Our Team

Managing Director

RAHMA AHMED

Certificate, Executive Leadership Coaching – Georgetown University, Washington, USA (2018)
MSc Public Policy and Management – SOAS, University of London, United Kingdom (2020)
Bachelor of Arts, Human Rights and History – Kingston University, London, United Kingdom (2013)
EQ-i 2.0 Certification – High Performance Systems Inc. Arizona, USA (2018)

Rahma traces the foundation to her passion and expertise in leadership development and strategic management back 10 years to her community organizing days. Rahma took on a broad scope of responsibilities that included mobilizing and managing volunteer student working groups, program development, communications and capacity building with the objective of delivering programs, partnership and money to support Somali students and the higher education sector. Through this, Rahma gained invaluable leadership experience and demonstrated an ability to manage and motivate people to a higher purpose whilst remaining true to goals and principles. Later, in Rahma’s work on Ministry level management and administration and on aid coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia she again demonstrated her commitment to principles and best practice and ensuring issues of integrity and accountability were firmly addressed.

Rahma has an MSc in Public Policy and Management from SOAS, University of London and Executive Leadership Coaching certification from Georgetown University Washington. She founded Asal in 2015 and established it as a values driven company with a focus on creating meaningful impact and providing a platform for the best Somali talent to channel their skills and energy towards creating a better Somalia. Alongside her leadership development and strategic management expertise she brings organizational development and an adept ability to mobilize and organize people around issues through negotiation and advocacy. Rahma works with leaders and organizations to develop strategies and processes to better manage people and manage change. As a qualified Emotional Intelligence Assessor she delivers executive leadership coaching and succession planning to help ensure companies find and hire the right people for the job.

As MD at Asal, Rahma oversees the strategic direction and guides the company to overcome challenges and realize its internal and external goals. She provides leadership development for the team and ensure impact is always being achieved through the company remaining true to its vision and purpose. Rahma is passionate about helping leaders create meaning in their lives and their organizations and having positive impact on the people they lead. In her own leadership role she is driven to empower people towards achieving their own positive change by adding meaningful value to help change the lives of Somalis for the better and leave an enduring impact for communities and the country.

Director of Business Administration

QUMAN AKLI

LLM Public International Law – University College London, Distinction
LLB with work placement – Brunel University, Uxbridge
European Baccalaureate – European School Bergen, Bergen, Netherlands

Quman brings profound and critical legal expertise and experience to the Asal team. Her previous work in Somaliland helped to develop and advance the justice sector following extensive research into the prevailing needs. The subsequent research recommendations were developed into a project that helped changed the landscape and brought in more organizations to create a stronger, more robust and diversified justice sector. Quman has worked directly on the Somali constitution making process with a focus on police reform and civil service building. Currently a part of the Somali diaspora, Quman greatly values the opportunity to use her expertise to be part of the process that creates the structures of Somali society and contribute to her home country in a way that impacts the lives of all Somalis.

Quman holds a Bachelor of Laws from Brunel University and a Master of Laws in Public International Law from University College London. She has been part of the Asal team since its inception and undertakes a senior administrative and business management role alongside her legal services. She sees Asal as a standard bearer for work in reconstructing Somalia, with the diverse team bringing different skill sets that can address the multi-faceted and complex challenges of the region. Quman’s work incorporates legal training, advice, research and analysis. She works with individuals and institutions to reform Somalia’s legal structures and helps train judges and MPs to make and implement effective and appropriate laws. Crucially, she is an expert in the constitutional impact of the Somali federal process, and provides training and guidance on what federalization means for Somalia from a legal perspective.

Quman recognizes that Somali people are creative, resilient and entrepreneurial, with huge untapped potential. Asal offers an illustration of the potential of the future; of what is possible, and Quman is personally dedicated to helping realize that potential and future. She believes in justice and fairness, and upholding these values is at the core of all her work. She wants to ensure people can live in a society that is governed by the rule of law with proper process and procedure to ensure laws function to protect and serve society and create a place of security, stability and prosperity.

Private Sector Lead

LIBAN B. MOHAMUD

Master of Business Administration ( MBA ) – Hamline University, St. Paul
( Concentration: Conflict Resolution and Negotiations )
BS in Computer Science – Metropolitan University, St. Paul MN

With previous leadership roles in the United States in software development and as a business owner managing healthcare services, Liban has extensive management experience with adept communication skills having been responsible for coordinating and overseeing teams in Malaysia, China and Singapore, and the managing of 250 – 300 employees. Liban has also led delivery of complex and sensitive projects in Mogadishu. This required close work with key stakeholders including the Federal Government of Somalia and a skillful ability to manage and navigate the complexities of the working relationship and environment in order to meet project objectives.

With this background, Liban brings a proven ability to lead and orchestrate projects and focus on delivering outcomes, managing people to a common goal and analyzing and navigating the Somali political and business environment.

He leads on Asal’s services development and the adoption of technology tools to better manage company business whilst ensuring tools are used correctly to deliver quality services. Liban also serves as the chair of the Board of Directors, providing the board with experienced and strategic leadership to effectively fulfil its functions.

Liban is dedicated to establishing Asal as the leader in providing government and business reforms and to re-building the core foundation and structures of society within Somalia; areas of governance, business infrastructure and bringing educated, passionate Somalis together in helping to re-build and reform the country. Liban recognizes the key to this reform is to change the way business is conducted and create an accountable environment with integrity at its core. Liban is passionate about being part of the revival of Somalia and playing an important role in the state building process.

Governance Team Leader

Abdirashid S. Ahmed

Master of Public Policy University of Minnesota, Humphrey School of Public Affairs, Minneapolis, MN, 2013 (Concentration: Public and Nonprofit Leadership & Management and International Development)

Bachelor of Science Metropolitan State University, St. Paul, MN, 2010 Abdirashid earned his Master’s degree in Public Policy from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota and Bachelor’s degree in Human Services Administration from the Metropolitan State University. Prior to joining Asal, Abdirashid worked for the Federal Government of Somalia as a senior governance and public sector reform advisor to the Office of the Prime Minister. He led the government’s civil service and oversaw the governance and public sector reform portfolio; providing strategic leadership, guidance and policy options to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. Outside of Somalia, Abdirashid worked for the City of Minneapolis as a senior policy advisor/East Africa specialist. In this role he provided strategic advice, analysis and counsel to the Mayor, Council and departmental directors on policies that affect the city of Minneapolis residents, workers, and businesses. In addition, Abdirashid has consulted and collaborated on multiple occasions with the U.S Department of State, USAID, United States Mission to Somalia, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and International Organization for Migrating (IOM) in their efforts to engage the Somali Diaspora.

Abdirashid brings critical experience in the areas of Governance, Public Policy and International Development. He has a proven track record in programmatic, strategic and financial management with in-depth knowledge of international development policies and extensive understanding in implementing legislative and bureaucratic reforms. At Asal, Abdirashid is Governance team lead on the Somalia Security and Justice Program (SSJP). He coordinates the SSJP project team, provides strategic direction and leads the delivery of a comprehensive Political Economy Analysis Report. Crucially, he builds and maintains trusted relationships with government leadership and develops strategies to enhance organizational capacities to improve service delivery, transparency and accountability.

Abdirashid is committed to support ASAL in its efforts to provide innovative solutions to the public sector (government institutions), private sector and nonprofit sector to improve organizations structures and enhance accountability, efficiency and effectiveness. He is passionate about the intersection between the political and administrative governance, currently focusing on governance in the areas of security and the justice sector. He is a frequent speaker at local, national and international conferences including Minnesota/Sweden integration conference, UNHCR Global Initiative for Somali Refugees (GISR), Diasporas in Development conference hosted by USAID, and the London Somalia Conference hosted by the UK government and the United Nations.

Head of Finance

EUNICE MWANGI

Bachelor of Business Management ( BBM ) Accounting Option ( 1st Class Honors ) – Moi University
CPA-K – KASNEB Accounting Packages Certification – Dima College

Having attained 1st Class Honors in Business Management with Accounting, Eunice has spent the last 10 years with some of Kenya’s most established companies. Beginning her career as an Assistant Accountant, Eunice progressed to Chief Accountant, Finance Manager and now holds the Head of Finance position at Asal. Eunice brings her wealth of financial acumen to provide Asal with comprehensive financial modelling, analysis and reporting and budget formulation, in addition to ensuring all financial policies and procedures are in place and kept up to date.

Prior to joining Asal, Eunice’s commitment and quality in her work was acknowledged with various Staff Award and she was responsible for implementing key operations and processes such as Navision accounting software leading to increased business profits and efficiency as part of a modern integrated systems approach. With expertise in financial analysis, reporting and strategy formulation, Eunice has been responsible for developing 5 year financial plans to increase revenues to 1.1 billion KSH and identifying key strengths and weaknesses to improve cost management and company performance. In addition, Eunice holds project management experience having been responsible for managing costs and financing for a Kenyan government project with a budget of over 100 million KSH.

Eunice places transparency and integrity of business at the core of her work and recognizes that through detailed financial analysis, modelling and reporting she can help build a sustainable company with increased revenue streams and a clear and responsible financial direction that ensures long term growth. Eunice values honest and open communication and embracing cultural differences and diversity towards a common goal. In her spare time Eunice offers her financial expertise to help support a local children’s home and empower disadvantaged communities.

Office Manager

Esther Njung’e

Diploma in Human Resource Management – Kenya Institute of Management

Certificate in Business Management – Kenya Institute of Management

Esther has a great background in office administration with experience of over 6 years working in key organizations. She is passionate about ensuring smooth office workflows by using her administration skills. Her greatest joy comes when customers both internal and external are a satisfied lot.

Esther brings in her great wealth of experience in Asal Consulting to ensure that office operations and procedures are organized, office efficiency is maintained, and that our clients are ultimately given a WOW experience.

She is a great team player and supports her team members in achieving the organization’s goals.

Esther is an avid reader when not working. It’s what makes her grow her pool of knowledge.