Netherlands
๐ก Most mobile money platforms in Africa are built for the best-case user. I've spent the last two and a half years building for everyone else โ the merchant in Baidoa, the diaspora sender in Amsterdam, the smallholder in Galkacyo. That's what scaling eBesa actually looked like. ๐ When I took on eBesa as Head of Mobile Money at IBS Bank, it was a localised pilot in Mogadishu. By April 2026, it had grown into a national financial utility โ subscribers up 265%, merchant network up 2,400%, with active corridors in Kismayo, Bosaso, Garowe, Beledweyne, and beyond. The work went well beyond growth metrics. We operationalised Somalia's first fiscal-tech integration, automating 5% VAT collection via ETAS in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank. We built live cross-border corridors with M-Pesa (Kenya), Airtel Money (Uganda), and Ria Money Transfer โ enabling seamless remittances from Europe and North America into eBesa. We navigated zero-interoperability market conditions by pivoting to a hardened B2B model that filled the gap left by the absence of a national switch. Before eBesa: I negotiated and closed a multi-country Master Franchise for Galito's across the Horn of Africa, co-founded Daauus โ Somalia's first professional creative agency โ and advised the Somali Ministry of Justice on communications strategy during a critical governance reform period. Alongside all of this, I serve as Honorary Consul of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Somalia โ bridging trade, investment, and institutional relationships between two deeply connected worlds. ๐ค I write about digital financial services, frontier market infrastructure, and what real financial inclusion requires beyond the pitch deck. If you're building in emerging markets, working in DFS policy, or exploring the Horn of Africa โ let's connect. Fluent in Dutch, English, Somali, and Arabic.
Appointed as the primary representative of the Dutch government in Somalia, working in close coordination with the Embassy in Nairobi to advance bilateral relations across trade, culture, and consular services. ๐ค Trade & Economic Facilitation โข Actively connect Dutch companies with investment and market entry opportunities in Somalia's emerging economy โข Serve as a trusted bridge for Dutch-Somali business relationships across all sectors โข Leverage deep local networks and multilingual capability (Dutch, Somali, Arabic, English) to facilitate high-value introductions ๐ณ๐ฑ Consular Services & Citizen Support โข Provide emergency consular support to Dutch nationals in Somalia, including medical, safety, and crisis situations โข Coordinate with the Embassy in Nairobi on all official consular matters
Scaled eBesa from a Mogadishu pilot to a national financial utility: โ 265% subscriber growth | โ 2,400% merchant network expansion ๐ 6 regional hubs: Kismayo, Baidoa, Beledweyne, Galkacyo, Garowe, Bosaso Key achievements: โ Led Somalia's first fiscal-tech integration (ETAS) with Federal Ministry of Finance โ automating 5% VAT on merchant transactions โ Built cross-border corridors with M-Pesa (Kenya), Airtel Money (Uganda), Onafriq & Ria Money Transfer โ Represented eBesa in CBS policy consultations on mobile money transaction limits โ Directed NAMLC AML/CFT compliance frameworks โ Pivoted to B2B model to fill national switch gap in zero-interoperability market ๐ Mobile & Digital Finance Innovation Award โ Somali Technology Awards ๐ Represented Somalia at Seamless East Africa, Nairobi
Led the Horn of Africa's most ambitious QSR franchise expansion โ culminating in securing the Master Franchise rights for Galito's International (South Africa's iconic flame-grilled chicken brand) across Somalia. โ Negotiated and closed the multi-country Master Franchise Agreement with Galito's International โ Developed and executed market entry strategy; opened the first Galito's outlet in Mogadishu โ Engaged investors, regulators, and local partners to unlock market access across three frontier markets Positioned Feeto Foods at the intersection of global franchising, frontier market development, and consumer brand building in the Horn of Africa.
Seconded through IOM Netherlandsโ CD4D2 programme, I supported the Ministry of Justice in strengthening public engagement, institutional transparency, and narrative development during Somaliaโs justice reform agenda. As advisor to the Director General and departmental teams, I led the design and execution of media strategies aligned with the Justice & Security Roadmap and NDP-9. ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต๐ถ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐: โ Implemented outreach strategies to support justice and child protection reform โ Produced high-level contentโpress releases, speeches, talking pointsโfor leadership โ Trained the Ministryโs ICT & Media team to build lasting in-house capacity โ Built a national media network and coordinated press engagement โ Introduced live communications calendars and media monitoring tools โ Advised on crisis communications, stakeholder messaging, and advocacy strategy This role reaffirmed the power of communications in building public trust, advancing governance reform, and supporting national institutions in fragile contexts.