National Node - Somalia
Vision
By 2030, Somalia will have empowered Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOPs) leading transformative solutions to ensure thriving marine ecosystems and resilient coastal communities.
Mission
ECOP Somalia aims to empower young ocean professionals through capacity-building, collaborative research, and community engagement, addressing the pressing ocean sustainability challenges facing Somalia’s coastline.
Objectives
- Build the technical and leadership skills of over 300 ECOPs by 2026.
- Foster partnerships with 5+ national institutions for collaborative ocean research.
- Implement 3 community-driven ocean literacy campaigns by 2025.
Main Activities
- Capacity Development: Training and mentoring young professionals in ocean governance, climate modeling, and marine conservation.
- Community Engagement: Launching school programs, radio campaigns, and beach clean-ups to increase ocean literacy.
- Collaborative Research: Establishing partnerships for research on marine conservation and climate resilience.
- Digital Outreach: Utilizing social media and digital platforms to raise awareness on ocean sustainability challenges.
Key Challenges
The ECOPs in Somalia face critical challenges including coastal erosion, biodiversity loss, and the impacts of rising sea levels, compounded by the need for enhanced local capacity and scientific research.
ECOP Somalia Coordination team
Contact: somalia@ecopdecade.org
ECOP Somalia Coordinator
Mohamed Abdirahman
Mohamed Abdirahman Mohamed is a Climate Resilience and Disaster Risk Management Specialist with over 10 years of experience in humanitarian and development work across Somalia, particularly in Hirshabelle and the Banadir Region. He has led community-based climate adaptation and disaster preparedness projects, supporting farmers and vulnerable communities.
He has worked with institutions like the Ministry of Agriculture of Hirshabelle, SODMA, and the Banadir Regional Authority, promoting inclusive policies and local capacity building. As Program Manager at CRAN, he leads integrated climate and DRM programs.
Mohamed also serves as the ECOP Somalia Coordinator under the UN Decade of Ocean Science, promoting ocean literacy, sustainable marine governance, and youth engagement in blue economy and conservation efforts.
Capacity Building Lead
Abdisalan Ahmed Mohammed
Abdisalan Ahmed Mohammed is an environmental and natural resource expert with a Master’s degree in Environmental Science and a Bachelor’s in Natural Resource Management. From 2020 to 2023, he served as a Project Officer with the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation of South West State, supporting climate-resilient agriculture, farmer training, and sustainable land management.
In 2019, he worked as a Consultant with the Ministry of Fisheries of South West State, contributing to sustainable fisheries and coastal ecosystem planning. He currently serves as Marine Conservation Advisor at the Alliance for Climate and Peace, and as Capacity Building Lead at ECOP Somalia, a UN Decade of Ocean Science initiative promoting ocean literacy, youth engagement, and blue economy governance.
Abdisalan is dedicated to climate resilience, biodiversity protection, and advancing locally led environmental solutions across Somalia.
Resources Mobilization and Partnership Lead
Ahmed Karim
Ahmed Karim is a development professional with over seven years of experience in food security, livelihoods, agriculture, and resilience programming across Somalia. He has led multi-sectoral projects in Southwest, Banadir, and Jubaland, working closely with local communities, government ministries, INGOs, and UN agencies. A key focus of his work is resource mobilization and partnership development, through which he has successfully secured and managed over $15 million in donor funding from agencies such as CDCS, USAID, BHA, SIF, FAO, WFP, UNICEF, World Bank Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), and UKAID. Ahmed is skilled in aligning program strategies with national priorities, building strong stakeholder collaborations, and driving sustainable, community-led development. He holds degrees in Agricultural Science and Environmental Management and is recognized for his strategic thinking, leadership, and commitment to ethical, impact-driven programming.
Ocean Literacy Lead
Rahma Mustaf Muhudin
Ms. Rahma is a marine science graduate from Somali National University (Class of 2024) and an active advocate for marine conservation and sustainable ocean management in Mogadishu. With a strong passion for advancing marine science, she is eager to contribute to impactful initiatives that promote
ocean health and awareness. Rahma currently serves as the Ocean Literacy Lead for ECOP Somalia (Early-Career Ocean Professionals), where she works to enhance public understanding of marine ecosystems and inspire community engagement in ocean stewardship.
Tech and Social Media Lead
Ms. Zainab Mohamed
Ms. Zainab is a Tech. and Social Media Lead with a strong interest in ocean awareness, youth empowerment, and digital communication. She has several years of experience working on marine focused outreach and advocacy through social media, especially within coastal communities in Somalia.
She has collaborated with youth organizations, digital media teams, and local initiatives to design and lead awareness campaigns that promote ocean literacy and the blue economy. Her work supports digital access to marine knowledge and encourages young people to engage in ocean conservation through technology.
Zainab currently serves as the Tech and Social Media Lead at ECOP Somalia under the UN Decade of Ocean Science, where she leads digital storytelling, tech-based campaigns, and inclusive communication strategies focused on sustainable marine governance and youth engagement.
Operations Lead
Feysal Ibrahim Abdullahi
Mr. Feisal Ibrahim Abdullahi is the Operations Lead of the ECOP Somalia Node, He brings a wealth of experience in operations management, human capital development, and strategic resource planning to support the delivery of ocean sustainability initiatives aligned with the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.
In his role, Mr. Abdullahi is responsible for designing and maintaining the operational backbone of the ECOP Somalia Node. He ensures that all programmatic activities are underpinned by robust financial systems, effective administrative processes, and transparent governance mechanisms. His leadership is instrumental in ensuring the efficient allocation of resources—including financial, human, and logistical—in support of the node’s mission to build climate-resilient coastal ecosystems and empower Somalia’s early-career ocean professionals (ECOPs).
Mr. Abdullahi’s strategic and operational oversight plays a critical role in enabling the ECOP Somalia Node to advance its core objectives: developing technical and leadership capacity, facilitating interdisciplinary research, and driving community engagement for sustainable ocean management.
Communications Lead
Abdirabi Abdirahman Mohamed
Abdirabi is a Somali development professional with experience in sustainable agriculture, blue economy, and climate resilience. He leads PUSAN, a local organization working with communities to promote environmental sustainability and improve livelihoods.
As Communications Officer for ECOP Somalia, he supports public outreach and digital engagement, helping to connect youth, partners, and stakeholders with the Node’s work. He is passionate about using ocean-based solutions—like sustainable fisheries and blue foods—to build a more resilient future for Somalia’s coastal communities.