At 100 km East of Berbera in The Guban Region of somaliland .
Ahmed Dirir – The Director of Water
Ahmed Dirir is a 38 Yr old water resource management specialist and is also passionate about renewable energy. Ahmed has been involved in the Somaliland energy and water sector for the last 5 years, after moving from London his place of birth.
A senior project manager with over 10 years experience in managing social enterprises in the UK, he is also an experienced fundraiser with an established track record. Ahmed Dirir took the reins of the Directorate National of Water Resources in October 2010, where his combined skills have spearheaded the dynamic development of the Somaliland Water Sector.
Although traditional sources of funding and grants were nonexistent over the last 18 months, he has supported the ministry in diversifying its revenue sources, seeing bilateral aid and Multi lateral donor funding successfully role into the ministry.
As Director of National Water Resources he has established a clear vision and has developed an ambitious 5 year strategy for the Somaliland Water Sector, which aims to create the mechanisms to change the vicious cycle of droughts that have plagued the country for decades.
Ahmed Dirir Says “The current level of delivery has never been achieved in the ministry and we are at the moment managing over $60 Million USD of ground and surface water development projects as well as developing a young water sector workforce”
(5 Year Strategic Plan is available from the Download Page)
Moving to Somaliland from Britain in 2005 Ahmed Dirir established Barqodhereg Drilling & Construction Company that has constructed numerous water infrastructures all over Somaliland as well as developing successful agricultural and dairy farms in Saahil and Togdheer.
The famous Barqodhereg Farm is totally free of fossil fuel powered energy and has showcased locally made biogas production from livestock effluent. They have also locally manufactured wind turbines, mechanical water pumps among much more.
Ahmed is a keen gemmologist and also enjoys 4×4 driving in the Guban coastal regions of Somaliland when he gets time, he also has serious interest in nutrition, cooking and camel milk.
