Interview with CD4D2 Participant Saida Hassan

Saida Hassan, Program Manager and Communications Specialist from Delft:

“My trainees are now taking investment promotion very seriously”

Saida Hassan is a Communications Specialist who recently returned from Hargeisa from her second assignment for CD4D2. Even more enthusiastic than after her first assignment a few years ago. “It is very rewarding; it so benefits the participants I trained.”

Saida studied Communications and International Relations, first in The Hague and then in Amsterdam. Her wish to broaden her horizon made her return to Hargeisa for an internship at the Ministry of Investment Promotion, which she combined with a CD4D2 assignment. “I like to live in my two countries; it fits my dual cultural identity. And I would like to give something back to my country of origin. I want to be part of the change by contributing to the advancement of the people and society. I have noticed I can really make a difference.”

The Ministry of Investment Promotion promotes investments in the development of selected sectors in Somaliland, such as agriculture, infrastructure and mining. “The focus of my assignment was helping to develop an investment policy. To achieve results you need to get ideas through brainstorming, which was a concept they were not familiar with. I also trained the staff on marketing issues: how to promote Somaliland as an ideal location for investment and what the investment benefits are.”

What were the challenges of your assignment? “I knew the participants from my previous assignment, so that worked to my advantage. It is important to be clear and to set deadlines – a three month assignments is not long so if you want to achieve results. Real challenges I faced were the language barrier and gender issues; the participants found it difficult to have a female as an advisor. I would like to pave the way for other women.”

Will the participants accept ownership after your assignment? “If the Ministry supports the changes, the staff will accept they have a responsibility. That has to grow, step by step. I noticed how the trainees changed during my assignment. At first they were hesitant, but they saw the light after a while. Now they are taking investment promotion very seriously. For Somaliland these are big changes.”