Thirty University graduates recently gathered to celebrate the launch of the “Young Professionals Database” in Mogadishu. Hassan[i] created this program with the Benadir Regional Administration in Mogadishu to encourage youth to join the government and to build the administration’s capacity.

USAID’s Transition Initiatives for Stabilization (TIS) project recruited and supports Hassan and his work, and many other diaspora experts, as part of a partnership with the Regional Administration in Mogadishu. USAID’s TIS is a small grants program, based on the USAID Office of Transition Initiatives Model, which aims to increase stability through targeted interventions that foster good governance and economic recovery and reduce the appeal of extremism in Somalia.

Hassan has been instrumental in reshaping and streamlining the Benadir Administration in Mogadishu. When he began it had thirty two departments, many overlapping in their responsibilities. Now it has eight streamlined bodies. Hassan also identified capacity needs and built staff capacity, as part of the Human Resources Operations Manual he developed for the regional administration.

As a champion for youth involvement for better governance, Hassan has worked hard to find ways to engage and encourage Mogadishu youth to get involved.  Hassan inspired by the attitude of Somalis who, in the face of the most difficult of circumstances, are rebuilding their lives. He sees the USAID TIS diaspora program as providing hope through reconstruction of government institutions in the country.

[i] Name changed for privacy