FAO. Her technical expertise includes Ecological Planning, GIS-Spatial Analysis, and the integration of Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS) into conservation and resilience programming. As a senior member of the AREA expert team, she leads the integration of Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) frameworks into research methodologies, ensuring that economic resilience diagnostics are inclusive of women, youth, and marginalized groups

Ahmed Nur Hussein – Senior Livelihoods & Agriculture Specialist.

Ahmed is a distinguished expert with over 30 years of progressive experience in agricultural development, food security analysis, and climate-resilient livelihoods across Somalia and the Horn of Africa. He holds a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Soil Science from Utah State University, USA, and a BSc in Agriculture from the Somali National University. Throughout his extensive career, Ahmed has held high-level positions, including Director General at the Ministry of Agriculture and senior technical roles with FAO Somalia, where he led large-scale resilience projects such as the SIRA project and various spate irrigation initiatives. His expertise spans crop and livestock value chains, sustainable water management, and the alignment of local interventions with national policy frameworks. As a senior member of the AREA expert team, he provides deep technical backstopping for baseline studies and resilience diagnostics, ensuring that field-level implementation is technically sound and anchored in climate-smart agricultural practices.