NAJMA ISMAIL

Uchumi Road Hse 14, South C, Nairobi Postal Address: 17575-00500

(+254) 727 532 255 or (+254) 718 777 093
najmaismail@gmail.com

Key Qualifications

As a Technical Specialist my work involves programme development and gender mainstreaming in the areas of
womens economic empowerment, youth employment and sustainable economic development that lead to peace
and security in the Horn of Africa region. I work to harness the benefits of local economic development and to
find development solutions for young women and men through productive value chains, while developing tools
on gender needs assessment for local constituents and partners. In my line of work, I design programmes that
create long-term employment opportunities ensuring equal opportunities for young at risk and vulnerable cases
especially women. I work closely with: UN Women, UNDP, UNICEF, FAO, UNFPA, UN Habitat and other
partner organizations in supporting the resilience-based approach to development. I am responsible for
providing specialist technical input on programmes to ensure gender equality in the workplace, lead on areas of
economic reintegration, migration and youth. As a Technical Specialist, my portfolio is not limited to but
include project design and management, resource mobilization, grants administration and compliance, capacity
building and reporting on ratification of ILO conventions to the Governing Body.

Academic Background

2017 Certificate in Arabic - Intermediate - UN Language Centre-Nairobi

2017 Certificate online learning Gender Mainstreaming in the Workplace

2014 ILO Staff Training on EU funding - Brussels and Turin

2014 ILO Internal Governance E-learning Programme

2012 Youth for Change and Gender Course, Norwegian Defense International Center (NODEFIC)

2012 Certificate on Economic Reintegration of children and youth formerly associated with armed
forces and groups, Turin, International Training Centre ILO-Italy

2010 MA, Gender and Development Studies, University of Nairobi

2009 Certificate on Sustainable Enterprise Development, Turin, International Training Center

2007 Staff Training on Protection From Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA)

2003 BSc International Business Administration, USIU AFRICA

Employment Record

2012 - Present Technical Specialist and OiC, Early Recovery, Employment Creation and Risk Reduction
Programmes- International Labour Organization (ILO), Nairobi 70% travel to Somalia and Ethiopia.

Provide technical backstopping in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of project
activities, and technical advice to project staff and conduct research initiatives in mapping opportunities
 NAJMA ISMAIL

Uchumi Road Hse 14, South C, Nairobi Postal Address: 17575-00500

(+254) 727 532 255 or (+254) 718 777 093
najmaismail@gmail.com

especially on youth and womens empowerment for early recovery and development initiatives.
Contribute to effective and timely project implementation in conformity with programming guidelines,
and administrative and financial procedures; Monitor, review and report on the progress of sub-regional
work plans, in line with the logical framework and M&E plan; Prepare briefs, periodical reports and
statistical data on status of project, including annual work plans, progress and final reports, activities and
performance reports and other reports that may be required by the partner agencies and donors; Assist in
the preparation for and be involved in the evaluation of the project as well as periodical reviews.
Implementation of Gender Responsive Budgeting initiatives and strategies under each project.
Support Small and Medium Enterprises in improving their business especially in agri-business and
fishery along the value chains through a gender lens.
Work closely with ILO HQ in preparing procurement plans, reviewing technical and financial proposals,
for onward review by local contracts committee and preparing monthly summary reports on
employment project grant status.
Design and lead resource mobilization for projects in relation to youth, peace and security, public private
partnerships and womens economic empowerment.
Manage youth for change joint initiative project for youth at risk by migrating recruitment of armed
groups through economic reintegration packages ensure tailor-made needs for women and girls.
Technically backstop ILO as the focal point and support in preparing communication material for the
Gender Theme Group and UN Joint Youth Employment for Somalia flagship programme under the
Multi Donor Trust Fund.
Support the identification, design and implementation of cash for work initiatives as early recovery and
risk reduction strategies for drought affected communities.
Under the guidance of the Chief Technical Adviser, devise advocacy campaigns (or contribute to
existing ones) in all of Somalia, to mobilize the public and employers to discuss employment
opportunities for women and youth in collaboration with private sector.
Prepare and contribute to needs based capacity building through seminars, workshops, technical
meetings and training courses as necessary throughout the implementation of the project, while ensuring
adherence to established policies and procedures.
Technical backstopping and support to the design and development of an ILO Decent Work Country
Programme for Somalia.
Manage all partners relations and monitor compliance with grants agreements.
Responsible for preparing donor reports, managing, budgeting and monitor expenditures for UN-Women
funded project on Womens Economic Empowerment Programme.
Perform liaison work with external stakeholders including relevant international organizations, social
partners and civil society, along with networking and project representation in meetings, conferences
and events organized externally, and within ILO by other relevant projects and initiatives.
Contribute to TORs for consultancies and other contracts, monitor quality of work, and report on and
use completed deliverables for maximum impact.
Assist in the collection, review and analysis of data, manage information and document good practices.

2009 - 2012 Programme Manager, Youth for Change and Womens Economic Development-
International Labour Organisation (ILO), Nairobi with frequent travel to Somalia and Ethiopia.
 NAJMA ISMAIL

Uchumi Road Hse 14, South C, Nairobi Postal Address: 17575-00500

(+254) 727 532 255 or (+254) 718 777 093
najmaismail@gmail.com

Inter-Agency work in collaboration with gender unit, enterprise and employment experts in the regional bureau;
Supported your at risk in gainful employment, providing short term income generation through cash for
work activities and providing youth with social and economic reintegration packages.
Provided in-kind support to youth to start their own business while providing apprenticeship schemes to
youth under the skills development component.
Established and co-led two sub-groups of the Inter-Agency Working Group on Economic Reintegration.
Developed an Inter-agency strategy for the operationalization of gender in programmes; drafted the
youth strategy and youth policy for Somalia with UNFPA.
Contributed to the development of UN-Women five (5 ) year strategy for Somalia.
Undertook effective monitoring and documentation of Gender Responsive Budgeting results onto the
Results Based Management (RBM) tool.
Contributed to socio-economic reintegrating of 3,500 male youth at risk and formally associated with
armed conflict ex-combatants and 400 female ex-combatants and women associated with armed forces
in Somalia.
Provided technical assistance to programmes which led to the mobilization of some USD 6 million for
various decentralized programmes.
Designed and implemented the MEAL framework for youth employment and womens economic
development programmes.
Successfully managed of two programmes, a joint initiative on Youth for Change USD 2.5 million and
Gender equality program on Promoting Women Economic Empowerment USD 2 million.
Supervised and developed the human capacity of vocational and technical education and skills
development institutions through career guidance, life skills, and social rehabilitation for young men and
women.
Developed the capacity of national actors and service provides to better manage at risk caseloads.
Improved gender responsiveness of youth employment programmes in Somalia through technical
assistance.
Designed and implemented a joint project with UN-Women on womens empowerment.

2006 - 2009 Programme Manager, Elimination of Worst Forms of Child Labour Project International
Labour Organization (ILO), Nairobi with frequent travel to the Horn of Africa.

In collaboration with the colleagues responsible for the Regional Programme for the Prevention and
Reintegration of Children involved in Armed Conflict and Gender Unit:
Identified existing policy options and good practices implemented in the Somalia Programme through
desk research and visits to Somalia.
Contributed to the planning and initiation of the signing of the ILO Convention on Elimination of Worst
Forms of Child Labour.
Conceptualized and drafted the ILO child labour project on economic reintegration of children formerly
associated with armed forces and groups.
Integrated economic reintegration dimensions in the project working with Elman Peace and Human
Rights Centre on the reintegration of children associated with armed forces and groups; and
Raised organizational and inter-agency awareness about the existence of a policy and programme gap on
economic aspects of the reintegration of working-age children associated with armed forces and groups.
 NAJMA ISMAIL

Uchumi Road Hse 14, South C, Nairobi Postal Address: 17575-00500

(+254) 727 532 255 or (+254) 718 777 093
najmaismail@gmail.com

Positioned ILO Somalia in the Inter-agency arena to assist national and international partners to address
the economic gap on the reintegration of children associated with armed forces and groups.

2003 - 2006 Project Officer, British High Commission, Nairobi, Kenya

Supported formulation, design and implementation of Annual Work Plans for the Unit. Managed the
Family Reunion Unit for migrant and refugee programmes seeking better livelihoods.
Worked with the family reunion / settlement unit dealing with refugees immigrating to the UK.
Interviewed applicants to collect relevant information for their personal files and analyzed political
asylum questionnaires and self-assessment forms of the sponsor and applicants to determine
truthful information submittal.
Dealt with applicants data in proviso, DNA/medical accounts, and preparation of DNA/medical
examinations.
Prepared monitoring and evaluation reports proposing actions to enhance impact of the UK government.

2002-2002 (6 months) Humanitarian Officer, International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Dadaab,
Kenya

Supported the implementation of group resettlement procedures, including planning, profiling, logistical
arrangements, verification and post-verification follow-up.
Monitored resettlement activities in Dadaab and Kakuma Refugee Camps to ensure progress against
targets, transparency and efficiency in case submissions and appropriate follow-up with resettlement
countries and other key stakeholders.
Systematically applied an Age, Gender and Diversity perspective in all aspects of the resettlement
process.
Mitigated resettlement fraud through oversight (including in-country travel), advice and guidance.
Research and develop analytical reports, research papers, briefing notes, summaries and products for
humanitarian action.
Interviewed applicants to collect relevant information for their personal files and analyzed political
asylum questionnaires and self-assessment forms of the sponsor and applicants to determine
truthful information submittal.
Maintained regular contact and close cooperation with resettlement countries and partners to ensure
effective resettlement delivery and adherence to adequate protection and resettlement standards.

2001-2002 (6 months) Project Humanitarian Officer, UNHCR, Dadaab, Kenya

Identified, provided interpretation services for interviews, assessed resettlement needs, and process
persons identified for resettlement following established procedures, undertook field missions and
provided counseling to individuals as required.
Contributed to the development and enhancement of strategies and mechanisms to address the
resettlement needs of persons of concern in the context of comprehensive solution strategies.
Assisted in assessing training needs, draw training plan and strategy and facilitate resettlement and
 NAJMA ISMAIL

Uchumi Road Hse 14, South C, Nairobi Postal Address: 17575-00500

(+254) 727 532 255 or (+254) 718 777 093
najmaismail@gmail.com

related training to UNHCR staff, partners and other stakeholders.

Ensured that up-to-date and accurate statistics, resettlement reports and needs assessments are submitted
to management as required.

Languages

Spoken Written Reading

Somali Excellent Excellent Excellent
English Excellent Excellent Excellent
Arabic Fair Good Fair
Kiswahili Excellent Excellent Excellent