Our Team
- Eng. Yussuf Hussein Ibrahim - Founder & Country Manager
Eng. Yussuf Hussein Ibrahim is the Founder and Country Manager of the Community Initiative for Inclusive Growth and Resilience (CIGRO), bringing over 18 years of experience in humanitarian and development programming across Somalia and the Horn of Africa.
He provides strategic leadership to CIGRO, overseeing program delivery, operations, partnerships, and compliance to ensure accountable, community-driven, and results-focused interventions. His professional expertise spans humanitarian assistance, inclusive livelihoods, resilience building, governance support, and institutional strengthening in fragile and conflict-affected contexts.
Eng. Yussuf has worked closely with international development partners, including GIZ (German Development Cooperation), UN agencies, and other bilateral and multilateral donors, contributing to the design and management of multi-sectoral programs aligned with community needs and donor standards.
He holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and Diplomacy, a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Resource Management, and advanced training in Water Engineering and organizational management. This multidisciplinary background enables him to effectively link humanitarian response with long-term development and resilience.
Driven by integrity and a strong belief in community-led, inclusive solutions, Eng. Yussuf founded CIGRO to support vulnerable communities not only in times of crisis, but also in building dignity, self-reliance, and sustainable futures.
- Abdirahman Ali Mohamed
I am a development professional with over eight years of experience in data collection, monitoring and evaluation, and community development. I have worked extensively with internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugee communities, currently serving as a Director for IDPs and Refugees at BRA. My work focuses on strengthening community resilience, improving service delivery, and promoting the protection of civilians, particularly in fragile and displacement-affected settings.
I have a proven track record of coordinating with government institutions, NGOs, and community stakeholders to design, implement, and monitor humanitarian and development programs. I am experienced in needs assessments, program reporting, evidence-based decision-making, and ensuring accountability to affected populations. I am also skilled in using data to inform policy, improve project performance, and support sustainable community-led solutions.
I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, and a Diploma in Rights and Development from Africa. I also hold a Master’s degree in Human Rights and Development from Kampala International University. My key skills include community engagement, refugee and IDP programming, civilian protection, data collection, and project monitoring and evaluation, with a strong commitment to human rights, inclusion, and ethical development practice.
- Laila Abdiwali Musse
Laila Abdiwali Musse is an experienced development and humanitarian professional with over 10 years of experience managing complex, multi-donor programs in Somalia. She specializes in project and budget management, institutional capacity building, governance strengthening, livelihoods and resilience programming, and monitoring and evaluation, with a strong focus on gender equality and social inclusion.
She is currently serving with CIGRO as an Economic Development Expert, where she supports inclusive economic growth initiatives, livelihoods strengthening, and institutional development across fragile and conflict-affected contexts. In this role, she provides strategic and technical guidance to programs focused on resilience, value chains, and community-driven development.
Previously, Laila served as a Field Manager with Save the Children International in Puntland, where she led multi-sectoral programs with an annual portfolio of approximately USD 7 million, overseeing program quality, operations, compliance, and partnerships. Prior to this, she worked as National Project Coordinator with GIZ, supporting governance and community-driven development initiatives and strengthening institutional coordination at district level.
Laila is known for her participatory leadership style, strong stakeholder engagement skills, and ability to deliver results in fragile and high-pressure environments. She holds a Master’s degree in International Coordination and Humanitarian Aid, a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, and additional qualifications in leadership, project management, and monitoring and evaluation.