Staff
Mursal is the executive director at HIPS. He is responsible for the Institute’s overall operations and for leading external relations and resource mobilization. He is also the chief organizer of its flagship program, the Annual Forum for Ideas. Before joining HIPS, Mursal held senior positions in the Federal Government of Somalia including serving as the chief protocol officer at the presidency and a senior liaison official at the office of the prime minister. Mursal has also led several nonprofit organizations and managed several private sector entities over the past thirty years. He earned a certificate in mathematics and statistics at Birkbeck College in London and a BSc (Hons) degree in mathematics, statistics, and management from Brunel University of London, UK.
Deka is the Deputy Director of Management and Operations at HIPS. She has previously served as the Institute’s Head of Finance, Administration, and Human Resources at HIPS for nine years. She has more than a decade of experience in managing humanitarian aid as well as research and grants, monitoring and evaluation, and social development programs. Deka has demonstrable expertise in finance, operations, and grants management in her successful management of more than twenty million US dollars on behalf of a variety of donors including European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), World Food Programme (WFP), Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), Department for International Development (DFID), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Bahrain Royal Charity Organization, and Somalia Stability Fund (SSF). Prior to joining HIPS, Deka worked for SACH – Struggle for Change in Islamabad, Pakistan, Save the Children International, and Islamic Relief Worldwide. Her experience and proficiency lie in the domains of financial management, efficiency in operations, and monitoring and evaluations. Deka holds a master’s degree in business administration from Iqra University Islamabad.
Abdirashid is the Deputy Director of Research, Development, and Innovation. He holds a Ph.D. in political economy from the Hanken School of Economics, Helsinki, Finland. He is an associate professor (docent) in social and public policy at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland). Before assuming his role as Deputy Director of Research, Development & Innovation, Abdirashid was an economics policy fellow with HIPS. He has worked as a senior researcher at the Migration Institute of Finland and as a researcher at the Department of Social Research of the University of Helsinki. He also worked as a visiting scholar at the Department of Development Studies of the SOAS, University of London, and at the School of Social Work of the University of Minnesota. His research interests span two broad fields: the political economy of state-building and immigration and diaspora studies. His latest publications include Forced Migration and Separated Families: Everyday Insecurities and Transnational Strategies (co-edited with Marja Tiilikainen, Johanna Hiitola, and Jaana Palander and published by IMISCOE Research Series, 2023) and “‘I Live in Agony’: The Everyday Insecurity of Rejected Asylum-Seekers” (International Journal of Migration and Integration, May 20, 2023).
Yusuf Omar is the Director of Talo Wadaag II Program at HIPS. His role is to lead initiatives focused on promoting citizens’ participation in governance, peace, and nation-building processes in Somalia. Prior to this, from 2017 to 2022, he was a research associate at the renowned School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) at the University of London. He also worked as a researcher at the University of Melbourne and St. Vincent Hospital and as a teacher at Victoria University. From 2019 to 2020, he was a consultant for the International Development Law Organisation and International Organization for Migration (IOM); there, he developed a civic education curriculum focused on citizenship, peace education, and critical thinking for young Somalis affected by the civil war. Thus, he is a practitioner in the fields of peacebuilding and conflict resolution, the African and Muslim diaspora, and migrants’ social integration into their naturalized countries in the West. His diverse background has equipped him with a deep understanding of context-specific needs among young Africans and Muslims in Western countries for emotional well-being, identity, belonging, and cultural adaptation. Yusuf holds a PhD in social science and a master’s degree in educational leadership & management from the School of Social Science at Australia’s La Trobe University. He also holds a second master’s degree in human sciences from International Islamic University, Malaysia, and a bachelor’s degree in education from the International University of Africa, Sudan.
Ibrahim is the Research, Program, and Communication Coordinator at HIPS. He coordinates the overall research process and all communication activities for HIPS as well as coordinating and managing programs, events, and forums. He is also a senior researcher focusing on the Horn of Africa regional security, external interventions, Islam and politics, and Africa-Turkey relations. He is pursuing his PhD in international relations at Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University. He has authored or co-authored several academic articles, book chapters, and policy papers, including: “Multilateralism, Developmental Regionalism, and the African Development Bank” and “Political Sufism: The Interplay of Sufism and Politics in Somalia.” His columns have appeared in Daily Sabah and have been published by Anadolu Agency, Middle East Monitor, and Hiiraan Online.
Abdullahi is a researcher and data analyst specialist at HIPS. His expertise includes methodological design, quantitative and qualitative research, scripting and programming survey questionnaires in high-tech devices, data management, analysis, monitoring and evaluation, transcription, and translation. He is currently coordinating HIPS’s capacity-building program. Before joining HIPS, he worked at various institutions, including universities and local research centers and has traveled across Somalia searching for empirical data. Said holds an MA in conflict resolution, peacebuilding, and governance from the City University of Mogadishu and a BA in public administration from Mogadishu University.
Hawa is a senior finance officer at HIPS. Her duties include budget preparation as well as assisting staff in fully understanding and complying with standard financial procedures. She is also responsible for filing, audit preparation, and document tracking. Before joining HIPS, Hawa worked as an accountant with the Women and Child Support Organization through a partnership with the Danish Refugee Council in Mogadishu. She graduated from Lincoln University Malaysia with a master’s degree in finance.
Mohamed is a researcher at HIPS. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in conflict, governance, and peacebuilding, both from the City University of Mogadishu. His professional background includes serving as a senior advisor in various Somali federal government organizations, including the Ministry of Information. Furthermore, Mohamed led a USAID-funded project on legal aid, advocating for legal rights, and equal justice.
Zainab is a finance assistant and a junior researcher at HIPS. She supports financial operations, audit preparation, and document tracking. She has prior experience in customer service in the banking sector and holds a BA degree in banking and finance from City University of Mogadishu. She is enthusiastic about continuing to utilize her expertise to enhance efficiency and excellence in financial processes
Zakariya is a visual content creator at HIPS. His tasks include creating visual contents such as features, promo videos, highlights, and pictures for forums, workshops, and podcasts. With a bachelor’s degree in computer applications from Jamhuriya University, Zakariya leverages his extensive experience to enhance HIPS’s media presence and boost its engagement and information dissemination. He has crafted compelling visual and digital content for many organizations in collaborative projects with USAID, the National Economic Council, and UNFPA. Before joining HIPS, Zakariya was a content creator at Astaan Media, a leading media company in Somalia.
Anisa is a graphic designer at HIPS. Blending art and technology, Anisa specializes in branding and visual communications to create inspiring designs that make HIPS’s publications accessible and aesthetically pleasing. She designed HIPS’s logos and has crafted compelling and high-quality banners, posters, and infographics for its forums, publications, and workshops. She holds a BA in communication and creative design from Australia’s SAE University College – Dubai campus.
Kayse is a researcher, translator, and copyeditor at HIPS. He holds a master’s degree in healthcare management from the University of Lincoln, Malaysia, and a master’s in epidemiology from the University of Burao, Somalia. Besides research, Kayse has more than five years of expertise in the translation field and has translated a wide range of materials, including more than 100 academic research papers, policy reports, and government documents. Previously he taught and lectured at Burao University, Alpha University, and Togdheer University in Burao, Somalia, for more than six years. He also served as project manager for the SHINE Project at Somaliland Youth Solidarity. Kayse is a poet and Somali literary expert who has written numerous poems on social concerns and public sentiments related to Somali unity, climate change, peacebuilding, education, and nationalism.
Abdirizak is a researcher at HIPS. With more than five years of experience, Abdirizak brings valuable skills in project management and research to HIPS where he coauthors the annual State of Somalia Report. He has successfully managed more than 250 submissions across multiple calls for papers in recent years. His efforts have led to the successful publication of conference proceedings, including papers on climate change impacts and solutions and on reshaping Somalia’s education for development. He is also a key member of the organizing committee for HIPS’s flagship program, the Annual Forum for Ideas, focusing on the event’s logistical and guest-centric aspects. Abdirizak holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the City University of Mogadishu.
Ahmed is a researcher at HIPS and specializes in qualitative and quantitative data collection and transcription. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Sharia and law from the City University of Mogadishu and a post-graduate diploma in law from Somali National University. He coauthored the reports, Rebuilding Somalia’s Broken Justice System: Fixing the Politics, Policies and Procedures and Somalia’s Council of Ministers: A Call for Competent and Rule-Based Cabinet. Prior to joining HIPS, Ahmed interned at the Supreme Court of Somalia and Banadir Regional Court. He also worked with local organizations funded by USAID to help vulnerable groups gain access to justice. As a legal researcher, he is licensed as a lawyer by the Somali Bar Association.
Muhidin is HIPS’ logistics and administration officer. Muhudin works with researchers and the Institute’s human resources and finance team. Muhudin has more than nine years of experience in logistics, procurement, and administration. He holds a BA in public administration from Africa Graduate University, a diploma in accounting and economics from Cambridge International College, and an advanced diploma in English from the City University of Mogadishu.
Saida is a researcher working in the Talo Wadaag II program. With a strong academic background in social work and community development, Saida, who is a graduate of City University of Mogadishu, brings a passion for research and a commitment to contributing to HIPS’s intellectual discourse. She has excellent communication skills and a solid foundation in research methodologies. She is responsible for collecting and analyzing data and for identifying participatory action research (PAR) and focus group participants and for conducting PAR-related surveys and desk reviews related to PAR.
Hamzah is an IT Specialist at HIPS. He is responsible for IT security and policy, supports cloud solutions, technical hardware, and software purchases, and provides solutions and recommendations for the organization’s technical needs. A passionate problem solver, he has served as chief information officer, IT director, system administrator, engineer, architect, and technical trainer on three continents, helping organizations run smarter, greener, and more efficiently. Beginning in 2000 as an IT Technician, his work has included government contracts, global NGOs, and the private sector with such organizations as the US Senate, US Department of Defense, and US Department of Transportation, INOVA Hospital Systems, and the ACLU. He earned a BSc in information technology with a focus in cybersecurity from the University of the Potomac in Washington, D.C. and has been with HIPS since 2014.
Ramla is an IT assistant at HIPS. She manages HIPS’s website and other apps and programs used by the staff. A graduate of Jamhuriya University of Science and Technology in Mogadishu, she earned her bachelor’s degree in computer science with a focus on software development. Her passion for crafting digital solutions helped her secure an internship position with HIPS in September 2022 and, thereafter, a permanent position as an IT assistant. In addition to her bachelor’s degree, Ramla holds a diploma in web development from Jamhuriya Technology Solutions.
Faisal is a researcher at HIPS. He completed his master’s degree in management of development at Van Hall Larenstein University in the Netherlands where he specialized in disaster risk management. His research focuses on policy studies related to climate change, poverty, resilience, disaster management, and urban development in Somalia. Faisal coauthored a city synthesis report titled “Mogadishu: City Report” with Professor Afyare Elmi. The project was prepared in partnership with the University of Manchester as part of the African Cities Research Consortium. He also successfully managed a diverse team to complete six key reports and organized impactful workshops and events. Before joining HIPS, Faisal was a lecturer at the Somali National University where he taught a course on research methodology. He was also part of the International Youth Climate Delegate Programme (COP28UAE) where he underwent six months of intensive training on climate change policy and negotiations skills conducted by Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Negotiation and Conflict Resolution Collaboratory, UNFCCC, and climate scientists. Faisal has also participated in climate conferences such as SB58 in Bonn, Africa Climate Weeks, and COP18.
Abdikarim is a human resource assistant at HIPS. His tasks include maintaining employee records, assisting with recruitment processes, and ensuring seamless onboarding for new hires. He combines his academic knowledge with practical experience to contribute effectively to the team. Previously an accountant with various companies, Abdikarim has more than eight years of experience in finance. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and management science from Plasma University, a certificate in computerized accounting, a diploma in human resources, and a diploma in project management.