Somaliland Americans

Uniting Somaliland-Americans across the nation to strengthen community roots in the United States while driving transformative philanthropic impact in Somaliland.

Vision

A thriving, connected Somaliland-American diaspora across the United States—civically engaged, culturally confident, and expanding opportunity for families in both the U.S. and Somaliland.

Mission

American Somaliland Association for Development (ASAD) is a Virginia-registered 501(c)(3) that builds a nationwide chapter network to connect Somaliland-American communities, share trusted information, mentor and develop youth, and host local civic and cultural events. We also mobilize volunteers, donations, and partnerships to deliver measurable initiatives in Somaliland focused on sustainable agriculture, health, youth technology education, women’s empowerment, and community capacity building.

Our Focus Areas

Together, we build flourishing USA Communities Outreach

Transform Communities. Shape the Future.

Connect communities. Develop youth. Strengthen civic life. Deliver programs that improve lives

Our Values:

  • Transparency & Accountability – We report clearly on funds, decisions, and results.
  • Stewardship – We treat every donation as a responsibility.
  • Community-Led Impact – We listen first and build with the community.
  • Partnership – We collaborate with Somaliland organizations in the U.S. and trusted local partners.
  • Dignity & Respect – We serve people with dignity and cultural respect.

History / Background

American Somaliland Association for Development (ASAD) Founded in 2022 in Northern Virginia, ASAD unites and empowers Somaliland-Americans nationwide — providing a trusted platform for connection, resources, and coordinated action. We help Somaliland-Americans integrate and thrive through community events, civic engagement, and vital referral services, while mobilizing diaspora-driven support for high-impact programs back home. Our focus areas: Agriculture · Health · Youth IT Education · Women's Empowerment · Community Capacity Building.

Management and Board Members

Dr. Ahmed Hussein Esa

Board Member (Volunteer)

Dr. Ahmed Hussein Esa is a distinguished academic leader and nonprofit founder serving as a volunteer Board Member for the Somaliland Americans Community. He is the Founder and President of Abarso Tech University and the Founder and Executive Director of the Institute for Practical Research and Training (IPRT).

Dr. Esa has held international academic and advisory roles, including serving as an Assistant Professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and as a researcher at the Pasteur Institute in Paris. He earned his doctorate from Johns Hopkins University and is fluent in Somali, English, French, and Arabic.

 
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Hirsi Dirir

Board Member (Volunteer)

Hirsi Dirir is a public service–driven executive focused on strengthening institutions and expanding opportunity through technology and finance. He currently leads a major hardware portfolio within the enterprise landscape, overseeing a multibillion-dollar annual portfolio that supports enterprise operations with transparency and efficiency.

Previously, he served as Chief Executive Officer of East Africa Bank, advancing financial inclusion and modernizing digital banking services. Earlier in his career, he held global technology leadership roles supporting government and enterprise clients with mission-critical solutions.

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Abdi Hakim Shirwac

Board Member (Volunteer)

Abdi Hakim Shirwac is a veteran Somali media professional with over 20 years of experience in radio, television, and digital media. He spent nearly 15 years with Voice of America (VOA), producing and anchoring programs reaching audiences across the Horn of Africa.

He has also led media reforms as a television director and co-founded several stations in Somaliland. In addition to his media work, Shirwac supports civil society initiatives focused on training journalists and youth leaders.

He currently serves as Regional Director of the Global Capacity and Development Alliance (GCDA), advancing programs that promote communication, leadership, and inclusive development across the region.

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Board Member (Volunteer)

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Jamal Aden

SA President (Volunteer Role)

Jamal Aden is an IT and cybersecurity professional working at a leading global consulting firm, where he supports organizations in strengthening cybersecurity governance, risk management, and technology strategy. He holds a Master of Cybersecurity Risk Management from Georgetown University in Washington, DC.

Jamal has a long record of community leadership. He served as Chairman of the Somaliland Community of Greater Washington, DC from 2014 to 2025 and currently serves as the volunteer President of Somaliland Americans, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. In his spare time, Jamal actively supports community initiatives focused on environmental stewardship, farming and water sustainability, health, education, youth development, and broader community development

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Random Test

Board Member (Volunteer)

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.

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Random Test

Board Member (Volunteer)

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.

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